| Some people think that all massages are alike but, | | | | where the practitioner uses both their hands in |
| in fact, there are different types of massage | | | | their feet. |
| therapy which can target different trouble areas. | | | | For those painful knots in the muscle, there's |
| The art of massage has developed in different | | | | nothing like a deep tissue massage and the |
| cultures all over the world for centuries. Ancient | | | | Japanese shiatsu massage is one that can do the |
| Eastern cultures incorporate massage as part of | | | | trick. In this massage the practitioner uses their |
| their medicine and healing regimes. You will find | | | | thumbs and fingertips to knead out the knots in |
| that in many cultures, massage is used to bring | | | | the muscles. Instead of working on a large area it |
| the energy of the body back into balance. Much | | | | works one small area at a time increasing blood |
| like acupuncture, it works on the energy meridians | | | | flow and circulation to the afflicted area. |
| that run through your body. While in the Western | | | | Sometimes while receiving one of these |
| civilization, we tend to discount this, no one can | | | | massages you can literally feel the tension |
| deny the invigorating and energizing effects of a | | | | dissolve in the muscle. |
| good massage. | | | | If you like heat, then a hot stone massage might |
| Swedish massage is probably one of the newer | | | | be a little bonus you can add to your spa routine. |
| techniques and was developed in the early part of | | | | This incorporates a regular massage with hot |
| the 19th century. Characterized by long fluid | | | | stones. The stones are made of a lava like rock |
| movements this massage targets the long | | | | called basalt. The stones are heated and then |
| muscles of the body for an overall effect. It | | | | placed in a row down the back on either side of |
| combines gentle tapping with long flowing strokes | | | | the spine. The heat is transferred from the stone |
| for gentle pressure over large muscle areas. For | | | | into your body for calming and soothing effect. |
| attention in a specific area, the Swedish technique | | | | Finally, if you and your coworkers are stressed |
| of Pettrissage is used and friction can also be | | | | out then you might get the box to spring for |
| employed to warm the surface area and | | | | some work time office massage therapy. This |
| stimulate blood flow. | | | | can be beneficial to both the company as well as |
| Hawaiian massage or Lomilomi can be a great | | | | the workers as it can be a great stress reliever, |
| overall invigorating experience. Here the hands, | | | | and studies show that work related stress |
| fingers knees and elbows are used sometimes | | | | amounts to billions of dollars in lost productivity |
| along with sticks and stones. The recipient might | | | | each year. So explain to your boss how hiring a |
| find themselves coated in Hawaiian salt or red | | | | masseuse for the workers will actually save him |
| clay is a cleansing before the massage which | | | | money! |
| might also include being dunked in the ocean or | | | | Before you get all nervous about having to |
| sitting in a steam hut to get the circulation | | | | undress and lay on a table in front of your |
| moving. The massage itself consists of long | | | | coworkers, there's a special technique used for |
| flowing movements for overall relaxation. | | | | this, sometimes called corporate massage and it |
| If you're having problems with your joints than | | | | involves a special massage chair. The chair is |
| you might want a traditional Indian massage called | | | | made so that it tilts a little bit forward and you |
| Marma Point. This technique, which has been | | | | just sit in the chair, fully clothed, leaning forward in |
| practiced for centuries, targets the points where | | | | a very relaxed position. The practitioner then |
| muscles, tendons and bones join. It uses light | | | | administers the massage on the neck, shoulders |
| pressure to stimulate the joints and relieve stress | | | | and back area where it's typically needed most in |
| in that area. | | | | office workers. |
| To increase flexibility, you might consider a Thai | | | | No matter what type of massage therapy you |
| massage which was actually developed in India | | | | have, you're sure to benefit. Not only will it benefit |
| over 2000 years ago and brought to Thailand | | | | any muscular stresses and strains you have, but |
| along with Buddhism. This type of massage | | | | the increased circulation and blood flow will help |
| therapy starts with stretching movements which | | | | remove toxins from that area of the body. |
| some people feel are comparable to yoga. The | | | | Massage is said to help with good lymphatic flow |
| recipient wears loose pajama like clothing and, | | | | as well as put you in a better frame of mind and |
| after the stretching, is treated to a massage | | | | can even help aid with digestive problems. |