MASSAGE is well known as a means of relieving stress but its usefulness extends well beyond that. Sports injuries, household accidents, poor circulation, even posture, can all be improved through regular therapy.

According to the Bermuda Massage Therapy Associaton (BMTA), the island's body of experts, massage therapy involves more than a gentle rubdown and is most beneficial when administered by a certified practitioner.

Promoting the many benefits of therapeutic massage, and the importance of having such techniques administered by a certified professional, is a task BMTA president Marlene Minks, and vice-president Glenn Robinson have recently undertaken.

As part of that, they hope to see an Act written into the Constitution which would require differentiation between people who give massages and qualified therapists.

"Our goal is to protect the public and promote professional awareness," explained Miss Minks.

"Massage therapy is becoming more involved in the health community and certified massage therapists have seen an increase in clients referred to us by medical doctors for specific conditions.

"Massage is a gentle therapy that can relieve pain, and in combination with other appropriate health care measures, can help heal certain conditions and prevent their return. In some cases, massage can reduce or even eliminate the need for medication or surgery."

The BMTA was formed with eight members in 1997. Today, its membership has more than doubled ? to 19 ? all of whom have graduated from an accredited and approved therapeutic and/or medical massage programmes in the United Kingdom, the United States, or Canada.

Explained therapist and BMTA member Richard Johnson: "The BMTA is based on the American Massage Association which sets down specific rules and regulations, one being that training must be done in a recognised school and (the student) must have done a minimum of 600 hours ? 200 of those in physiology and anatomy before they even start to do massage.

"Our aim is to have a group of people who are licensed, registered and protected by law."

There are many kinds of massage ? too many to list, according to the BMTA ? but Swedish is the technique the average person is most familiar with; long, flowing strokes, deep kneading, surface friction, light tapping and joint movement.

Many therapists, however, are trained in specialised types of bodywork which they may use exclusively, or in some combination. For example, there are special techniques to relieve painful trigger points, relax contracted fascia (the muscle's protective coverings), realign and heal injured tissue, aid lymph drainage or restore the natural balance and flow of energy throughout the body.

"What we want to do is to increase awareness in the public," Mr. Robinson explained. "To let them know that there is alternative treatment to traditional medicine that can be used in conjunction with traditional medicine or on its own to help reduce stress and anxiety and to bring about harmony in the body."

Added Miss Minks: "We want to let people know that there's more to massage than relaxation when a certified therapist is involved. We're more a part of the healing process and, because of that, we have clients referred to us by doctors all the time. We see people who have suffered strokes, people with poor circulation, with muscular problems, the elderly, the terminally ill."

Massage therapy could bring varying degrees of relief to most pathological problems, Mr. Robinson said.

"It can be adjunctive therapy, or on its own. The public isn't aware of all we can do and we're trying to educate them, to let them know that massage therapy is a viable option for them. Having said that, should a patient come in and we realise what they require is beyond our capabilities, we immediately refer them to an appropriate professional." According to the BMTA, among its many benefits, massage increases circulation and lymphatic flow, helps eliminate toxins from the muscles, relaxes muscles and relieves pain, strengthens muscles and releases muscle spasms, increases human performance capability, provides us with an effective form of non-verbal communication and, perhaps most importantly, feels good.

As such, it may be used for general health maintenance, relaxation and stress reduction, to enhance athletic performance and to express love and caring for another human being.

"Massage is a healing art as well as a science. It requires a balance of academic and technical knowledge, clinical skills, manual dexterity, sensitivity and awareness. Nearly everyone has the innate resources to touch another with care and confidence ? however, it takes a sincere desire to help others, along with a commitment to the time, energy and focus necessary for the training process, in order to become a solid practitioner.

"Massage on normal tissue is almost always a pleasant sensation. Massage therapists specialise in soft tissues of the body and use mechanical and reflex effects to increase circulation and help the heart contract stronger. At the same time, massage therapy helps to decrease the heart rate and blood pressure, aid in waste elimination, and is a direct aid in dealing with the over-stressed lifestyles present in our society. "

DDS theBMTA: "Reducing stress gives you more energy, improves your outlook on life, and in the process, reduces your likelihood of injury and illness. Massage can also relieve symptoms of conditions that are aggravated by anxiety such as asthma or insomnia. Because it relieves stress, massage is an excellent supportive therapy for people in psychological counselling or treatment for addiction."

And, for those uninitiated to massage, the experience is best described by the BMTA:

"Working in the area of an injury or chronic pain may at first cause some discomfort, (however that) usually lessens in the first few minutes. Your massage therapist knows ways to minimise pain and will work carefully within what feels right to you.

"Massage on healthy tissue feels good. The normal response is to slow down, breathe deeply and relax. Some people are surprised to find that a massage doesn't tickle. Your massage therapist uses gentle but firm pressure, gradually preparing you for deeper touch.

"The saying 'no pain, no gain' is not true for massage and bodywork. The most effective and deepest massage works with the body's natural responses, not against them. After a session, most people feel very relaxed.

"Many experience freedom from aches and pains that have built up over months of tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience an increase in energy that can last for several days."

For more on massage and its benefits, telephone the BMTA at 293-8636.