10 Massage Fun Facts

a masseur giving a back massage: text: 10 massage fun facts Massage has been around for a very long time and is enjoyed by a huge amount of people. But there are always new things to learn and enjoy. Here are a few massage fun facts that you might not realize about your favorite massage therapy!

1. Bob Hope got a session every day and lived to be 100

Isn’t that a reason to get your next massage session in your planner right away? If not, we don’t know what it is!

2. The longest ever ‘massage chain’ involved 1600 people

A massage chain involves three or more people arrange in a line, with each person giving the next in line a massage. The longest massage chain ever recorded was 1,600 people long. The Philippine Association of Licensed Massage Therapists is the event organizer of the massage chain. The event was held in Boracay, Malay Aklan, Philippines, on 16 May 2014. The chain went along the beach in Boracay.

3. The most people to be massaged at once is 641

This feat was achieved by the Department of Health Service Support Ministry of Public Health (Thailand). It was held in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on 30 August 2012. There were 641 couples and a total of 1,282 people involved in this record attempt. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, initiates this event.

4. Only blind and visually impaired people can practice massage in South Korea

According to lawmakers in South Korea’s constitutional court, professional massage services should only be carried out by blind people. Because generally, blind people, as they say, have fewer career choices. If you’re caught massaging when you’re not visually impaired, you could end up getting a fine or be in prison. You’ll be spending five years in prison or £35,000 in fines.

5. Julius Caesar was a massage fan

In 100-44 BC Julius Caesar enjoyed massage therapy daily to relieve his neuralgia and epileptic seizures. It didn’t make him any nicer, mind you.

6. The European Patent Office lists nearly 45,000 patented appliances and devices

That is such a huge number of patented massage appliances and devices. The world’s first electric massage chair was invented in 1950. The inventor was a man with a fragile, sickly daughter. He just wanted to be able to get her the benefits of a massage whenever she needed it.

7. ‘Massage’ as a word, has been around officially since the 15th Century

Although it didn’t mean the same as it does now. The earliest recorded use of the word ‘massage’ according to the English language was around 1450. That is when it meant “the action of saying Mass.” It took on the modern meaning of massage in 1866. The words ‘masseur’ and ‘masseuse’ were added in 1876 and 1879, respectively.

8. Almost one in five Americans has had a massage in the past year

According to AMTA’s 2017 Consumer Survey, an average of 19 % of adult Americans has had at least one massage between July 2016 and July 2017. More than one in three of us (33%) has had a massage in the previous five years. Let’s get that figure up!

9. Snake massaging is actually a THING

Snake massage started to appear online in 2013. People still try it in some countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It involves washing the snakes, then laying back and letting them slither around you. But there are still a few rules to make sure your massage experience stays safe. Do not shout even if the whole experience frightened you.

In the Philippines, the snakes are fed TEN chickens before they get to work. That is to stop them from doing what snakes do naturally… er; no thanks.

10. Swedish technique isn’t actually Swedish!

‘Swedish’ massage techniques are often credited to Swedish fencing instructor Per Henrik Ling. In fact, it was Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger who developed the treatment. He also gave all the strokes the names they have held on to this day. Effleurage, for the smooth gliding strokes; petrissage for squeezing, rolling, and kneading; and tapotement, the rhythmic tapping.

There may be more massage fun facts that we can discuss. But let’s keep it there. Call us or book in for a massage, and who knows, you might live to be 100 too.

 

Brilliant Massage & Skin

Burlington, Vermont