There are many types of massage, each making use of their own advantages to relieve stress, pain or enhance general wellbeing. Massage can be an ancient art with many variations based on the country of origin. I explore many of the most popular, explaining the procedure and their individual benefits.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage, the most popular worldwide, is also referred to as ‘Classic massage’ and is the foundation for most other styles of Western massage. It involves using firm but gentle pressure to promote relaxation, working on areas of specific muscle tension. It is performed on bare skin using oils or lotions. The therapist uses their hands, forearms or elbows to manipulate the superficial layers of the muscles. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, along with other metabolic wastes by increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, it increases the speed cells can eliminate their waste materials.

The five basic strokes of Swedish massage include:

Effleurage (sliding or gliding)

Petrissage (kneading)

Tapotement (rhythmic tapping)

Friction (cross fiber)

Vibration/shaking

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage, as the name implies, targets the deeper layers of muscle mass. Unlike Swedish massage, that is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage focuses on a specific problem, such as for example: Chronic pain. It treats the connective tissue of your body rather than just the top muscles. It is similar to Swedish massage but with slower movements and deeper pressure. Deep tissue massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and then the oxygen flow around the body. A deep tissue massage is very slow using long, flowing strokes to help ease in and out of the muscle. The aim of deep tissue massage isn’t to leave you feeling relaxed and blissful; rather, it can help to tackle particular physical, muscular problems to alleviate pain and restore normal movement.

Sports Massage

Sports massage was created for athletes, but is suitable for anybody with chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion problems. It focuses on the prevention and healing of injuries to muscles and tendons. Sports Massage differs from therapeutic massage in that this is a deeper type of soft tissue massage using specific ways to treat physically active individuals.

The different forms of massage include: Post-event – to create body tissues to normal state. Restorative – during training allows athletes to train harder and minimise chance of injury. Rehabilitative – aimed at alleviating pain because of injury. A sports massage is a superb choice if you have a specific problem sustained through sport. It stimulates blood circulation and lymph fluids that allows for optimal metabolic exchanges, enhanced recovery after intense training, better performance and decreased onset of muscle soreness along with reduces the chance of injury.

Indian Head Massage

Popular in Asia Indian Head Massage has been proven to be proficient at relieving stress, insomnia, headaches, migraine, tension, and sinusitis. The West has caught to its benefits deploying it as an instant de-stressing program.

Indian Head Massage is an extremely relaxing treatment which, as the name suggests, focuses on massaging the top. Indian Head Massage (Champissage) also contains massage of the shoulders, upper arms, neck, scalp, face and ears. The treatment uses a selection of different movements including deep kneading and compression movements on the neck, shoulder and scalp areas. Performed sitting upright in a chair, it can help to clear the mind since it revitalizes and improves alertness and concentration levels, whilst improving joint mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders.

Reflexology Massage

Reflexology, also known as zone therapy, is based on the concept that there are "reflex" areas on your feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands, along with other parts of the body. The underlying theory is that when pressure is applied to a particular reflex area, it affects the organ represented.

This seated treatment involves applying pressure to "Zone" areas on your feet and hands with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques minus the use of oil or lotion. Reflexology stimulates internal organs, boosts circulation and can restore bodily functions to normal.
서울 출장 promotes healing by stimulating the foot, which increases the flow of vital energy to various parts of the body and also releases endorphins (your body’s natural pain killers)

Hot Stone Massage

A hot stone massage is a full body treatment that uses smooth flat water heated stones placed along both sides of the spine (the chakra centres). The goal is to relax muscles and relieve tension very quickly. Differently weighted stones are used for different amounts of pressure.

Hot stone massage combines the proven great things about Swedish massage with the deep heat and pressure provided by using warm basalt stones and soothing oils to relax the muscles, allowing for a deeper and much more intense all-over massage. The stones are employed as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at light, medium or deep pressure levels in the treating sore muscles, back pain, stress and other common ailments. Benefits include the restoration of the body’s natural balance, deep muscle relaxation, improved circulation and the feeling of most over comfort and warmth.

Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu massage is really a traditional hands-on therapy while it began with Japan used to achieve the harmony of chi in your body. Shiatsu works overall being, from the physical to the spiritual.

Shiatsu, also called acupressure, is a finger pressure massage that involves acupressure techniques (without the needles) using hand, thumbs, elbows and knees incorporating pressure, holding, rubbing, heating or stretching movements and this can be deep and firm. Usually performed on a floor mat or futon, Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience which stimulates the body’s own healing systems and brings the body into balance, energetically and physically. Shiatsu massage is best known for relief of stress-related symptoms such as headaches and general muscle tension as well as increasing mental and spiritual awareness.

Neuromuscular Massage

Neuromuscular massage therapy is a deep type of tissue massage for reducing muscle pain through the stimulation of circulation to the nervous system. The theory behind neuromuscular massage is that whenever a muscle spasms – it is not in the entire muscle, but in a centralized area within the muscle. When blood circulation to that area is decreased it could then reverberate to the areas of the muscle, causing pain.

This treatment involves using static pressure centered on a particular area called a trigger point and will not involve massage of the complete body. Through the use of pressure to the trigger point for many seconds, the lactic acid build-up at the trigger point is dispersed. This relaxes the muscles by increasing the blood flow and oxygen available to them, which releases lactic acid and therefore the reason for pain, via the nervous system. Muscle pain and soreness are neutralized by repeated concentrated pressure over the trigger points.

Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy massage is comparable to Swedish massage with several positional adjustments. It is used to ease a few of the discomforts associated with pregnancy such as for example swelling in the legs, muscles and joint aches or reduced flexibility and circulation.

The massage is usually carried out with the mother on her side using special pillows to position her body for the greatest comfort. Also referred to as pre-natal massage, the treatment helps with relaxation, reduces stress and relieves strained back and leg muscles to improve the posture and reduce back strain. Pregnancy massage aids the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which allows healthy blood flow to the mother and her baby.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy massage uses highly concentrated plant oils, known as essential oils, which are added to the massage oil or lotion. This system combines the natural therapeutic properties of essential oils and the healing power of therapeutic massage. It really is very effective in relaxing and healing your brain, body and spirit and is often described as an extremely relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The oils are the most important area of the treatment, chosen for their therapeutic effect, and not just the fragrance to "therapeutically" stimulate the nasal/olfactory senses. These are administered as incense, oil diffusers, or scented oils applied right to the body, with respect to the need.