The Most Popular Types of Massage

Coming from a massage therapy session one will surely feel relaxed and relieved of tensions but did you know that there are many types of massage.

In fact did you know that there are over 150 types of massage therapy?

However, this article will only talk about some of the most popular types of massage today that are worth trying.

Before we come to that let us first talk about some of the benefits of massage.

There are many numerous benefits that a good massage treatment can offer.

The health benefits of massage are: reduces stress, alleviates back pain and neck pain, improves blood circulation, relieves migraine and tension headaches, and aids in the detoxification. Even athletes benefit from a therapy session because massage assists in the recovery from some injuries plus it can increase the range of motion of one’s joints and also one’s flexibility.

And now here is a list of the most popular massage modality today and they come in no particular order.  Each are normaly done on a proper massage table fitted with clean and confortable massage table covers.

1. Aromatherapy Massage

This is a type of therapeutic massage with the addition of aromatherapy oils. These are oils extracted from plants and flowers that are popularly called essential oils.

Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils used by therapists due to its calming effect. Now, depending on the client’s need the therapist can select essentials oils that can be used to relax, energize, decongest, cleanse, and reduce stress.

2. Swedish Massage

Also known as Swedish this is one of the most commonly applied massage modality. For this type, therapists will knead the area that is massaged while using long and smooth strokes.

Circular movements are employed through the use of oils and lotions for easy movement and to be able to reach the inner layers of the muscle.

3. Hot or Warm Stone Massage

In this massage technique the therapist will use warmed up smooth stones together with traditional massage strokes. The stones will be placed in various strategic location of the body to help relax the muscles before the application of massage strokes.

4. Deep Tissue Massage

This massage is designed for focusing on a specific area of the body such as a joint or a specific muscle group targeting the deeper layers of that area’s muscles and connective tissues. This is great for those who are recovering from injuries and athletes who experience muscles strains additionally this one of the types of massage which is great for those who have a physically demanding job or those who have problems with posture.

5. Shiatsu

This is a form of massage that focuses on the flow of energy on the client’s body and the application of pressure. In this technique, which comes from Japan, the fingers and palms are used to release energy in the body to increase circulation while reducing stress.

The beauty of this technique is that the therapist may or may not use essential oils or lotion. Now if the client has issues with modesty he or she can first try this type because it can be performed while the client is fully clothed.

6. Thai Massage

This massage is also known as the “lazy man’s yoga” because with this type the therapist will stretch and loosen muscles by manipulating the client and posing him or her into various postures as much as a person would when he or she performs yoga but with less personal effort involved.

7. Pregnancy Massage

This is also called pre-natal massage and is the only massage that is tailored to the needs of an expectant woman. Its benefits include reduction of stress, a decrease in the swelling of the arms and legs common to pregnant women, and relief from the aches and pains felt during childbearing.

8. Reflexology

The last in our list of types of massage therapies is also called foot massage. In this type, it is believed that each area of the feet corresponds to an internal organ. When pressure is applied to the sole of the feet, the theory is that the patient should not feel any strong pain; any spot that is painful reflect the area of the body where there is illness.