Whether you are a working professional or a student, stress will inevitably find its way into your life as you work tirelessly through the week. If we do not manage that stress in time, it can destroy our health beyond repair. This is why massage sessions are more than just a luxury; they are an effective and necessary tool for relaxation and stress release. If you are new to massage therapy or if you have never tried too many variations, check out the list below to see what you can try on your next session.
Swedish Massage
This is the default massage that you generally get at a massage centre and it’s based on actual scientific knowledge of the human anatomy. After applying the oil or lotion of choice, the massage therapist starts with broad strokes and then locates and addresses specific points of stress or previous injury. The full body massage involves multiple broad and fine strokes, but they can be categorized in five primary strokes as mentioned below.
- Effleurage
- Friction
- Vibration
- Tapotement
- Petrissage
Swedish massage is perfect for general stress busting, relaxation, and injury recovery.
Aromatherapy or Essential Massage
When a Swedish massage is performed on a client after applying essential oils along with the massage oil, it’s called aromatherapy or an essential oil massage. Essential oils generally used in aromatherapy include geranium, lavender, jasmine, rose, citronella, lemongrass, petitgrain, sweet orange, tangerine, bergamot, lemon, and cinnamon to name a few. In addition to being good for recovery and the treatment of chronic back pain, the scents from healing oils are also excellent for stress busting, mood lifting, and energizing. When done properly, an essential oil massage therapy can even have a positive impact on sleep, digestion, migraines, and premenstrual symptoms.
Deep Tissue Massage
If you are suffering from a sports injury (tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome, for example), postural issues or symptoms of osteoarthritis, this is what you should go for. Expert therapists use their knowledge and experience to address adhesions (knots in the muscle) with slow, careful strokes. The strokes reach deep into the very grain of the muscle and release the knots. Do note that while performing a deep tissue massage, the therapist will have to apply a good deal of pressure on your body, so it won’t exactly feel like a Swedish massage, but the result can be very satisfying when done right.
Thai Massage
You have probably heard about this one multiple times already and for good reason. Thai massage is one of the most common types of massages out there and it combines a few principles together to provide relief against muscle tightness, stress, and back pain. Aside from pressing movements for the actual massage, there are elements of yoga and passive stretching involved as well.
While these are only a few of the popular ones, there are, of course, other variations. At the Heaven and Earth Massage Centre, you will find experts that are not only adept at the most popular forms of massage but also certain rarer disciplines of massage therapy, such as the crystal healing massage, which relaxes the body and invigorates the spirit.
It is widely believed that some types of massage are quite a spiritual experience as well as a physical one, but that aside, just the relaxation and the pain relief alone is worth going for a weekly session.