There are many types of massage therapies available now in North America. When most people think of massage, the envision what is commonly called “Swedish Massage” where the practioner works mostly on the muscles. Some people use massage as a way of relaxing tense muscles while others use it to releive a variey of problems from arthritis to stress.
Below I briefly describe some of the more common types of massage therapy available.
Swedish Massage
This is usually what massage therapists start with and they may add different types of therapies to this base. This massage is a manipulation of the muscles using kneading, tapping or shaking to lossen and relax the muscles. I have found this type of massage very good for relaxing my shoulders as I tend to scrunch them up to my ears when I am tense.
Shiatsu
In this form a massage, the goal is to restore your chi which, according to ancient Chinese medicine, flows along the meridians of your body. Disruption in the flow of chi is said to cause health problems. This form of massage uses pressure applied by fingers, hands, elbows and knees and does not require you to undress. I found this type of massage quite vigourous, if that’s the right word, and not what I would call relaxing.
Rolfing
This is also known as structural realignment, and, as this suggests, can be even more vigourous than Shiatsu. If invloves deep pressure with fingers and elbows to realign the body.
Reflexology
Based on the meridians of energy mentioned above, this therapy uses pressure on the hands and feet. It is thought that the chi has many points in the hands and feet that relate to various systems in the body and that by applying pressure to particular points, the funtion of the targeted system is improved.
Sports Massage
A variation of the Swedish massage, this type of massage is aimed at relaxing and streatching muscles that have been injured. The compressions and streatching of the muscles is thought to help them relax and promote healing.
Trigger Point Therapy
In this type of massage therapy, the therapist identifies trigger (or sore) points in your muscles. By applying continous pressure to the sore spot for about 10 seconds, the tension in the muscles is released.
To find out more about these types of massage therapy, talk to your local massage therapist and see what services are offered and which one might be right for you.
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