Have you ever thought of becoming a massage therapist?  Well, you’re not alone!  There are thousands of massage therapists within the United States and many more becoming nationally certified by the N.C.B.T.M.B every day.  More and more institutes and colleges are offering massage therapist programs.  Most accredited institutions offer programs that are 500-hours in duration.  Massage therapy students must take the following classes: human anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, hydrotherapy, orthopedic testing, range of motion, and clinical application.  The massage techniques applicable to a therapist are Effleurage, Petrissage, Tapotement, Roulement, Trigger Point Release, Myofascial Release, Cross-friction massage, Cyriax friction, Shiatsu, Rain-drop therapy, Sacral-Occipital Technique, and hydrotherapy applications.  Once graduated, the new therapist has many different options for employment such as spas, cruise ships, Chiropractic offices, wellness and fitness centers, acupuncture offices, physical therapy rehabilitation, and hospitals. 

N.B.C.T.M.B.

The National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork offer a specialized test to qualify candidates for national certification.  This test sets apart therapists among the field to ensure the public the highest level of safety and technique.  This certification demands that the therapist complete 50-hour of continuing education every four years with ethics being a major requirement.  In addition, they also require them to show proof of hand-on application throughout the 4-year time frame.           

Chakras 

       The goal of a tantric massage is to awaken the Kundalini and activate the chakras within the body.  Kundalini is an inactive but powerful energy located in the spine.  When Kundalini becomes active, it moves along the spine and encourages healing within the body.  Chakra means wheel or disc, and is a center of energy located in the spine.  There are roughly seven chakras located between the base of the spine and the neck.  During a tantric massage, the chakras become active and the body is able to heal itself more efficiently.  A person receiving this type of massage becomes more emotionally connected with themselves and can improve their mental well-being.   

Tantra massage is a massage technique that is often performed by couples in the privacy of their own homes.  Tantric massage is often talked about and explored in secrecy due to its intimate nature.  However, the true purpose of this massage’s technique to achieve a state of extreme relaxation and heightened sensual awareness.  Often, due to the techniques employed in tantric massage, it ends in orgasm.  By performing this technique, couples can help each other to achieve this state of relaxation while deepening and strengthening their relationship at the same time.

Beginning

In order to achieve the greatest results, it is recommended that couples should prepare a comfortable space for the massage, including pillows or towels to place under the head and pelvis of the person receiving the massage.  In addition, it is recommended that couples warm the massage oils and adjust the room temperature so that it is slightly warmer than usual.  To begin the massage, the person receiving the massage and the person giving the massage will remove all clothing.  Once the person receiving the massage is comfortable lying on the floor, he/she will be instructed to begin taking deep breaths.  In order to achieve a maximum state of relaxation, the person receiving the massage should try to focus on achieving a state of deep breathing with the breath filling the abdomen before gently exhaling.

Eye contact

Throughout the massage, the person giving the massage should make eye contact with the person receiving the massage. This increases the connection between the two and allows the person giving the massage to read the facial expressions of the person receiving the massage in order to know if the pressure and technique are appropriate.

What to expect

The person giving the massage will give a full body massage, starting with the back and extremities before advancing to personal areas such as the chest and genitals.  It is important to utilize a firm pressure, while being cautious in more sensitive areas not to apply too much pressure.  In addition, the massage should utilize long, slow strokes.  When massaging a females’ vaginal area, a firm pinching along the outer and then inner lips can often result in extreme relaxation and heightened sensation.  While massaging a male’s genital area, it is important to include a massage of the pelvic area just above the penis as well as the perineum area between the testicles and anus.  If the person receiving the massage appears close to orgasm at any time, it is important to back off of the technique you are using, remind the person to focus on deep breathing, and give the person a moment to regain his/her focus.  By the completion of the massage, the person receiving the massage has often come close to climax multiple times.  He/she can choose whether or not to complete the orgasm at the conclusion.  Regardless of that decision, it is important to allow the person who received the massage to relax and reflect for a while following the massage.

Tantra massage is a massage technique that requires a great deal of trust, openness, and acceptance between the person receiving the massage and the person giving the massage, as it is a very intimate massage technique.  During the tantric massage, the person receiving the massage should lay on his/her back and place a pillow under his/her head and hips.  The massage will begin by massaging areas like arms and legs before advancing to the stomach and more intimate areas.  It is important for the person receiving the massage to practice the appropriate breathing techniques in order to increase his/her ability to achieve a level of deep relaxation during this massage.  Following the completion of this tantric massage, the person receiving the massage should feel a greater awareness of their body physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Benefits

One of the underlying beliefs in tantric massage is that the body is capable of healing itself.  Therefore, tantric massage attempts to help the body heal itself by achieving a heightened awareness of its senses and a deep state of relaxation.  Tantric massage also focuses on stimulating the seven chakras that are believed to be located along the spine.  When these chakras are stimulated and working efficiently, they also improve the body’s ability to self-heal.  Because of the intense nature of tantric massage, individuals who utilize this technique may find themselves feeling more connected to the world around them.