It may not come as a surprise to some but others are wholly unaware that there are more than just a couple of different types of massage. Most massage serves a similar purpose, some sort of health improvement. Weather that be relaxation, stress relief, pain management or one of the other various treatments. Each different type of massage serves a slightly different purpose. A couple of the main types of massage are Swedish, Hot Stone, and Shiatsu.
Swedish massage is the most common and the one that has been mainly popularized in the west. Swedish massage is most commonly associated with massage therapy and it is based on long kneading motions. The idea behind Swedish massage is to workout any knots or tight sections built up in the muscle fiber.
Swedish massage is very effective for sports recovery. People find it to be highly relaxing and of great assistance with recovery. It increases circulation and helps break up lactic acid that can be built up due to difficult strenuous workouts. Swedish massage can be quite vigorous and you may find that you have to communicate with the massage therapist in order to find your sweet spot. The massage is supposed to border on uncomfortable but should not actually cause pain. Massage therapist will usually target areas that you communicate to them or will find areas of excess knotting. Swedish massage will continue to be popular because it is highly effective and priced fairly reasonably.
Expect a Swedish massage to last anywhere from 30 – 90 minutes and cost in the range of $1 to $2 per minute.
Hot stone massage is another type of massage that is quickly gaining popularity. It is similar to Swedish massage in that it is often used to treat injuries. During a typical hot stone massage the therapist will place warm stones on parts of the body that the therapist is trying to loosen up. This may be a tight muscle or an area of discomfort. The therapist will focus on meridians in the body based on the eastern practice of acupuncture.
This type of massage is kind of an east meats west massage that borrows ideas from both cultures. Many people that find a swedish massage too vigorous or uncomfortable may find that a hot stone massage is more relaxing. Masseuses typically do not apply as much pressure during a hot stone massage.
The stones themselves are normally river stones, that’s surface has been highly polished. Basalt rocks, which have a high iron ore content are usually used because they are able to hold heat for a long period of time. The stones are usually heated in a warmer with a thermostat and will be handled before they are placed on the body to ensure that they are the proper temperature.
Hot stone massages may last longer than a Swedish massage and generally cost a little bit more.
Shiatsu massages are another type of massage that has made it over from the east. This type of massage is based on the same principles as acupuncture. Massage therapist will focus on the body’s chi or energy flow by targeting meridians or chakras. This type of massage is done with the tips of the fingers on each of the pressure points of the body the same way that an acupuncturist would focus on certain areas.
A shiatsu specialist can target certain parts of the body with specific intentions. Shiatsu may be used to treat a wide variety of ailments but will most likely not be a relaxing or stress relieving as other forms of massage.
A shiatsu massage is also done with the clothes still on and without massage oil. If you have never experienced this type of treatment you will be in for a bit of a surprise it is not like your typical massage.
There are many other types of massage or different combinations. Thai massage is another very common form and many massage therapist will also use aromatherapy along with their specialty. I will continue to expand on the information here and in the future discuss other forms of massage.