You’ve decided to make the appointment for your long overdue massage. Congratulations! Expect to feel much better once the kinks have been worked out and your mind has been soothed into relaxation–IF you have chosen the appropriate massage technique to partake in. Below is a menu of several common modalities to choose from.

1) Swedish Massage
This is the type of massage you’re probably most familiar with, whether you’ve received massage or not. When you witness massage on TV or movies, this is typically the massage you’re seeing because it is the most common type of massage in the United States. Swedish Massage consists of long, gliding strokes, grabbing and kneading muscles and fascia (the sheath of tissue over the muscles), light chopping or tapping on the layers of skin, fascia and muscle. This type of massage uses massage lotion or oil. Swedish Massage is often referred to as relaxation massage as it is very soothing and the best type to try if you’ve never experienced massage before.

2) Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)
Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure or friction on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. With NMT, the therapist manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments) to balance the central nervous system while addressing Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress. Over a series of three to five sessions, NMT can create lasting changes and severely reduce pain associated with accute or chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

3) Hot Stone Massage
Smooth, heated, stones are placed with gentle pressure and robbed on specific points on the body. This technique loosens and warms hypertonic or tight muscles and also helps to balance the chakra or energy centers of the body. Hot Stone Massage is often combined with Swedish Massage to provide extreme relaxation in a light pressured session.

4) Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is essentially Swedish Massage but deeper to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is effective for people who have overall tension and tightness as the massage therapist uses slower strokes or friction techniques across the grain of the muscle. As with NMT, clients may often feel slightly sore for a day or so after their sessions. This soreness can be eased by soaking in an epsom salt bath.

5) Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians. Each point is held for for 2 to 8 seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance. It is relaxing yet the pressure is firm. This form of massage, like Thai Massage, is usually performed fully clothed on a padded mat or floor.

6) Thai Massage
Like shiatsu, Thai massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle compression on specific points along the sen lines that effect different systems and organs of the body. In Thai massage
the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures. It’s often called “the lazy man’s yoga” because it’s like yoga without doing any work. Thai massage is more energizing than other forms of massage and it is extremely effective at reducing stress and improving flexibility and range of motion.

7) Pregnancy Massage
Also called pre-natal massage, pregnancy massage helps to reduce stress, decrease swelling, relieve aches and pains, and reduce anxiety and depression in expectant mothers.This type of massage is performed by massage therapists who received specific training and certification. These trained massage therapists know the proper way to position and support the woman’s body during the massage, and how to modify and customize techniques to a woman’s individual needs.

8) Reflexology
Although Reflexology is sometimes mistaken for simple foot massage, it is much more than that. Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain accupressure points on the feet, hands and ears that correspond to organs and systems in the body. Reflexology is very relaxing, and especially beneficial for people who spend long hours on their feet or have been resistant to other body therapies as they remain fully clothed (except their feet, of course).

9) Sports Massage
Sports massage is specifically designed for people who are involved in physical activity but you certainly don’t have to be a professional athlete to receive one. It involves assisted stretching and myofascial release techniques to address long held patterns or pain or specific repetitive stress injuries caused by overusing muscle groups. It is effective for athletes as trained massage therapists perform specific pre-event, during activity and post event sessions that prevents and treats injury and enhances athletic performance.

10) Integrative Massage
This is a type of massage that will combine whatever techniques the massage therapists finds appropriate for the session. The only limitations are the massage therapist’s skills, their flexibility of performing certain “floor” techniques on a table, and time. These sessions are often booked for more than the average one hour as they will involve a lot more treatment than an hour could allow.

These are just 10 of many type of bodywork techniques to choose from to keep you feeling flexible, tension-free and relaxed. It is important to remember to ask prospective massage therapists about their abilities and training in any of the above mentioned modalities before booking a session. You’ll want to make sure that the therapist has experience and or specific training in the massage technique you have interest in. Following any massage sessions, it is always a good idea to drink plenty of water to help flush the toxins that are released from your muscles into your bloodstream during your treatment. If soreness persists after your session take a 10-20 minutes warm bath with two cups of Epsom salt to assist with this flushing process and further release tension.

Now that you know the basic differences, you have a better chance of booking the best session for the results your looking for! Hopefully the therapist you choose will become your reliable source of stress reduction from now on.


Explore other posts about: , , , , , ,