TYPES OF MASSAGE
Before you pick up the phone to schedule your next massage appointment or spa visit, select a treatment that will give you the results you want. The list below can help answer your questions and set your expectations.
Swedish: Swedish massage is the most commonly practiced type of massage in Western countries. The practice consists of applying different amounts of pressure to different points on the body - with the larger muscle groups such as the back receiving more pressure then the smaller groups such as the hands and face. Relaxation is always the focus of Swedish massage.
Deep Tissue: Another common Western treatment is deep tissue. This treatment is great for specific sore areas, and will focus on the root cause of a particular pain source, such as tight shoulders or a sore back. The therapist will work intensely on the muscles and connective tissues you specify to release toxins and restore positive circulation. This treatment is wonderful for both pain relief and overall relaxation.
Stone Therapy: This type of treatment can involve hot or cold stones, or both depending on where you go. Types of stones used range from granite to lava and come in different sizes, shapes and weights. A therapist will place stones on strategic points along your spine and will also use their hands to work certain areas. Stones used in massage help to warm and open the tissue making it more receptive to treatment, leaving the body pulsating with energy and warmth.
Reflexology: The focus of this treatment is mostly on the feet and sometimes hands. Within the hands and feet are specific points that connect with different zones in the body. By applying pressure to a specific zone, a therapist can discover imbalances and release blockage, thus restoring the flow of blood to that area. The result is an increased energy flow all over the body. This type of massage is great for overall relaxation.
Shiatsu: When translated, the word shiatsu means "thumb and finger pressure". Using a pattern of pressure points on the body, a therapist applies moderate to heavy pressure using digits and palm. This type of treatment is good for promoting relaxation and reliving pain in the back, hands, head and shoulders. This treatment is especially good for carpel tunnel and migraine sufferers.
Cranio Sacral: One of the fastest growing trends in massage is cranio sacral. This type of massage is done at the base of the neck and the base of the sacrum, (the area above the buttocks). The goal is to work the cerebral spinal fluid that runs through your spine to balance the rhythm of the fluid and stimulate flow for a very calm and relaxing after effect.
Acupressure: This treatment is great for unblocking energy using points on the meridians of the body. According to Chinese Medicine, the meridians control the flow of Chi, or energy, through the body. A therapist uses fingers, thumbs and elbows, and even electrical currents to release tension from the muscle fibers by stimulating blood flow and Chi back into a previously blocked area.
Thai Massage: This type of treatment is less common in Western countries and is slowing gaining popularity. Similar to shiatsu with more of a focus on stretching as it applies to the body meridians of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Combining light stretching with holding positions the result of this treatment is relief and relaxation with an increase in flexibility.
Reiki: This massage is focused on an "all over body energy tune-up" that will leave you stress free and relaxed. Don't expect to feel too much rubbing and gliding. This practice uses very little "hands on" work. A reiki massage involves the use of hands mostly above the body to channel energy and create a warm glowing sensation. This type of massage treats the whole being - the body, mind, spirit and emotions. The result is Reiki creates a sense of balance and harmony.
Rolfing: This practice of massage adjusts the muscle sheaths to their full extension and can dramatically alter a person's posture. It is very important to note that some consider the actual treatment to be painful and dramatic results take more than one visit. Most say the benefits of a fully extended body are worth the time commitment and the sometimes uncomfortable treatments.
