Massage Techniques Guide
Interest in different massage techniques and what they can do for us has practically exploded in recent years. The Massage Techniques Guide is here to provide information and resources for those interested in learning more about the many benefits that can be derived from massage and the different methods from which to choose.
There are actually over a hundred different types of massage. The more well-known include Swedish, deep tissue, shiatsu, sports, reflexology and hot stone massage. We will compare and highlight the techniques used today and explore the history of this ancient practice.
Massage therapy techniques have changed over the years and many practitioners now offer combinations of various forms of massage. For example, while hot stone massage is by itself a type of massage, many massage therapists are incorporating the use of these special stones to further enhance the overall experience and benefits for their clients. It is perhaps worthwhile to point out that it is the client and the client’s condition or desired goal that should be the determining factor for what type of technique is employed. Massage can do many things and provide many benefits, but as with most things in life, it’s always advisable to use the proper tool for the job at hand.
While this guide will not explore erotic massaging techniques, which are not only inappropriate but also illegal to request at a spa or massage center, techniques to be used at home for couples will be included. Rather than used as a prelude to lovemaking, massage is a highly recommended way for couples to simply relax together in an intimate fashion.
Increasingly, spa and massage amenities top the list for travelers and vacationers all over the world. Entire trips are planned around being pampered in a spa setting for several days or longer. This guide will highlight not only some of the more famous locations but will also include a number of hidden gems.
Last, but certainly not least, this guide is a work in progress. Whether it’s the chair massage technique or one of the more traditional modalities, the benefits of massage are increasingly being recognized, not only by individuals, but also by those in the health care field. We talk about stress in a way that indicates we have accepted it as a part of our daily lives. The truth is that stress is a killer. Learning to simply live with it is unacceptable. A massage one of the most effective tools available today in reducing stress. Check back often as we update this guide on the latest news and techniques.
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Types of Massage Techniques
There are many different methods and techniques used for massage. Some lists include close to a hundred classifications, although many are the slight variations of others. The following list, while far from comprehensive, was created to give you a simple overview of some of the more popular methods:
Aromatherapy Massage
Combining the use of Swedish, deep tissue or hot stone massage with the addition of scented oils gives us what is known as an aromatherapy massage. These special oils, referred to as essential oils, enhance relaxation, increase energy or address a variety of other issues by releasing their scent into the room. Different oils are used depending on the desired effect.
Chair Massage
Rapidly increasing in popularity, chair massages can be found almost anywhere these days — at your local shopping mall, in airports, at conventions and trade shows and within the offices of many major employers. Done with the client remaining fully clothed and usually lasting no more than 10 to 15 minutes, the chair massage is generally focused on relieving tension in the back, neck, shoulders and arms.
Deep Tissue Massage
When the goal is more than simple relaxation or special techniques are needed to target chronic muscle tension or injury, deep tissue massage is often used. The massage therapist works against the grain of the muscle by applying deep, penetrating pressure. The force necessary to break up adhesions that may have formed in the tissue of muscles or tendons can be uncomfortable or even painful and may result in some residual soreness for a few days.
Prenatal Massage
The movement to incorporate natural methods during pregnancy continues to grow and prenatal or pregnancy massage has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years as women look for ways to alleviate stress, anxiety, discomfort and swelling. Just as there are different schools of thought on all aspects of natural childbirth, the same is true with prenatal massage. It is always advisable to consult your physician in advance and do your research to find an experienced and certified prenatal massage therapist.
Reflexology
Although mistakenly referred to as a foot massage, reflexology is considered by many to be far more science than “feel good”. Reflexologists massage or apply pressure to particular areas of the feet that they believe correspond to certain other parts of the body. For example, there is a spot in the very center of the bottom of the big toe that supposedly corresponds to the pituitary gland. To address lower back issues, the practitioner would massage an area on the heel.
Shiatsu
Also referred to as acupressure, shiatsu massage was developed in Japan and is actually based on the ancient Chinese technique of applying pressure along the body’s meridians. It embraces much the same philosophy as acupuncture but does not employ the use of needles. Restoring the natural flow of energy or qi (chi) throughout the body is the goal of shiatsu.
Sports Massage
Sports are big business. The pressure to perform on today’s athletes, amateur and professional alike, creates an atmosphere where injuries are inevitable. The practice of sports massage seeks to treat injuries before they become severe or debilitating and condition healthy muscles and tendons and increase flexibility in an effort to prevent those injuries from ever happening in the first place.
Swedish Massage
By far the most gentle of the massage techniques, the Swedish massage is understandably the most requested. Combining five basic long, smooth strokes — sliding, kneading, rhythmic tapping, friction and vibration or shaking — the practitioner focuses primarily on the superficial layers of muscle and soft tissue. The end result is deep relaxation, increased flexibility and, perhaps most significant, a release of stress and tension.
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Swedish Massage
By far, the most common type of massage is Swedish massage. Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish medical-gymnastic practitioner is credited with its development in the early 1800′s. Ling’s work was based on the principles of tui na, a Chinese form of therapy that involves manipulating areas of the body to bring it into balance and increase the flow of energy.
While other methods of massage are preferred by those seeking relief for severe muscle tension or injuries, Swedish massage is most often chosen by those looking primarily for relaxation and the lessening of moderate stress and muscle strain. It is also recommended for someone new to massage or anyone apprehensive about the level of discomfort that can be experienced with a technique like deep tissue massage where the massage therapist uses considerable force and pressure to reach the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.
Swedish massage consists of five basic strokes. They are effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction and vibration or shaking. In English, those first three translate to a sliding or gliding type of stroke, kneading the muscles and fascia (connective tissue) and tapping in a rhythic manner on certain muscle groups. In most instances, the massage therapist will use the fingers and heels of their hands for the strokes and to apply selective levels of pressure, although sometimes the forearm or elbow may also be employed.
To facilitate the smooth, easy glide of this type of massage, some sort of oil will be used. Common massage oils are sunflower, peanut, sweet almond, grapeseed and coconut. Many practitioners add the benefits of aromatherapy to the overall experience by using essential oils such as lavendar, chamomile, sandalwood, peppermint, eucalyptus or any of the many others. These oils are often combined in ways that are designed for a particular purpose. Some promote relaxation or stress relief while a different combination works to increase energy.
Through a combination of the different types of strokes and movements, positioning and moving the client’s joints, manipulating the superficial layers of muscle and tissue, the massage therapist works to remove stress and tension, alleviate pain and induce overall relaxation. Regular massage can improve flexibility and ease of movement. This in turn reduces the risk of injury. Massage is also purported to have emotional benefits due to the human need for touch and the nurturing aspects of doing something for yourself that feels good and is good for you.
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Shiatsu Massage
While almost any type of massage is beneficial, finding an experienced professional who offers the specific massage techniques that target your situation is a great way to relax and unwind. More and more people choose to release the tension built up after a stressful week of working and dealing with the ever increasing pressures of our world by visiting a spa for a massage and some much-needed relaxation.
One such type of massage technique is shiatsu which comes from two Japanese words — “shi” or finger and “atsu” or pressure. Originating in Japan but based on the Chinese meridian system, today, shiatsu is often used in combination with acupuncture to treat painful areas of the body. But before you panic, there are no needles required unless you opt to add the acupunture component!
Traditional shiatsu seeks to read the body as the well-trained therapist presses on key areas, known as meridians, finding evidence of imbalance and blocked energy or qi. Through the use of finger, palm and thumb pressure, the therapist works to stimulate the areas and restore balance to the system. Our more western understanding of what’s going on is that these techniques increase the flow of the circulatory and lymph systems in the body. This leads to the calming of the autonomic nervous system which relieves stress and can strengthen the immune system. By soothing an overactive sympathetic nervous system circulation is improved which, in turn, relieves stiff muscles and joints.
Although practices differ from one spa to another, shiatsu clients usually wear loose clothing and the treatment may be performed on a mat on the floor. Practitioners will use their fingers, palms and thumbs to apply pressure to specific points on the body or they may employ other techniques such as tapping, squeezing and rubbing.
Shiatsu is designed as a holistic approach to restoring balance and healing to the body. The session should be done in an environment that is designed to provide relaxation mentally and emotionally as well as physically. Music is almost always used to create the desired ambiance. The attitude of the practitioner will be one of professionalism combined with deep respect for the spiritual nature of the work being done.
The benefits resulting from this type of massage from an experienced therapist are many. They may include any or all of the following:
- Muscle, joint and tissue relaxation
- Stress relief or reduction and more ability to cope with future stressful situations
- Release of toxins from the body
- Enhanced immune system and resistance to disease
- Increased flexibility
- Improved circulation
- Lowering and control of blood pressure
- Decreased levels of anxiety
- Balancing of energy (qi)
- Heightened spiritual awareness
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Chair Massage
Remember when chair massages were dismissed as not being real massages? Thought of as a passing fad, a gimmick that would soon fade away? So much for that theory! What was once dismissed has become one of the fastest growing and most popular forms of massage being offered today.
Where would you go to find a chair massage? Pretty much anywhere you want to look. If your company hasn’t started bringing them in you can easily find them at conventions, corporate events, health fairs, trade shows, marketing events, shopping malls, even grocery stores.
Chair massage for employees at the office has become commonplace. It’s a benefit that employers can pass to their staff that is fast and relatively inexpensive when compared with other employee benefits. Trained therapists come to the workplace so there is very little production time lost. They can be scheduled for a time that is normally slower than the rest of the work week.
No one disputes the fact that the level of on-the-job stress is constantly increasing. Not only is this a dangerous trend for the employees in terms of health and other stress-related factors, such as damage to relationships, but it significantly affects job performance. This affects the all-important bottom line.
Anyone trapped behind a desk for long periods of time knows what it can do to you. Your neck gets stiff. Your back startes aching. Your shoulders tighten up and feel like they are totally locked. These, along with many others, are the symptoms of workplace fatigue.
Experts believe that most office-related physical symptoms are caused by a loss of circulation. Despite all of the attention given to promote ergonomic design in the workplace, only a tiny fraction of workers have such an advantage. Most work in positions that cause muscles to tighten which, in turn, can impede blood and lymph flow throughout the body. No wonder there are so many complaints of low energy, mental fogginess, and high incidence of repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Massage is one of the most prescribed forms of treatment for stress and for physical symptoms resulting from the demands of long hours at the office. Having a chair massage once or twice a week can accomplish many of the same benefits as full body massage. These include a marked decrease in stress, boost to the immune system, improved circulation, less muscle pain, headache relief, clearer thinking, lower blood pressure and enhanced flexibility.
For the employer, the benefits are no less attractive. These are increased productivity, higher retention rates, less absenteeism, reduced stress-related injuries and a more positive atmosphere.
Reducing stress is a win-win for everyone concerned.
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