26/10/2015
Types of Massage
There are a variety of different styles, types and techniques of massage utilized by massage therapists. I have provided a description of some of the more popular and well known types of massage being used today.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly.
Traditional Thai Massage
Thai Massage is most different from other forms of massage in that there is no oil used, it is done on a comfortable floor mat (not on a table), and that the client remains comfortable clothed throughout the massage. Thai massage enhances strength and flexibility, relaxes sore or tense muscles, and can help to recapture lost range of motion. It is called "yoga for lazy people" because I do the stretches for you which are called passive stretches. If you have not tried before I strongly recommended to do so. For people with serious body injuries, a free consultation is required.
Note: you must wear confortable sport clothing for this massage.
I did my Thai massage training in Chiang Mai - Thailand.
Sport Massage
Sports massage is actually a form of Swedish massage that is delivered to athletes. Most commonly, sports massage focuses on increasing blood and lymphatic fluid flow, reducing and eliminating pain as well as tender trigger points, and increasing range of motion of the affected area. Sports massages can be broken into 4 distinct types - the pre-event sports massage, the post-event sports massage, the restorative sports massage and the rehabilitative sports massage. As the names indicate, each type of sports massage has a different focus for the athlete as they are delivered at different times during their training and performance schedule.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage is a very specific massage that is done to treat bad injuries. It uses a mix of massage techniques like deep tissue, some stretches, trigger points . All this just to work on specific pains or injuries. A full body massage is not done within this massage. The whole time is to be spent on those affected areas. It is the most popular massage for active people. When there are more that three areas that need specific treatment, more that one hour treatment is highly recommended.
Stone Massage
A stone massage uses warm stones to apply pressure and heat to the body. Stones coated in oil can also be used by the therapist delivering various massaging strokes. The warm stones used are commonly river stones which over time, have become extremely polished and smooth. As the stones are used along the recipient's back, they help to retain heat which then deeply penetrates into the muscles, releasing tension. This warm stones are to be used on the back, neck and shoulders only.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a light touch kind of massage that uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. It has also been shown to be helpful in individuals with poor circulation.
Foot Massage
After a day or a week of abusing your feet because of your job or your sport activity, your feet get really tight, tense and sometimes sore or swollen. This conditions block the energy flow through your body making you feeling tired and weak. Releasing all this tension, give you back your energy level and you can function better. This massage is done on the feet and and the calf muscles only.
