Massage has been around for thousands of years. Throughout history, man has instinctively rubbed his injuries in an effort to relieve pain. Massage originally developed in Asian cultures according to their Philosophies, Spirituality, Theories on Energetic Movements, and Clinical Practices. It evolved in Europe and North America under the influence of early religious ideas, modern medicine, biology, and most recently sports models.

 The Western style of massage is commonly referred to as Swedish Massage. Susan Salvo, author of Massage Therapy—Principles and Practice defines Swedish Massage as “the systematic and scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of establishing and maintaining good health”. Swedish Massage is probably the most widely performed modality of massage in the North America today.