Chest and abdomen – too “intimate” for a massage?

The chest and the abdomen are two areas of the body that often get neglected during a full body massage. Why?

The reason usually lies in the fact that this region is regarded as “intimate”. Many therapists therefore pass over the chest and abdomen – presumably assuming that they are sparing their clients an awkward feeling.

There are, however, many good reasons why this part of the body should be massaged as well.

The chest houses many vital organs such as the lungs and the heart, which are essential to good health. Massaging this area helps to stimulate those organs by increasing circulation.

The abdominal massage benefits all the organs located in the abdomen and is particularly helpful with digestive problems, as it improves intestinal movement. Food is digested better as a result, and complaints such as bloating can be reduced. The pressure used during an abdominal massage must of course be adapted to the sensitivity of this region.