Massage therapy can help people of all types depending on the type of massage technique. Massage therapists word in hotels, spas, resorts, clinics and more. Massage therapy can be used to help those that are dealing with injuries, those that need stress-relief, and those that just want to experience the benefits of massage.
There is a variety of massage techniques that massage therapists can learn and practice. Each one can help with different types of issues ranging from muscle pain, back pain, and more.
Deep Tissue Massage
This technique focuses on treating musculoskeletal issues, like strains and sports injuries. As the name suggests, it involves applying a lot of pressure in slow and deep strokes. This helps target the inner layers of your muscles and tissues in order to reduce tension and break down any scar tissue that tries to form following an injury.
Deep tissue massage can help alleviate the pain that stems from deep in the muscles. After receiving a deep tissue massage, you might feel sore due to the amount of pressure that is used. But, the long-term benefits are worth the temporary pain.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu originated from Japan. It focuses on the acupressure points in the body in order to relieve stress and pain. The goal is to stimulate the acupressure points to improve the flow of energy within the body. This can help relieve stress, treat pain, and contributes to overall health.
Unlike other types of massage, there is no oil or lotion that is used. Massage therapists that do shiatsu massage therapy rely on their fingers, thumbs, and palms to apply pressure to parts of the body. It can regulate nervous system activity and promote good circulatory and lymphatic health.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is actually the standard type of massage that is offered in most spas, clinics, and more. Therapists will start with lotion or oil paired with broad general strokes to start the massage. Then, they transition into focusing more on your problem areas.
This the type of massage you might be most familiar with, especially if you’ve gotten a massage before. There are a handful of strokes that Swedish massage therapy uses regularly. It helps provide full-body relaxation for those looking for pain and stress relief.
Reflexology
Reflexology focuses on applying different levels of pressure to the feet, hands, and ears. Unlike other types of massage, it is only focused on these parts of the body. Those that practice this technique are known as reflexologists.
Reflexology is based on the idea that areas of the foot are linked to organs and systems of the body. This means that when pressure it applied to these areas, it is believed to bring relaxation or healing to the linked area of the body. There are foot charts that indicate which specific parts are linked to each part of the body.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massages are quite common in spas. This type of massage is done by placing smooth, black stones are that slightly hot on the shoulders and back. The warmth of the stones can make people feel more relaxed. Heat relaxes the muscles which allows the massage therapist to work deeper into the muscles while applying less pressure.
This technique shouldn’t be painful at all. Even though the stones are heated, they shouldn’t be heated to the point of causing the patient pain. If you ever feel pain during a massage therapy session, please be sure to tell your massage therapist.
Aromatherapy Massage
An aromatherapy massage is actually a subset of Swedish massage therapy, but they use oils and lotions that contain essential oils. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant oils that usually have a relaxing aroma. When you inhale the essential oil scent or absorb them in your skin, it is thought to affect your emotions in a positive way.
Some examples of essential oils used are lavender, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, and chamomile oil. There are more that have different properties that range from calming to energizing. Essential oils may cause an allergic reaction, so you should be cautious and aware before getting an aromatherapy massage.
If you’re interested in becoming a massage therapist and learning some of these techniques, check out our massage therapist program: https://icohs.edu/programs/professional-massage-therapist/
