| A massage is one of the requisite services | | | | massage. It is believed to have been developed |
| offered in a typical vacation or day spa. It's | | | | 2500 years ago by an Indian physician. It later |
| relaxing, relieves your body of stress and muscle | | | | reached Thailand and was gradually influenced by |
| pain, and will definitely put you on a sound, | | | | Chinese medicine. It then became a traditional part |
| uninterrupted sleep. A spa's menu of services | | | | of Thai medicine and was usually performed by |
| usually contains a wide selection of massages, | | | | monks. Thai massage involves a combination of |
| from simple ones to those with fancy and | | | | yoga and acupressure. Therapists use their hands, |
| foreign-sounding names. If you're not really | | | | knees, legs, and feet to apply pressure and move |
| spa-savvy, it's easy to get lost in the cacophony | | | | your body into various yoga-like stretching |
| of terms and massage jargons. Of course, your | | | | movements. |
| therapist will usually explain these things to you | | | | For a more eclectic massage experience, you |
| and will help you determine the appropriate | | | | may want to try the polarity massage. A curious |
| massage that will suit your needs. It still doesn't | | | | amalgamation of modern science and ancient |
| hurt though to know the basics of massages. | | | | methods, polarity therapy combines various |
| The various types of massages can be classified | | | | therapies and treatments to achieve holistic |
| into two categories: those designed for relaxation | | | | wellness. The treatment is typically divided into |
| and those intended for pain management or for | | | | four parts: bodywork, diet, exercise, and |
| medical purposes. These are not mutually | | | | meditation. |
| exclusive classifications however and an overlap | | | | Other massages are focused on specific parts of |
| sometimes occurs. | | | | the body such as the head, neck, shoulders, arms, |
| One of the most popular relaxation therapies is | | | | and back. The cranial sacral massage, for instance, |
| the Swedish massage. It was named after, you | | | | is a gentle technique concentrated on the head |
| guessed it, a Swedish doctor named Per Henrik | | | | and neck. The scalp massage also focuses on the |
| Ling who developed the technique during the 18th | | | | head and is said to prevent hair loss as well as |
| century. The massage employs firm, gentle | | | | help facilitate the growth of healthy hair. |
| pressure to improve blood circulation and relieve | | | | There is also a specially designed massage for |
| muscle pain and tension. Muscles are rubbed in the | | | | pregnant women. This helps relieve cramps, |
| direction of blood flow returning to the heart. The | | | | tension, fatigue, and stiffness as well as reduce |
| massage is usually performed using the following | | | | depression and anxiety attacks. Pre-natal |
| techniques: long gliding strokes, kneading of | | | | techniques will have mothers in a semi-reclining |
| muscles, circular movements to create friction, | | | | position with several turns from side to side. |
| oscillatory movements to create vibration, | | | | There are body and wedge pillows as well as |
| staccato tapping, and finally, bending and | | | | extra padding to ensure that the mom is |
| stretching. | | | | comfortable and the baby is safe. |
| Another common massage technique is the | | | | For pain management massages, the more |
| shiatsu which means finger pressure. Traditionally | | | | common techniques are the neuromuscular |
| based on the Chinese meridian system, the | | | | therapy (NMT) and the sports massage or deep |
| massage works within the theory of energy | | | | tissue massage. The NMT, performed by a |
| circulation in the body and on the concept that | | | | trained specialist, deals with the soft tissues such |
| there are particular pressure points that can be | | | | as muscles, tendons, and connective tissues to |
| pressed to reverse the imbalances in the natural | | | | restore balance in the central nervous system. |
| energy flow. Fingers and palms are used to apply | | | | The sports massage, on the other hand, can be |
| localized pressure on these points. This is then | | | | availed of in a spa. As the name implies, it |
| followed by stretching exercises. During the | | | | concentrates on the muscle groups most used in |
| session, the clients are taught to coordinate their | | | | sports activities. The massage is a good warm-up |
| breathing with the massage in order to maximize | | | | before a workout and a suitable relaxation |
| the benefits of the treatment. | | | | therapy afterwards. |
| A more physically engaging technique is the Thai | | | | |