Autism impacts millions of people each year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 1 out of 59 children in the United States have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Families often look to various forms of medications and therapies to help manage symptoms of ASD. However, families who want a non-invasive way to manage ASD symptoms often turn to unique therapies. That’s where qigong massage therapy may offer help.
Qigong is a centuries-old system of techniques and practices that date back to Ancient China and focuses on the spirit, mind and body via meditative practices. Qigong massage therapy combines the elements of these ancient meditative practices and applies it to modern therapy as a way to help manage a variety of conditions, including ASD.
Qigong massage therapy offers both physical and mental health benefits. But it’s important to understand the basics, pros and cons of qigong massage therapy before your first session. Here’s what you should know:
What is Qigong Massage Therapy?
Qigong massage therapy is a non-invasive therapeutic massage that Qigong practitioners use to help manage a variety of conditions.
Qigong massage therapists use this form of massage therapy for a variety of purposes, such as managing pain, improve flexibility and posture, and enhancing sensory conditions.
This form of massage therapy often consists of mediation and graceful movement exercises that you may find simple and easy to do if it is your first time experiencing qigong massage therapy.
Qigong massage therapists often perform repetitive movements that stretches the body to help increase your blood circulation and movement of fluid in the body.
Qigong massage therapy is also ideal at any age thanks to its relaxing, simple-to-perform exercises. It’s a practice that’s frequently used to increase sensory awareness and improve ASD symptoms without the need for medication.
7 Benefits of Qigong Massage Therapy
There are good reasons why several parents and practitioners administer Qigong massage therapy to children and patients. That’s because Qigong massage therapy offers several benefits.
Here are seven benefits qigong massage therapy brings:
- Stress reduction: Qigong massage therapy is useful for reducing stress.
- Improved sleep: When you receive qigong massage therapy, you can take advantage of its calming effect to help improve your sleep. Practitioners believe Qigong helps remove negative energy from the body to help you relax. This may be due to the fact that regular massage sessions can help trigger the calming neurotransmitter serotonin. When you’re able to relax, you can sleep longer and improve your sleep quality.
- Injury Prevention: Some injuries occur due to the body’s locked ligaments or joints. When these ligaments are overstretched, they can cause an injury. But qigong massage therapy helps prevent injuries thanks to its simplistic, unforced movements. This can help improve ligament flexibility so you can better prevent potential injuries.
- Social Skills: Research indicates that qigong massage therapy may also play an important role in helping children with ASD improve their social skills thanks to its non-invasive techniques. This type of massage therapy also helps to stimulate the nerves, which can be helpful for children with ASD.
- Faster recovery time: If you’ve recently experienced an injury or surgery, you may find that qigong massage therapy plays an important role in speeding up recovery time. That’s because this type of therapy can increase blood circulation throughout the body.
- Digestion: With the movements you’re doing, you’re massaging your digestive organs. When you are massaging these organs, it will help increase the oxygenated blood. So, you may improve digestion too.
- Help lower blood pressure: Thanks to qigong massage therapy’s aid in improving circulation, you may also find this form of massage therapy helpful in increasing the elasticity of your blood vessels. Vascular elasticity impacts high and low blood pressure conditions. By improving vascular elasticity via qigong massage therapy, you can potentially lower your blood pressure and potentially reduce your need for medication.
What You Need to Know Before You Try Qigong Massage
Before you try qigong massage therapy, it’s important to know the pros and cons.
Research shows that this form of massage therapy is beneficial in reducing sensory issues with individuals who have autism. But not everyone is trained to perform this type of meditative massage therapy.
Also, there are different forms of qigong massage therapy. For example, some qigong massage therapists apply therapy via touch and acupuncture in addition to massage therapy.
How to Find a Qigong Massage Therapist
While you can find qigong massage therapists in your local directory, it’s always a good idea to get a few word-of-mouth referrals.
Where possible, get recommendations from trusted family members, friends, neighbors or co-workers who have experienced qigong massage therapy or who know of reputable massage therapist.
You can also conduct an online search or use mobile apps to find a reputable qigong massage therapist, such as Yelp or the Better Business Bureau.
Call the office of the practitioner you find and ask basic questions, including questions about their experience and expertise in qigong massage therapy. For example, you can inquire about the number of years or types of years they’ve practiced qigong massage therapy.
You can also find reputable qigong massage therapists via qigong organizations, such as the National Qigong Association or the Qigong Institute.
Finding a reputable qigong massage therapist also calls for verifying the therapist’s credentials. So, consider asking the massage therapist about her training, too.
Final Thoughts
From improving your sleep to preventing injury, qigong massage therapy offers a variety of benefits. But it’s important to consider what’s involved and the person who is performing the massage.
By asking the massage therapist about his experience, training and his process, you can find the right therapist to fit your needs.
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