The Types of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is the use of human touch to free the body from physical and emotional stress. Massage improves blood flow by increasing the quantity of fresh oxygen that flows to the tissues.

A regular massage strengthens the immune system to help prevent disease and relax and tone the muscles which, in turn, increases joint flexibility.

To completely de – stress, hire a certified therapist as they can perform the best massage appropriate for your tension.

The types of massage therapy that are recommended to promote relaxation and remove stress are Shiatsu, Swedish, and Hot Stone Massage.

Shiatsu or Acupressure – this type of massage therapy uses the Chinese meridian system which is to locate pressure points on the body to release stress in that area. These pressure points are massaged with the thumbs, fingers, and palms by tapping, rubbing, and applying pressure to areas where there is an obstruction of chi or energy.

Swedish Massage Therapy– this is the most common massage therapy, it uses a mixture of activity to the muscles and bones: percussion, shaking, long strokes, vibration, kneading, and friction to apply force to the muscles. This is more beneficial to muscle recovery as it improves blood circulation thus speeding up recovery during injuries. Swedish massage improves health inside and out as it focuses more on stretching of tendons, stimulation of the skin and lowers blood pressure.

Hot Stone Massage Therapy – this type of massage therapy uses special stones such as basalt covered in massage oil that are heated to about 120 degrees F. Instead of being massaged by a therapist’s hands, the stones slide down your back for an even deeper massage. The stones are purposely placed on specific areas of the body to get rid of the tension from the deeper muscles that a therapist’s hands cannot reach. Depending on the tension and the type of therapy given to you, there may be times when cool and hot stones are used alternately.

These types of massage therapy can be traced back thousands of years to Ancient times from different countries with different cultures however they all have the main goal of promoting superior health inside and out. Through the years, many methods and practices have evolved through the course of time and experience.

All of these types of massage therapy require you to wear minimal clothing so that the therapist is able to make the necessary skin to skin contact and application needed.