You will find various types of massage, each with their particular benefits to alleviate stress, pain or enhance general wellbeing. Massage is an ancient art with many variations with regards to the country of origin. I explore some of typically the most popular, explaining the procedure and their individual benefits.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage, typically the most popular worldwide, can be called ‘Classic massage’ and is the foundation for most other kinds of Western massage. It involves using firm but gentle pressure to advertise relaxation, focusing on regions of specific muscle tension. It is conducted on bare skin using oils or lotions. The therapist uses their hands, forearms or elbows to control the superficial layers of the muscles. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, it escalates the speed body cells can eliminate their waste materials.
Deep Tissue Massage, whilst the name implies, centers around the deeper layers of muscle tissue. Unlike Swedish massage, that will be employed for relaxation, deep tissue massage centers around a certain problem, such as for example: Chronic pain. It treats the connective tissue of the human body rather than simply the outer lining muscles. It resembles Swedish massage but with slower movements and deeper pressure. Deep tissue massage helps to refresh and relax muscles, increasing the blood flow and therefore the oxygen flow round the body. A strong tissue massage is extremely slow using long, flowing strokes to help relieve in and from the muscle. The goal of deep tissue massage is not to leave you feeling relaxed and blissful; rather, it helps to tackle particular physical, muscular problems to alleviate pain and restore normal movement.
Sports Massage
Sports massage was designed for athletes, but is suited to anyone with chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion problems. It centers around the prevention and healing of injuries to muscles and tendons. Sports Massage differs from therapeutic massage in that it’s a deeper form of soft tissue massage using specific techniques to deal with physically active individuals.
The different types of massage include: Post-event – to bring body tissues to normalcy state. Restorative – during training allows athletes to coach harder and minimise chance of injury. Rehabilitative – directed at alleviating pain as a result of injury. A sports massage is a great choice if you have a certain problem sustained through sport. It stimulates circulation of blood and lymph fluids which allows for optimal metabolic exchanges, enhanced recovery after intense training, better performance and decreased onset of muscle soreness as well as reduces the possibility of injury.
Indian Head Massage is just a very relaxing treatment which, whilst the name suggests, centers around massaging the head. Indian Head Massage (Champissage) also contains massage of the shoulders, upper arms, neck, scalp, face and ears. The therapy uses a range of different movements including deep kneading and compression movements on the neck, shoulder and scalp areas. Performed sitting upright in a couch, it helps to clear the mind as it revitalizes and improves alertness and concentration levels, whilst improving joint mobility and flexibility in the neck and shoulders.
Reflexology Massage
Reflexology, also called zone therapy, is on the basis of the concept that there are “reflex” areas on the feet and hands that match specific organs, glands, and the rest of the body. The underlying theory is when pressure is put on a certain reflex area, it affects the organ represented.
This seated treatment involves applying pressure to “Zone” areas on the feet and hands with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the usage of oil or lotion. Reflexology stimulates internal organs, boosts circulation and can restore bodily functions to normal. Reflexology promotes healing by stimulating the foot, which escalates the flow of vital energy to differing of the human body as well as releases endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers)
Hot stone massage combines the proven advantages of Swedish massage with the deep heat and pressure provided by using warm basalt stones and soothing oils 마사지 to relax the muscles, enabling a deeper and more intense all-over massage. The stones are utilized as tools to provide effective tissue and muscle massage at light, medium or deep pressure levels in the treatment of sore muscles, back pain, stress and other common ailments. Benefits are the restoration of the body’s natural balance, deep muscle relaxation, improved circulation and the feeling of over comfort and warmth.
Shiatsu, also called acupressure, is a finger pressure massage which involves acupressure techniques (without the needles) using hand, thumbs, elbows and knees incorporating pressure, holding, rubbing, heating or stretching movements which may be deep and firm. Usually performed on a floor mat or futon, Shiatsu is just a deeply relaxing experience which stimulates the body’s own healing systems and brings the human body into balance, energetically and physically. Shiatsu massage is better known for relief of stress-related symptoms such as for example headaches and general muscle tension as well as increasing mental and spiritual awareness.
Neuromuscular Massage
Neuromuscular massage therapy is just a deep form of tissue massage for reducing muscle pain through the stimulation of circulation to the nervous system. The idea behind neuromuscular massage is that whenever a muscle spasms – it is not in the entire muscle, however in a centralized area within the muscle. When blood flow compared to that area is decreased it could then reverberate to other regions of the muscle, causing pain.
This treatment involves using static pressure centered on a certain area called a trigger point and doesn’t involve massage of the entire body. By making 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 for them, which releases lactic acid and thus the reason for pain, via the nervous system. Muscle pain and soreness are neutralized by repeated concentrated pressure on the trigger points.
The massage is usually carried out with the mother on her behalf side using special pillows to put her body for the best comfort. Also called pre-natal massage, the procedure helps with relaxation, reduces stress and relieves strained back and leg muscles to fix 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, called essential oils, which are added to the massage oil or lotion. This technique combines the natural therapeutic properties of essential oils and the healing power of massage therapy. It can be very effective in relaxing and healing the mind, body and spirit and is often referred to as an extremely relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The oils are the most important the main treatment, chosen due to their therapeutic effect, and not just the fragrance to “therapeutically” stimulate the nasal/olfactory senses. They are administered as incense, oil diffusers, or scented oils applied right to the human body, with regards to the need.