There are various types of massage treatments, some of which will be discussed in the text to follow. This will help you to determine the type of therapy that will best suit your specific needs, or at the very least, give you a better understanding of Massage Therapy.
We will begin with the most common massage, that with which most of you will be familiar.
Swedish Massage
Ths type of massage is also known as a full body massage, or relaxing massage.
The Swedish system is based on the Western concepts of anatomy and physiology and employs the traditional manipulative techniques of effleurage (gliding stroke), petrissage (kneading stoke), vibration (tremulous), friction (thumb over thumb) and tapotement (percussion strokes).
Acupressure
Stems from the Chinese medical practice of acupuncture. It is based on the Traditional Oriental Medical principles for assessing and treating the physical and energetic body and employs various methods of stimulating acupuncture points in order to regulate chi ( the life force energy). The aim of this method is to achieve therapeutic changes in the person being treated as well as relieve pain, discomfort or other physiological imbalance.
Shiatsu
The Japanese system, called Shiatsu, a finger pressure method, is based on the Oriental concept that the body has a series of energy points (tsubo).
When pressure is properly applied to these points, circulation is improved and nerves are stimulated. This system is said to improve body metabolism and to relieve a number of physical disorders.
Sports Massage
refers to a method of massage especially designed to prepare an athlete for an upcoming event and to aid in the body's regenerative and restorative capacities following a rigorous workout or competition. This is achieved through specialized manipulations that stimulate circulation of the blood and lymph.
Some sports massage movements are designed to break down lesions and adhesions or reduce fatigue. Sports massage generally follows the Swedish system, with variations of movements applied according to the judgement of the practitioner and the results he or she wants to achieve. Sports teams, especially those in professional baseball, football, basketball, hockey, ice skating and swimming often retain a professionally trained massage practitioner.
Athletes, dancers and others who must keep muscles strong and supple are often instructed in automassage (how to massage one's own muscles) and in basic massage on a partner.
Reflexology
The method of reflexology originated with the Chinese and is based on the idea that stimulation of particular points on the surface of the body has an effect on other areas or organs of the body.
This system focuses mainly on the hands and feet.
Neuromuscular Therapy
Often referred to as medical massage, this is a form of treatment that may be applied to injuries such as cervical and lumbar, amongst others, that might occur in slip and fall or automobile accidents.
When trauma occurs the muscles contract and cause pain and stiffness. Nerve entrapment is the most common cause of pain and always causes ischemia (a lack of blood supply to the affected muscles). Neuromuscular therapy aids in the rehabilitation of such injuries by releasing the trigger points and balancing the nervous system.
It is also used in the treatment of many physical disorders. Click Neuromuscular link below for in depth explanation.
Corporate Massage
This type of massage is performed onsite utilizing a massage chair.and performed on employees for anywhere from 15-30 minutes each. The client remains fully dressed and no oil is used.
Therapy is applied to the neck, shoulders and back.
It is usually a part of a Stress Management or Wellness Program which many corporations and organizations are initiating because they realize the high stress levels that their empoyees are experiencing both in the workplace and at home.
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 20 grams to 500 grams. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it."
"If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"
And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
1. Get a relaxing massage today!!!!
2. Accept that some days you're the windshield and some days you're the bug.
3. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
4. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
5. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
6. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
7. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
8. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
9. Never buy a car you can't push.
10. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
11. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
12. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
13. The second mouse gets the cheese.
14. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
15. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
16. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
17. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
18. We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors. but they all have to live in the same box.
19. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
