Did you know in 2018, 47.5 million people enjoyed the benefits of massage therapy? Massage therapy can change your life and improve your overall health and well-being.
Massage helps to reduce stress, improve relaxation, and ease sore muscles. There are different types of massages you can get, depending on what you want to achieve.
If you’re looking to learn more about massage therapy, then keep reading this guide. You’ll learn about the different types of massage therapy and the amazing health benefits it brings.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been in use for thousands of years and uses various techniques like pressing, rubbing, and manipulating muscles and other soft tissues. Massage is used to treat symptoms of different physical and emotional conditions such as:
- Headaches
- Nerve pain
- Arthritis
- Digestive disorders
- Back pain
- Anxiety
You can find massage therapy services in clinics, hospitals, businesses, and even public places like airports and shopping malls.
Types of Massages
There are many different kinds of massages available, and each can give you different results.
When it comes to getting a massage, start by asking yourself a few questions. Do you want a massage to help treat symptoms of a health condition? Or are you looking for stress relief and relaxation?
Before you book a massage, let the massage therapist know what you’re looking for so they can make recommendations. Often, a therapist can customize the type of massage to treat your specific condition, like at The Busy Body Massage.
The most popular types of massages include:
Swedish Massage
A Swedish massage is a gentle full-body massage that’s perfect for you if you’re new to massage or sensitive to touch.
It helps release muscle tension and knots and is an excellent choice for a relaxing massage experience. During a Swedish massage, a massage therapist will use techniques such as:
- Tapping
- Vibrations
- Gentle kneading
- Circular motions
- Friction
Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage uses much more pressure than a Swedish massage. It’s a great option if you have chronic muscle pain or injury. It also helps with tight muscles and eases the symptoms of anxiety.
Massage therapists use deep finger pressure and slow strokes to relieve tension in the deepest layers of muscle and connective tissue. A deep tissue massage is intense, but you shouldn’t feel soreness or pain.
Sports Massage
Sports massages are mainly for repetitive injuries you can get from playing sports. They’re also an excellent way to prevent sports injuries from happening in the first place.
You can also use a sports massage to boost your performance and increase flexibility. They also relieve muscle tension, pain, and anxiety. Sports massages typically target specific parts of your body but can also focus on your entire body.
Your therapist will alternate deep pressure with lighter strokes and also may include acupuncture, depending on your needs.
Trigger Point Massage
A trigger point massage is used to treat areas of tightness in your muscles called trigger points. These trigger points can cause pain and tension in other parts of your body. Trigger points are usually caused by accidents, muscle overuse, or stress.
During a trigger point massage, your therapist will use gentle flowing strokes combined with deeper pressure. This type of massage works your entire body with a focus on the trigger points that need to be released.
Hot Stone Massage
A hot stone massage is fantastic if you simply want a relaxing massage experience. It’s also known to relieve muscle pain and tension and provides other useful benefits such as:
- Improves blood flow
- Decreases pain
- Reduces stress
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
Your massage therapist will place heated stones on different areas of your body and use them to apply gentle pressure during your massage. The therapist will also use their hands to apply firm pressure to areas of muscle tension.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massages combine essential oils and massage for emotional healing and stress relief. They are also known to relieve pain, muscle tension and improve mood.
Your massage therapist will apply soft, gentle pressure to your entire body, and the essential oils are diluted before they’re used to your skin. Typically the massage therapist will choose what essential oils to use, but you can let them know if you have a preference.
Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage is a type of massage that originated in Japan and uses the fingers and palms to apply pressure to specific points of the body. This pressure promotes energy flow and gets your body back into balance.
Shiatsu massage relieves stress, joint problems, poor posture, and chronic neck pain. It also helps improve your overall emotional and spiritual well-being.
Benefits of Massages
Massages are beneficial for almost anyone, and they provide many benefits that significantly improve the quality of your life like:
- It calms down your nervous system, which reduces feelings of anxiety
- Helps with insomnia
- Relieves fibromyalgia symptoms
- Relieves constipation
- Boosts your immune system
- Reduces cancer pain
- Lowers heart rate and blood pressure
While massage therapy has many benefits, it’s not meant to replace traditional medical treatments. If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before trying massage therapy.
Book Your Massage Today
Massage therapy is a natural treatment that helps you to feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of massages to find what works best for you. Remember, massage therapy is a powerful tool you can use to take charge of your health.
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