Have you finally decided to give in to our suggestion and get a massage? Now you’re thinking maybe, what kind of massage do I want to have right now? There are A LOT of massage techniques known today. To make it easier, here we listed some of the most popular ones for you to choose:
Swedish Massage Therapy
This is the best-known and most commonly performed type of massage technique today. One of Swedish Massage Therapy’s primary goals is to relax the entire body. This is done by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart.
Hot Stone Massage
This is done by placing heated and smooth stones on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body. The massage therapist may also press down stones on the skin and apply gentle pressure on them. The warmth is definitely comforting.
Deep Tissue Massage
This is similar to Swedish massage, but there is deeper pressure which is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia which are difficult to reach with just gentle pressure applied.
Thai Massage
Thai massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points. Thai massage also includes compressions and stretches. What sets it apart from other massage techniques is that the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures. It’s like yoga without doing any work.
Trigger Point Therapy
A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. Trigger point massage therapy is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot. The theory behind reflexology is that there are reflex areas on the feet and hands that correspond to specific organs, glands, and other parts of the body.
Sports Massage
Sports massage therapy is geared toward athletes of every kind. The particulars of the sports massage technique are specific to the athlete’s sport of choice, focusing on areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive movements.
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