There are various different kinds of massage. Sometimes, the same massage goes by different names. Read more about these common types of massage, in order to find which one is best for you.
1. Swedish Massage
This massage is the most common type of massage as well as a great place to start in case it’s your first massage or if you’re afraid that a massage might be painful. During Swedish massage, massage therapists use massage oils in order to facilitate smooth, gliding strokes over your body. You are usually nude under the sheets, but only the part which is being massaged is exposed so that modesty is always respected.
2. Relaxation Massage
While this massage has health benefits, but the massage therapist will probably go slower as well as avoid deeper work which could be at all uncomfortable. A relaxation massage is good in case you’re a beginner or sensitive to pain, or in case you had a lot of deep work done the day before at a spa which offers daily massage.
3. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage uses many similar movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the therapist will work the deeper tissue structures of the muscle as well as fascia. It is also a more focused type of massage, since the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots known as adhesions. Many people expect deep tissue massage in order to be an hour of intense pressure and pain, but this is usually counterproductive.
4. Therapeutic Massage
This is just another way to say that the massage is meant to have therapeutic purposes as well as health benefits. Therapeutic massage is a way for distinguishing it from the “massage parlor” massage, which was the image which massage had with most Americans back in the 1960s. Therapeutic massage may also indicate that the massage will be a little deeper, and not only a pure relaxation massage.
5. Full-Body Massage
Most massages are a full-body massage. This means that the therapist will massage your back, legs, arms, as well as neck. In case it’s a half-hour massage, you are better off having the therapist concentrate on a specific area which is giving you trouble. Or a therapist may take a full hour in order to concentrate on a specific area because of injury or chronic pain. Sometimes signs for “full-body massage” are used by “spas” which function more like the old massage parlour.
6. Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage is usually a Swedish or a deep tissue massage where the massage oil has been blended with essential oils like lavender, peppermint or geranium in order to affect your mood as well as alleviate pain. Aromatherapy massage is at its best when the therapist is using high quality, therapeutic essential oils blended in order to address your specific need. This may be hard to find in a commercial spa setting. You may be probably better off with a private practitioner specifically trained in aromatherapy massage.
7. Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a popular massage that uses smooth, rounded stones which have been heated in water. The therapist uses the stones as an extension of his/her hand and can also place them on your belly, hands as well as back. When done well hot stone massage is quite great, because the heat helps to warm up your muscles and is very relaxing too. But hot stone massage requires a lot of skill, hence quality can vary widely.
8. Sports Massage
Sports massage has been developed for athletes who need to keep their bodies in great condition as well as quickly work out any stress or injuries. Sports massage can be used in order to get an athlete ready to compete, support their bodies while they compete, as well as help it recover after an event. But sports massage is good for anyone who has chronic pain, injury or range-of-motion issues. The therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area related to sports, such as golf or tennis.
9. Couples Massage
Couples Massage is when two people are massaged in the same room, at the same time, but by two different therapists. It can be a husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend, or same-sex partners, or even moms and daughters, or best friends. The setting can range from a simple room which is big enough for two tables to an elaborate spa suite. You can talk or keep quiet during couples massage, as you want.
10. Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage is also known as pre-natal massage. It promotes relaxation, soothes nerves, as well as relieves strained back and leg muscles in expectant mothers. Pregnancy massage is especially beneficial in the second and third trimesters, when the extra weight in your belly is putting a strain on your back. Before you get a pre-natal massage, make sure that the therapist has been specially trained.