History of Massage

Although massage is widely used today, it's actually an ancient method of treatment that was well known 5,000 years ago.

The first record of massage as a treatment was found in India around 3000 BC, used to relieve pain and prevent disease — there was a belief that illness arose from a lack of harmony with oneself and one's surroundings, and massage was a way to restore that balance.

Healing massage techniques were later used in China, evolving as a combination of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and Buddhist and Daoist spiritual practices. The ancient Chinese are also the founders of acupuncture and acupressure.

A few centuries later, massage was known in ancient Egypt, where reflexology developed. Inspired by the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks and Romans also began using the healing power of massage — in Greece it was especially popular among athletes preparing for competition.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, began treating physical injuries with massage techniques in the 5th century BC, and was the first to recommend massage, a healthy diet, physical activity, fresh air and music as a basis for restoring and maintaining health.

The beginnings of modern massage therapy

In the early 1800s, Swedish doctor, gymnast and teacher Per Henrik Ling created a method to relieve chronic pain — a prelude to what we now know as Swedish massage. Johann Georg Mezger is credited as the founder of various massage techniques still used today.

Massage in our time

Demand for massage therapists increased in the early 1900s, and around 1930 massage therapy became a recognised form of medicine. As awareness of healthy living and holistic health grew, massage therapy underwent a significant transformation into what we know today.