There are so many types of massage that it can be hard to know which one is right for you. This blog post will outline the six most common types of massage and explain how to choose the right one for your needs. Whether you’re looking for relaxation, pain relief, or something else entirely, there’s a message out there that can help! So read on to learn more about the different types of massage and massage finder is the one that’s perfect for you.
1. Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a general term that refers to massage done by therapists who have completed at least 900 hours of training. This form of massage usually involves the application of pressure and techniques such as kneading, stroking, and rubbing to help relieve pain or stress in muscles and joints. Therapists may also employ hot stones, aromatherapy, and hot towels during a massage. Massage therapy is most often used to treat specific conditions such as lower back pain and arthritis.
2. Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common type of massage due to its ability to relax the muscles, improve circulation, ease soreness or stiffness, and reduce stress. Massage therapists use five basic strokes in Swedish massage: effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and vibration/shaking. Although each massage therapist may use slightly different techniques, the purpose of all Swedish Massages is to soothe your body and mind according to your individual needs.
3. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a form of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. Therapists apply moderate to firm pressure to relieve tension in the body by targeting areas such as the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. Instead of long, fluid strokes like you might experience during a Swedish Massage, deep tissue massage uses slower strokes that focus on specific problem areas. You may experience some soreness after a deep tissue massage but it should subside within a day or two.
4. Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu Massage comes from the Japanese words shi (finger) and atsu (pressure) and is a form of alternative medicine involving finger pressure on acupressure points. Massage therapists use their fingers, thumbs, elbows, knees, and feet to apply deep finger pressure to specific points throughout the body that are tied to other parts of your body by energy meridians. Unlike Swedish massage which is performed fully clothed, shiatsu massage uses minimal clothing so the therapist can access the pressure points more easily.
5. Sports Massage
Sports Massage includes a variety of techniques that are used to prevent injuries, accelerate recovery time after an injury, and improve athletic performance. Massage therapists replicate movements performed by your muscles during exercise to increase blood flow (known as “tissue perfusion”), flexibility, and range of motion. Sports Massage is usually performed on athletes who are preparing for a big event such as a marathon or an athletic competition.
6. Trigger Point Massage
Trigger points are highly sensitive spots in muscles that cause other areas to feel pain when pressed. Massaging these trigger points can help reduce muscle tension and pain, improve circulation, and increase flexibility. Massage therapists often use their fingers to locate trigger points in the muscle before applying targeted pressure to relax the muscles.
Though this isn’t an exhaustive list of all possible massages, these are some of the most common types performed by massage therapists.
How do you do a full-body massage?
To do a full-body massage, start with a few light strokes to relax the entire body. Massage oil into the skin and then work your way down from head to toe.
Massaging from head to toe reduces stress by applying pressure on muscles as they tense up. Massage the neck and shoulders first because many people carry tension in this area. Massaging the feet can boost circulation.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we’ve gone over six types of massage and how to determine the best type for you. We hope that by now it should be clear which a better fit is given your personal needs and preferences. If not, don’t worry! The last thing we want is for people to suffer from chronic pain or other medical conditions because they didn’t know what type of massage would work well with their body.
