Types of Massage
MASSAGE & MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage or massage therapy are systems of structured palpation or movement
of the soft tissue of the body. The massage system may include, but is
not limited to, such techniques as, stroking, kneading, gliding, percussion,
friction, vibration, compression, passive or active stretching within
the normal anatomical range of movement; effleurage (either firm or light
soothing, stroking movement, without dragging the skin, using either padded
parts of fingertips or palms); petrissage (lifting or picking up muscles
and rolling the folds of skin); or tapotement (striking with the side
of the hand, usually with partly flexed fingers, rhythmic movements with
fingers or short rapid movements of sides of the hand). These techniques
may be applied with or without the aid of lubricants, salt or herbal preparations,
hydromassage, thermal massage or a massage device that mimics or enhances
the actions possible by human hands. The purpose of the practice of massage
is to enhance the general health and well-being of the recipient. Massage
does not include the diagnosis of a specific pathology, the prescription
of drugs or controlled substances, spinal manipulation or those acts of
physical therapy that are outside the scope of massage therapy.
AROMATHERAPY
The use of essential oils (extracted from herbs, flowers, resin, woods,
and roots) in body and skin care treatments is known as aromatherapy.
Used as a healing technique for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Greeks,
and Romans, essential oils aid in relaxation, improve circulation, and
help the healing of wounds. Aromatherapy diffusers are utilized to fill
the massage room with the scent of the oils. Specific essential oils are
blended by the aromatherapist and added to a carrier oil, such as almond
oil, to be used during the massage. Each oil has its own unique characteristics
and benefits.
SWEDISH MASSAGE
One of the most commonly taught and well-known massage techniques, Swedish
massage is a vigorous system of treatment designed to energize the body
by stimulating circulation. Five basic strokes, all flowing toward the
heart, are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. The disrobed
client is covered by a sheet, with only the area being worked on exposed.
Therapists use a combination of kneading, rolling, vibrational, percussive,
and tapping movements, with the application of oil, to reduce friction
on the skin. The many benefits of Swedish massage may include generalized
relaxation, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation,
which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.
MEDICAL MASSAGE
Performing medical massage requires a firm background in pathology and
utilizes specific treatments appropriate to working with disease, pain,
and recovery from injury. The therapist may work from a physician’s
prescription or as an adjunct healer within a hospital or physical therapy
setting.
DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE
Techniques that utilize deep-tissue/deep-muscle massage are administered
to affect the sub-layer of musculature and fascia. These techniques require
advanced training and a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology.
The muscles must be relaxed in order to effectively perform deep-tissue
massage, otherwise tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from
reaching deeper musculature. It helps with chronic muscular pain and injury
rehabilitation and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis
and tendinitis. It is generally integrated with other massage techniques.
HOT STONE THERAPY
Stones of all shapes and sizes and varying temperatures, ranging from
zero to 140 degrees, are used during LaStone massage therapy to elicit
physical healing, mental relaxation, and a spiritual connection to earth
energy. Warm stones encourage the exchange of blood and lymph and provide
soothing heat for deep-tissue work. Cold stones aid with inflammation,
moving blood out of the area, and balancing male/female energies. Stones
are placed in varying positions on the body for energy balancing or may
be used by the therapist for specific trigger-point work. The alternating
heat and cold of thermotherapy brings the entire body into the healing
process, with a rapid exchange of blood and oxygen and alternating rise
and fall of respiration rate as the body seeks homeostasis. Hot Stone
therapy requires less effort from the practitioner’s own body and
delivers healing warmth to the hands, benefitting the therapist, as well
as the client.
CHAIR MASSAGE
Known as seated massage, chair massage, or on-site massage, this technique
involves the use of a specially designed massage chair in which the client
sits comfortably. The modern chair massage was originally developed David
Palmer, but the technique is centuries-old, with some Japanese block prints
illustrating people having just emerged from a nearby bath, receiving
massage while seated on a low stool. Seated massage includes bodywork
and somatic techniques, such as shiatsu, amma, and Swedish massage, provided
to the fully clothed client in a variety of settings, including businesses,
airports, and street fairs.
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MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Myofascial release is the three-dimensional application of sustained pressure
and movement into the fascial system in order to eliminate fascial restrictions
and facilitate the emergence of emotional patterns and belief systems
that are no longer relevant or are impeding progress. First, an assessment
is made by visually analyzing the human frame, followed by the palpation
of the tissue texture of various fascial layers. Upon locating an area
of fascial tension, gentle pressure is applied in the direction of the
restriction. Myofascial release is an effective therapeutic approach in
the relief of cervical pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, neurological
dysfunction, restriction of motion, chronic pain, and headaches.
MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
Based on the discoveries of Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons in which
they found the causal relationship between chronic pain and its source,
myofascial trigger point therapy is used to relieve muscular pain and
dysfunction through applied pressure to trigger points of referred pain
and through stretching exercises. These points are defined as localized
areas in which the muscle and connective tissue are highly sensitive to
pain when compressed. Pressure on these points can send referred pain
to other specific parts of the body.
MANUAL LYMPH DRAINAGE
The strokes applied in manual lymph drainage are intended to stimulate
the movement of the lymphatic fluids in order to assist the body in cleansing.
This is a gentle, rhythmical technique that cleanses the connective tissue
of inflammatory materials and toxins, enhances the activity of the immune
system, reduces pain, and lowers the activity of the sympathetic nervous
system. The most widely taught and generally accepted form of this technique
was created by Dr. Vodder of Austria and requires advanced training and
precise movements.
CRYOTHERAPY
Also known as ice therapy, this modality uses the application of cold
hydrotherapy in the form of ice packs and cold water immersions to alleviate
blood flow, swelling, and inflammation with the contraction of blood vessels.
Used in conjunction with heat, cryotherapy can increase circulation, and,
hence, remove wastes and toxins from an injured area.
BREATH THERAPY
Breath therapy, which can ease anxieties and reduce stress, is the use
of respiratory exercises to open lung passages, oxygenate the blood, and
cleanse the body by eliminating gaseous toxins. The client is encouraged
to breathe deeply while the therapist works the appropriate muscles.
FACELIFT MASSAGE
A series of massage techniques using acupressure points, lymphatic drainage
strokes, and facial massage strokes, A Facelift Massage is designed to
firm sagging skin, stimulate blood and oxygen, release toxins, and soften
lines.
ACUPRESSURE
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key
points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s natural
self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular
tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body’s life
force (sometimes known as qi or chi) to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure
use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure
uses the gentle, but firm pressure of hands and feet. Acupressure, continues
to be the most effective method for self-treatment of tension-related
ailments by using the power and sensitivity of the human hand. Acupressure
can be effective in helping relieve headaches, eye strain, sinus problems,
neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, tension due to stress,
ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower backaches, constipation, and indigestion.
Self-acupressure can also be used to relieve anxiety and improve sleep.
There are also great advantages to using acupressure as a way to balance
the body and maintain good health. The healing touch of acupressure reduces
tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply.
By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and
promotes wellness. In acupressure, local symptoms are considered an expression
of the condition of the body as a whole. A tension headache, for instance,
may be rooted in the shoulder and neck area. Thus, acupressure focuses
on relieving pain and discomfort, as well as responding to tension, before
it develops into a disease—before the constrictions and imbalances
can do further damage. The origins of acupressure are as ancient as the
instinctive impulse to hold your forehead or temples when you have a headache.
Everyone at one time or another has used their hands spontaneously to
hold tense or painful places on the body. More than five thousand years
ago, the Chinese discovered that pressing certain points on the body relieved
pain where it occurred and also benefited other parts of the body more
remote from the pain and the pressure point. Gradually, they found other
locations that not only alleviated pain, but also influenced the functioning
of certain internal organs.
INTUITIVE WORK
Intuitive work is a way of incorporating the perceived and received information
that extends beyond the five senses, transcending what is considered ordinary
thinking patterns and reasoning processes. The four main media by which
intuitives receive and perceive information are clairsentience; clairvoyance;
clairaudience; and knowingness--impression or inspirational thought. The
challenge for bodyworkers is how to respectfully incorporate intuition
into their work while demonstrating responsibility/respect to the client.
While the science aspect of bodywork focuses on the technique of touch
(information accessed through the left hemisphere of the brain), the art
aspect of bodywork focuses on how to touch with care and sensitivity (information
accessed through the right hemisphere of the brain). As obvious tools
for listening, hands touch with the intent to hear and see--information
accessed through the temporal lobe. These three parts of the neurological
system are considered the intuitive network.
POLARITY THERAPY
Polarity therapy is based on universal principles of energy--attraction,
repulsion, and neutrality. The interrelation of these principles forms
the basis for every aspect of life, including our experience of health,
wellness, and disease. With this understanding, polarity therapy addresses
the interdependence of body, mind, and spirit, the importance of relationships,
and the value of creating a way of life in harmony with nature. Founded
by Austrian-born naturopath Dr. Randolph Stone in the mid-1950s, polarity
therapy is a clothes-on, noninvasive system complementing existing modalities
with an integrated, holistic model. Polarity is based on the belief that
positive and negative poles exist in every cell. The body is gently manipulated
to balance the positive and negative energies. In addition to physical
manipulation, blockages and toxins are eliminated through a cleansing
diet and simple exercises. Treatments are suggested in a series of four.
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