| There are a plethora of different types of | | | | such as Acupressure, Shiatsu and Yoga. |
| massage promoted by the natural health industry. | | | | A typical Thai Massage will last one to two hours |
| For beginners and those not familiar with the | | | | and is performed on a floor mat. Clients wear |
| differences between the massage styles and | | | | loose fitting clothing and no oils are used in this |
| techniques, the terminology can be confusing. This | | | | style of massage. |
| article provides a brief introduction to some of | | | | Reflexology |
| the more commonly promoted massage | | | | Reflexology is based upon the philosophy that |
| modalities. | | | | tension in any part of the foot mirrors tension in |
| Swedish Massage | | | | a corresponding part of the body. These parts |
| Swedish massage uses long flowing strokes to | | | | are referred to as reflex points and are also |
| reduce stress, both emotional and physical and is | | | | found on the hands and other body parts. |
| probably the best known type of massage. Other | | | | However, by far the most commonly treated |
| massages techniques such as kneading and | | | | area in a reflexology session is the feet. |
| tapotment are used in addition to the long flowing | | | | It is claimed that reflexology has numerous |
| effleurage style strokes to produce either a | | | | beneficial and lasting effects. Whilst some sessions |
| relaxing and/or invigorating response. | | | | are gentle in nature, aiming to restore the body's |
| Swedish massage is claimed to increase the flow | | | | homeostasis, others are more specific and are |
| of oxygen in the blood, increasing the circulation | | | | aimed at addressing a specific issue or complaint. |
| without increasing the load on the heart, | | | | It is generally a healing process that can be safely |
| stimulates the skins and soothes the nervous | | | | applied when it is contraindicated to treat other |
| system. | | | | body parts. As a non-intrusive technique, it is |
| Remedial Massage | | | | claimed that reflexology heals indirectly. |
| Remedial Massage is considered to be a holistic | | | | A foot reflexology session typically lasts about an |
| treatment and incorporates massage and other | | | | hour. There is no need to get undressed as it is |
| techniques to treat a specific condition. The | | | | required that only shoes and socks are removed |
| therapy assists in treating particular muscle | | | | (although good foot hygiene is considered to be |
| tension caused by stress, overuse or injury. | | | | appropriate). |
| Remedial Massage helps increasing blood flow to | | | | Bowen Therapy |
| injured tissues to facilitate the repair process. | | | | Bowen Therapy is a holistic approach to healing |
| Remedial Massage has both long and short-term | | | | and pain relief based on the recognition by Tom |
| impacts and benefits to the body. However, | | | | Bowen that the underlying source of |
| remedial massage therapists are not qualified to | | | | musculoskeletal, neurological, neuromuscular and |
| diagnose conditions and it is recommended that a | | | | other health conditions may be found in the soft |
| diagnosis for a specific condition be obtained from | | | | tissue or fascia. |
| appropriate specialists prior to visiting a remedial | | | | The Bowen Technique is a non-intrusive cross |
| massage therapist. | | | | fibre muscle release technique that attempt to |
| Deep Tissue Massage | | | | balance and stimulate energy flows, which can |
| Deep tissue massage focuses on addressing the | | | | result in a sense of deep relaxation. A treatment |
| deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue, | | | | normally consists of the client to lie on a |
| realigning and breaking up areas of muscular | | | | treatment couch for between 30 minutes and an |
| adhesion. Deep tissue massage attempts to | | | | hour. There are frequent pauses between the |
| release the chronic patterns of tension in the | | | | gentle moves to enable the body itself to correct |
| body through slow strokes and deep pressure on | | | | dysfunctions and restore homeostasis on a holistic |
| contracted muscles and connective tissue are as | | | | level. |
| and the massage strokes either follow or go | | | | A Bowen Therapy session can be performed |
| across the fibres of the muscles, fascia and | | | | through light clothing. It is usually recommended to |
| tendons. | | | | have two to three sessions of the Bowen |
| Some of the same strokes are used as classic | | | | Technique with a break of five to ten days |
| massage therapy, but the movement is slower | | | | between each session. |
| and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on | | | | Craniosacral Therapy |
| areas of tension and pain. Deep tissue massage | | | | The origins of Craniosacral began when an |
| should not necessarily be painful although some | | | | osteopath William Sutherland he noticed that the |
| experiences may be intense. | | | | cranial sutures of the temporal bones of the skull |
| Sports Massage | | | | were "bevelled like the gills of a fish". |
| Sports massage is intended to prevent and | | | | Craniosacral therapy consists of assessing the |
| relieve injuries, strains and issues that are related | | | | movement of cerebrospinal fluid. Practitioners |
| to training and competition. Often it can be quite | | | | apply subtle movement to the spinal and cranial |
| vigorous and it is not meant to be relaxing. The | | | | bones to attempt to restore balance to the |
| intention of sports massage is relieve and reduce | | | | central nervous system. It is considered by |
| stresses, tightness and tensions that can build up | | | | practitioners that the cerebrospinal fluid can be |
| in the muscles while exercising. Techniques are | | | | restricted by injury to the body and by gently |
| employed that are aimed at increasing endurance | | | | moving the spine and the cranial sutures, |
| and performance, whilst minimising the chance of | | | | restrictions of nerves can be eased to facilitate |
| injury (or if there is an injury then the objective | | | | the movement of the cerebrospinal fluid through |
| of sports massage is to reduce the recovery | | | | the spinal cord. This therapy is believed to be |
| time). | | | | particularly useful for back and neck conditions, |
| Pre-event sports massage is intended to increase | | | | migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and even for chronic |
| blood circulation to the muscles to permit muscles | | | | nervous conditions such as fibromyalgia. |
| to be provided with oxygen and also to be | | | | Shiatsu |
| flushed of metabolic products. Tight muscles may | | | | Shiatsu has been developed over the last hundred |
| be released and joints can be moved through | | | | years and is considered to be a traditional |
| their entire range of motion. Particular focus can | | | | Japanese healing massage therapy. Taken literally, |
| be concentrated on the muscles specifically used | | | | Shiatsu means finger pressure and relates to one |
| during the exercise to optimise performance and | | | | part of the therapy for which natural body weight |
| also lessen the likelihood of injuries. | | | | (be it from the fingers, thumbs, forearms, feet or |
| Post event sports massage is applied to assist an | | | | elbows) is used to apply pressure to particular |
| athlete to recover from a particular activity or | | | | points on the clients body, referred to as |
| event. Techniques are applied to reduce | | | | meridians. When combined with stretching, rotation |
| post-exercise soreness, to re-establish a full range | | | | of joint and manipulation of joints then the result |
| of joint motion and to enhance blood flow to tight | | | | is an all-encompassing treatment, which is aimed |
| and restricted muscles. | | | | at treating the client holistically. |
| Contrary to its name, sports massage is not only | | | | A typical Shiatsu session last about an hour and is |
| used by professional athletes or people that | | | | carried out fully clothed with the client lying on a |
| exercise heavily. It can be of benefit to anyone | | | | futon mat on the floor. It commences with the |
| that exercises, even if it is only mild exercise such | | | | practitioner using pulses, tongue, face and spinal |
| as regular walking. | | | | column examinations to determine which |
| Pregnancy Massage | | | | treatments to use. |
| All pregnant women feel discomfort to varying | | | | Rolfing® |
| extents during pregnancy. The physical, | | | | Rolfing® refers to a system of Structural |
| physiological, hormonal and emotional changes that | | | | Integration and manual therapy developed by Dr |
| take place can result in added stress on the | | | | Ida Rolf. It is claimed to be an original and |
| mother-to-be. Massage during pregnancy provides | | | | scientifically proven system of body restructuring |
| numerous benefits to the mum-to-be. | | | | and movement education, which can release the |
| These benefits include: | | | | body from lifelong patterns of tension and |
| - Assistance in maintaining proper posture to | | | | stresses whilst permitting the force of gravity to |
| reduce neck, back and shoulder pain. | | | | realign the segments of the body. |
| - Preparation of muscles required in childbirth. | | | | A Rolfing series is designed to uncover structural |
| - Relaxation and reportedly decreased levels of | | | | ease and balance that is specific to each client. |
| insomnia. | | | | Rolfing is a process of education in which a Rolfer |
| - Lower incidence of calf cramps. | | | | assists in helping a client realise efficient way of |
| - Lower sciatic pain. | | | | using their body, given the uniqueness of the |
| However, it should be stressed that pregnancy | | | | individual. |
| massage should be only be carried out by | | | | A Rolfing session consists of a variety of |
| therapists with suitable training and experience. | | | | techniques which are incorporated to initiate |
| Thai | | | | concepts of improved posture and functionality of |
| Thai Massage is an interactive mobilisation of the | | | | the body. Through hands on techniques a Rolfer |
| body joints and muscles using passive stretching | | | | slowly stretches and realigns the body's fascia, |
| and gentle pressure applied by the hands and feet | | | | restoring natural length and elasticity to the body. |
| of the therapist. The movements used assist in | | | | The techniques will be performed either with the |
| adjusting the skeletal structure, increasing joint | | | | client lying on the table while the therapist guides |
| and muscle flexibility, relieving tension and stress | | | | the movements with his/her hands or off the |
| and stimulating internal organs. When performed | | | | table with the client standing or sitting. |
| by a suitably skilled therapist the result is both | | | | Sessions are progressive so each session shall |
| relaxing as well as energising. | | | | follow on with certain themes that were |
| Thai Massage is usually carried out in serene | | | | introduced in the previous session. This allows for |
| environments that allow clients to let go of any | | | | an evolving body to always move forward and |
| physical and emotional limitations. Thai Massage | | | | upwards. Typically a Rolfer will expect that a client |
| can incorporate other natural therapy modalities | | | | will attend 10 sessions for a complete treatment. |