There’s just something blissful about a dimly lit room with heavenly fragrances hanging in the air while soft music plays in the background – the perfect setting for a relaxing massage.
Whether you’re burdened by aches and pains or are experiencing an imbalance in your overall wellbeing, these five types of massage therapy treatments as outlined by healthline can help to identify which massage will be most effective to your unique needs.
Swedish massage
This is one of the more common massage techniques and generally focuses on the entire body. You will begin your treatment on your stomach, and then flip over at the halfway point onto your back for the duration of 60-90 minutes.
A Swedish massage can help to release muscle knots that are often caused by activities such as sitting at a computer for hours at a time while working to relieve tension in common areas like the lower back, shoulders and neck.
The massage therapist, will use a combination of kneading, long, flowing strokes in the direction of the heart, deep circular motions and passive joint movement techniques. The pressure of the massage is left entirely up to you.
Hot stone massage
This type of massage is effective for people who suffer from muscle pain and tension. It’s similar to a Swedish massage, but the massage therapist uses heated stones instead of their hands. These stones are placed on different areas around your body.
A hot stone massage may help to:
- ease muscle tension
- improve blood flow
- alleviate pain
- promote relaxation
- relieve stress
Aromatherapy massage
Aromatherapy massages are perfect for people who seek an emotional healing element to their massage. It combines soft, gentle pressure with the use of essential oils.
This type of massage can help to:
- boost your mood
- reduce stress and anxiety
- reduce symptoms of depression
- relieve muscle tension
- relieve pain
During this full body massage, you can expect to inhale essential oils through a diffuser while absorbing them through your skin. Sometimes, an aromatherapy massage will only focus on your back, shoulders, and head.
Deep tissue massage
This is a great option for those who suffer from chronic muscle problems. This type of massage can help to relieve tight muscles and chronic pain. Even though the deep tissue massage is very similar to the Swedish massage, deep pressure will be used to relieve tension from the deepest layers of your muscles and connective tissues.
Shiatsu massage
This Japanese type of massage is best for people who want to feel relaxed while relieving stress, pain, and tension. It can help to:
- promote emotional and physical calm and relaxation
- relieve stress, anxiety, and depression
- relieve headaches
- reduce muscle tension
A Shiatsu massage works the whole body, but you can request the areas that need extra attention. Pulsing or rhythmic pressure is used during this treatment.
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