The Story about Massage Schools and Education

The history of massage education and schools around the world spans centuries and varies significantly across different cultures and regions. Here’s a brief overview:

1. Ancient Civilizations: Massage has roots in ancient civilizations such as China, Egypt, Greece, and India. These cultures developed various techniques and practices for therapeutic touch, which were often passed down through oral tradition and apprenticeship.

2. Chinese Massage: In China, massage therapy has been practiced for thousands of years as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Techniques such as Tui Na and acupressure were developed to balance the body’s energy (Qi) and promote healing.

3. Indian Ayurveda: Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system of India, includes massage as an integral part of its therapies. Ayurvedic massage techniques focus on balancing the body’s doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and promoting overall wellness.

4. Greek and Roman Influence: In ancient Greece and Rome, massage was commonly practiced in public baths and gymnasiums. Greek physicians like Hippocrates advocated for the therapeutic benefits of massage, and Roman baths offered massage services for relaxation and health.

5. Middle Ages: During the Middle Ages, massage continued to be practiced, often within monasteries and by healers who integrated Christian beliefs with traditional healing methods.

6. Renaissance and Modern Era: With the Renaissance came a renewed interest in anatomy and the human body. European physicians and anatomists began to study massage techniques more systematically. In the 19th and 20th centuries, massage gained recognition as a legitimate therapeutic practice in the West, leading to the establishment of formal massage schools and training programs.

7. 20th Century: Massage therapy gained popularity in the United States and Europe during the 20th century. Schools and institutions were established to teach various massage modalities, including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and sports massage.

8. Modern Trends: In recent decades, the field of massage therapy has continued to evolve, with a growing emphasis on evidence-based practice, professional standards, and specialization in areas such as prenatal massage, oncology massage, and manual lymphatic drainage.

Today, massage education and schools can be found worldwide, offering a range of programs and certifications tailored to different modalities and approaches to massage therapy. These institutions provide comprehensive training in anatomy, physiology, massage techniques, ethics, and professionalism, preparing students for careers in healthcare, wellness, and rehabilitation.

The only Massage Method on UNISCO’s world heritage list is Thai massage. It came on the list back in December 2019 after the 3rd IMA World Championship in Massage.

• Text by Jeppe Tengbjerg

Here it is one of the World Champions of that year Thippawan Noree:

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