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