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