Massage has many benefits. It’s a great way to relax and rejuvenate an it also has numerous proven medical benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to pain management.
Massage therapy has a long history in cultures around the world. Today, people use many different types of massage therapy for any variety of health-related purposes. Massage has many benefits. It’s an excellent way to relax and rejuvenate. It also has numerous proven medical benefits ranging from lowering blood pressure to pain management.
Here, in this article, we are listing just a few of the better known massage techniques, having a short definition and description of how each the first is performed.
Deep Tissue Massage
This type of massage goes beyond the surface of the skin and underlying soft tissue to deep areas of the muscle and to the “belly” of the muscle. As the name suggests, “deep” is the key word here. This connective tissue, when traumatized, inflamed or restricted can produce a great deal of pain and restrict motion of the body.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy Massage is the perfect pairing of two ancient alternative healing modalities, Aromatherapy and Massage Therapy. In Aromatherapy Massage, essential oils are integrated into the oil that is massaged into your skin. Alternately, essential oils might be diffused into the air. Aromatherapy is used to relieve tension, reduce pain and inflammation, influence mood, ease cramping, aid digestion, relieve sinus congestion and far too many other benefits to mention here.
Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurveda is really a natural five thousand year-old health care system originating in India that includes a combination of massage, yoga, meditation, herbal remedies and diet. Ayurvedic massage is generally performed by one or two therapists utilizing a heated blend of herbal oils based on the Ayurveda system of whole body healing.
Deep Tissue
Deep Tissue describes a number of different massage techniques used to access deeper layers of muscle tissue and fascia. It’s often used to reduce pain and inflammation and to help rehabilitate injuries. Deep Tissue massage can be coupled with other types of massage therapy such as myofascial release or trigger point therapy. Deep Tissue does not need to be painful to be effective and in fact can seem to be really good.
Thai Massage
Considered one of the most energizing of massage styles, it calls for the therapist moving and stretching the client right into a series of yoga-like positions. The practitioner often pulls the client’s toes, fingers, ears, etc., as well as cracks knuckles and uses the client’s back. A typical Thai massage session lasts between one to two hours.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is the fastest growing massage technique. Sports massage is really a system of movements including stretching, gliding, compressings. Sports massage’s main concentrates on the manipulation and rehabilitation of the soft tissues and blood circulation and flow. Sports massage is usually used for sports training, injury prevention and rehabilitation — it enables athletes to train more efficiently.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu is a type of Japanese massage which uses pressure from fingers, thumbs, knees, elbows and feet to improve the body’s flow of significant energy known as ‘Ki’. The technique involves applying the pressure to regions of sensitivity along the energy meridians to advertise good health and relaxation as well as preventing stress build up and treating specific ailments.
Types of Massage Therapy
Hot Stone Massage
In Hot Stone Massage, warmed basalt or other stones are massaged over the body with warm oil. Hot Stone is one of the most relaxing and sedating types of massage therapy. It is a great option for people with insomnia. The heat from the stones burns up tension and reduces tight muscles to jelly.
Swedish Massage
By far the most popular form of massage, Swedish Massage is so common that it’s often known generically as relaxation massage or even just simply massage. Used most often for its relaxation benefits, Swedish massage is the common “introductory” technique for people who’ve never experienced massage before.