RELAXATION Web site offers the full rub on the world of massage

The site provides educational opportunity for those interested in massage and its advantages.
By SUSAN COBURN
STAMFORD ADVOCATE
Who wouldn't benefit from a massage? Whether it's after a hard day of work, a long flight in a cramped airplane or a particularly grueling exercise regimen, a massage offers the perfect means of relieving the stresses of our everyday lives.
However, not all massages are created equal. With that in mind, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), an international organization founded in 1943, aims to ensure that your massage is conducted under certain ethics and standards. In particular, the association backs the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, formed to serve as the standard bearer for massage therapist licensure. The majority of 30 states that regulate massage now use this standard.
To learn more about the AMTA's programs, educational opportunities and much more in the area of massage therapy, turn to the organization's office at www.amtamassage.org.
The site might look rather ordinary at first glance, but inside, visitors will findmyriad bells and whistles. The home page provides the standard format of links to the major sections of the site, as well as recent news of interest. Visitors can access a search function and a site map, to ensure better navigation through the site. Contact information includes snail mail and e-mail addresses.
A quick tour
To get a firm handle on massage and its many benefits, head to the Massage Information Center link, a one-stop source for information and references regarding massage benefits as well as various methods and techniques. This area also highlights alternative and holistic care as it relates to massage therapy.
Topics within the Information Center are organized by general subject. For example, under the Research topic, the content focuses on the results of recent consumer surveys on massage conducted by the organization, in addition to other relevant clinical studies and research initiatives.
As another example, the topic of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder lists recent articles outlining the benefits of massage as one form of treatment.
All of the sources for this information, as throughout the site, are cited to enable visitors to validate the content.
The real fun, however, begins in the Massage Room link. Peaceful music will fill the room as you enter this link, and you will find yourself relaxing almost immediately. Peruse the library of books on massage (cleverly organized within a realistic looking bookshelf) or, if you want to determine your stress level, take the online test with immediate results.
Also, don't miss the tip of the week. The current tip is for those of us who clench our jaws while we sleep, an unhealthy and often dangerous habit that massage can help to relieve.