Massages

Find a beauty professional dealing with Massages »

There are many different types of massages to choose from, and the one you opt for will depend on your own individual circumstances. For example, you may decide to go for a message for health reasons, i.e. to manage pain, improve circulation or aid the process of injury. However you may just want to pamper yourself or relieve stress and tension. Where massages are used for physiological or mental benefits they may be called “therapeutic massages”. There are many names given to the different massages available e.g. Indian Head massage and Hot Stone massage, and all will provide different benefits.

What is a massage?

A massage is the practice of using different types of touch, pressure and movements to the soft tissues of the body to achieve a beneficial response, such as releasing muscular tension, enhancing well-being and relaxing the body. Massages can be applied to individual parts of the body, such as the head or shoulders, or to the entire body, and are performed by a professional healthcare practitioner. It is important that the practitioner has the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to perform the massage to prevent causing any damage to the tissues. A massage performed by anyone other than a professional practitioner could potentially do more harm than good.

Standard massages usually involve the client lying on a massage table, however other types of massages can also be performed while the client sits in a massage chair or even lays on the floor. When a massage table is used, the session often begins with the client lying face up or face down, and then turning over during the middle of the session to face the opposite direction (this will obviously depend on the type of massage you have).

Most massages involve the client being unclothed or partially clothed, and the practitioner will usually cover the parts of the body that aren't being massaged (this is often referred to as draping). Different countries practice different standards and in some places it is compulsory that certain areas are covered at all times. If you have any concerns, speak to your practitioner before the session begins to ensure you will be fully relaxed during the massage. You should also discuss with your practitioner your preferred technique (if you know what it is), the amount of pressure that's comfortable for you and any areas of the body you don't want massaged. You will usually be asked about your medical history and physical condition before the session begins so the practitioner is aware of any problem areas.

Types of massages

Standard massages will concentrate on certain areas of your body (e.g. head or shoulders), or all of your body if you opt for a full body massage, and will involve the practitioner using different techniques to relax tense muscles and release any tension. Massage lotions or oils will often be used to help the process (where specific essential oils are used for their qualities to reduce stress, energise etc. the massage is often referred to as an aromatherapy massage). Different pressures and movements will be used and you should communicate what feels most comfortable with your practitioner.

As well as standard massages, there are many other massages involving specific techniques and approaches (often referred to as massage therapy). Some of these are listed below:

Hot Stone Massage

This involves placing heated, smooth, flat stones on key points on the body e.g. on your back, in the palms of your hands or between your toes. The stones may also be used in the hands of your practitioner while using massaging strokes. The use of heated stones on the body as a healing technique has been around for thousands of years, however it was only during the 1990's that the approach became recognised worldwide; a massage therapist from Tucson, Arizona spent three years researching and developing the method and as more people experienced the technique, its' popularity grew. The heat of the stones warms and relaxes muscles and improves circulation, while calming the nervous system.

Indian Head Massage

This is an ayurvedic form of healing and relaxation, used to relieve tension and stress. This technique is widely used in Asia but has grown in popularity around the world in recent years. The client will sit upright in a chair for this massage and the practitioner will use a variety of different movements and pressures on the neck, shoulders and head. This technique helps improve circulation, relieve stress, tiredness and headaches, and should leave the client feeling deeply calm.

Shiatsu

This is a form of Japanese massage that uses pressure from fingertips (and sometimes thumbs, knees, elbows or feet) to improve the flow of vital energy, known as “ki”. The pressure is firm, but the massage is relaxing. The client will be on a mat on the floor throughout the massage and will remain fully clothed.

Sports Massage and Sports Therapy

This form of massage is used to prevent injuries and enhance performance of athletes. A range of techniques, including stretching and soft tissue massages are used before, during and after the sporting activity.

Reflexology

This involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems within the body. The art of reflexology dates back to Ancient Egypt, India and China but it wasn't until the early 1900's that the technique began to grow in popularity in Europe.

It's believed that refloxolgy can be used to help restore and maintain the body's natural equilibrium. It is also used to help back pain, stress and headaches, and many people use reflexology to relax their mind and body. A professionally trained reflexologist can detect changes in specific points in the foot and works on these points to correspond to organs in the body.

--
This content is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice given by any professional.