Massage has been a commonplace practice in alternative health and medicine since as early as 3000 BC. Since then, massage has undergone many changes and adaptations with literally hundreds of different types of massage, as well as many different products to facilitate the practice. One more recent addition to the massage market is massage cream. Massage cream provides many benefits to the massage practitioner, making it a popular choice in massage clinics and spas across the country.
Friction
One main benefit of using a massage cream over other lubricants is its balance between friction and glide. In some types of massage, such as deep tissue, you need enough lubrication to reduce friction on the client's skin in order to glide easily across the skin, but you also still need enough resistance on the skin to massage deep into the muscle. Massage creams provide just enough glide to keep the client comfortable while still allowing the practitioner to manipulate the muscle tissue.
No Stains
When performing a massage with massage oils, you risk the chance of staining your linens, including your draping material and bottom sheet. If your client chooses to keep some clothing on, you also risk the chance of staining their clothes with the oils. However, most massage creams do not contain ingredients that will stain fabric.
Moisturizing
Many massage creams can also work as moisturizing agents on the skin due to their emollient qualities. Emollients are substances which provide a thin protective layer over the skin, preventing moisture loss from the stratum corneum layer of the skin by slowing its evaporation, states the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Comfort
Massage creams leave your client feeling less oily after the massage than if you use oil on their skin. If you have ever received a massage with massage oils, you know that you often feel the need to shower after your massage to remove the excess oil from your skin. With a massage cream, your client does not leave the table feeling greasy.
Less Product
Another benefit of massage cream is that it takes less product use through the course of each massage. Some massage lubricants, such as lotion, dry up too quickly, resulting in a regular need to interrupt the flow of the massage by removing your hands from the client in order to apply more lubricant. Massage cream lasts longer on the skin, reducing the need for more product.
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