We often think of massage when it comes to pure relaxation, but massage can have numerous health benefits.
Not only can massage help to boost the immune system, but it can also aid with seasonal depression. And that’s not all. Massage can even improve cardiovascular health and reduce high blood pressure.
But sorting through the many types of massage to choose the best for your needs can be overwhelming. Here are seven types of massage you need to know about to create the experience you envision.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common type of massage that people choose. It’s what you think of when you picture a serene, relaxing massage in general.
“Swedish massage is your basic stuff,” says massage therapist Jenny Shimon. “Everyone knows how to do Swedish massage. Generally speaking, Swedish is everyone’s base. It’s the first thing you learn in massage school. You won’t necessarily use other types of massage in Swedish, but you can use some Swedish in almost every other type of massage.”
So if you’re looking to combat stress as well as improve your overall health in general, consider a relaxing Swedish massage. You can even ask your massage therapist to add a calming aromatherapy oil like lavender to further improve the experience.
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage has been around for a long time. In fact, some say that the history of hot stone therapy dates back to 1500 B.C.
“Hot stone massage is simply using the concept of heat and a smooth rock,” Shimon says. “It is adding the element of heat and using a rock rather than a gentle glide with the hand. It’s essentially Swedish massage with heated rocks added.”
During a hot stone massage session, a massage therapist will place heated rocks on certain energy points of the body. He or she then will massage these areas with the rocks. The combination of heat and massage itself can only be described as pure bliss.
In choosing this type of massage, it’s important to note that if you get anxiety in the way of movement restriction, this type of massage may not be the best choice for you.
Chair Massage
If you’re on a limited schedule, chair massage is the option for you. This is why chair massage is found at many bustling places like malls and airports.
Chair massage takes place in a portable massage chair that massage therapists can take just about anywhere. In this type of massage, you sit up, facing backward. The chair supports your face and head and has a special resting place for your arms and legs. It’s not necessary to undress for this type of massage, which also makes it an easy option in a time crunch.
“Chair massage is a great way to get specific work on the neck, shoulders and back while still affording access to the arms and hands,” Shimon says.
Chair massage is a great choice for a quick 10- to 20-minute massage. So next time you’re at the airport and have a delay, give chair massage a try. You’ll be relaxed and ready for your flight in no time.
Thai Massage
Thai massage differs from other types of massage in that it is performed on a mat as opposed to a table. Those who partake in this type of massage are told to wear comfortable clothing (like sweatpants) because it involves movement.
Thai massage combines yoga-like stretching with the body’s energy lines. This can increase flexibility and center the body in general. “It’s assisted stretching. It’s not like a yoga class where they tell you what to do. They’re stretching your body for you,” Shimon says.
Just know that if you have a limited range of motion, this type of massage may not be for you, and the experience is based more on stretching than actual massage.
Trigger Point Massage
Trigger points are tight areas of muscles that can cause pain to radiate to other places in the body. Trigger point massage is highly focused in that it works on specific points of the muscles.
“Trigger point is where you’re working on an area or a knot, and it maybe pulses a little bit. You hold it until the pulsing stops and the whole thing sort of melts,” Shimon says. “I do this in therapeutic massage. Several relaxation therapists will do it, but not everybody wants it in relaxation massage.”
This is not necessarily something that will be a standalone item on a massage menu. “It’s used in deep tissue and a lot of different things. Generally speaking, you’re not going to have a full trigger point massage,” Shimon says.
Trigger point massage is aimed at results as opposed to relaxation. So if you’re looking for a blissful massage, you might not want a massage therapist to add this option.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is another type of massage that one would not choose for general relaxation. This is an intense, focused type of therapeutic massage with a goal of releasing deep muscle issues.
“Deep tissue massage is not a fun type of massage. A lot of people will ask for deep tissue when they need a lot of pressure. You don’t even use lotion because you don’t want to slip,” Shimon says. “In this type of massage, you’re finding every bump in the road because you want to release it. In general, it releases a lot of toxins.”
Because of the amount of toxins released in deep tissue massage, it’s important to take action to draw the toxins out after the massage. “The person I learned deep tissue massage from said that after a deep tissue massage you want to take an Epsom salt bath to really draw out all of those toxins that have been released in the body,” Shimon says. “In addition, you need to make sure you’re hydrated before a deep tissue massage. Keep your hydration up several days before and after the massage itself.”
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a gentle approach that is appropriate for a lot of injuries. However, it’s different from Swedish massage in that it does not use long strokes.
“Myofascial release is sinking into the skin and connecting with the fascia,” Shimon says. “It’s a more gentle hold and you hold until the fascia warms up and releases. The fascia is the interconnected tissue that connects everything in the body.”
Shimon says that while this type of massage can be relaxing, it also can lead to an emotional experience. That’s because myofascial release is thought to affect three different things: the mind, body and spirit.
“In this type of massage, I don’t force your body to do anything,” Shimon says. “I give the body an opportunity to heal or whatever it needs to do on its own. It’s a much slower process.”
Choose wisely when it comes to massage so that you can reap all the relaxing, healing and envigorating benefits.