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.

• You must not brag. No one likes a bragger and you must realize that saying anything like, I had a great massage today,” will immediately sound like bragging and be interpreted as such. Unfortunately very few people want to hear how good you have it. Now walk lightly here because you do not want to sound disingenuous, but complaining, just slightly may be a good way dispel some massage envy.
• As mentioned before not many people really want to hear about how good or bad you have it, so one way to combat massage envy is to simply keep it to yourself. I know this may be difficult considering how exhilarating and relaxing a great massage can be, but if you want to avoid those envious stares and jealous prods, keep it to yourself.
• This is another to be careful with. If you are getting massage therapy to combat some type of an injury you may want to consider actually faking it. And by this I mean when you are in the presence of others you will put on an act. I know it sounds very L.A.ish, but that is beside the point. You are trying to avoid massage envy here, so the point is to make them feel sorry for you instead. I didn’t say it would be easy or even ethical.
• Now here is a real charitable possibility. If you are aware of a certain friend or family member that has some serious massage envy you could consider floating the bill and taking them along to enjoy a massage of their own. The point of this is to build major good will and karma points and maybe even get them hooked. You will at some point have to transition over to getting them to cover their bill but hey, that is why crack dealers hand out samples.

You may not experience any negative aspects of massage envy, but many do and they actually find massage envy to be the only noted side effect of getting a good massage.

• One of the best massage systems out there is the air massage system. It has a much wider array of features and functions and can preform many more massages than some of the fixed roller systems. The air massage system works through an array of inflatable bags, the bags can be any size and shape and can preform many functions. The bags also eliminate the pinch points and hard pressure points than are common with other systems.
• Most massage chairs will come equipped with a kneading massage function. This is effective because of the repetitive motion which will lead to relaxation and a deep massage. Kneading is usually accomplished with a roller system because of the large surface area that is required to knead effectively.
• If you are after the most relaxation possible from your massage chair I suggest that you invest the extra money in a system that is capable of preforming a foot massage. Many massage chairs stop at the calf or even the bottom, but to really get a full massage you need to include other parts of the body and the feet are critical. Look for a system that incorporates air massage into the foot massage, which will allow the massage to target the many small bones and muscles of the foot.
• Many massage chairs have a tilt function that allows you to lean back to almost a full horizontal level. Many massage chairs are not built for taller individuals so a foot support could be an important addition if you are 6’ or over.
• Last but not least I would suggest finding a massage chair that is capable of at least 5 automatic programs. Now when I say automatic programs I do not mean simply turning the thing on and letting it knead your back until it is raw, but programs that will cycle through a number of different massages and target different areas. Some programs will be aggressive, others will be relaxing, what you are looking for is variety. Massage chairs are no small investment and this is one of the most important functions that will allow you to see a good return on your investment.

Massage chairs are not created equally, so keep your eye out for quality. These are 5 features that I find important when selecting a massage chair but don’t forget that the most important aspect of buying a massage chair is trying out a number of different options and spending enough time in each massage chair to get a good feel for how effective they are.

Many people first think of muscle soreness and physical therapy when they think of massage but the vast majority of massage clients are actually people looking for relief form pain and anxiety. Soothing the muscles and the nerves can have help achieve a greater sense of well being. So, it is no surprise that massage is being used to tread many more things than just muscle stiffness. It is often used to overcome depression, chronic pain, or even low self esteem. Massage is often associated with a feeling of release for many recipients. This could be the release of negative feelings or the release of pain. Whatever the case, it works.

Massage is not usually considered a medical treatment, it is often still viewed as an alternative therapy. It is often used tomassage.com/to-massage-or-not-to-massage” target=”_self”> treat sports related injuries or to promote optimal performance during sporting activities. It is not uncommon to see numerous massage therapist on the sidelines of professional sporting events. These sporadic regular massages often help athletes avoid overuse injuries.

On the medical side of things massage has also been found to effectively treat people with auto immune disorders such as HIV. The increased circulation and the frequent release of dopamine have a positive effect on people with these diseases. The addition of the positive mental aspects of massage can also help people in these situations who often find themselves at rock bottom.

Any parent has most likely experienced the positive response of their infant to human touch and massage. The benefits of massage have also been shown to carry over into the birthing process, making labor easier and less painful. Child birth is possibly the most stressful occurrence that some women will endure, any help they can get will be good help. After birth babies that receive frequent massage have been shown to gain weight faster and have fewer medical complications during their first year of life.

Blood pressure is also greatly effected by massage. Certain personality types have been proven to have higher blood pressure and stress relieving activities such as massage can significantly reduce the level of stress and blood pressure that these patients experience.

Massage can be used to treat nearly any symptom and can be used where other medications fail. There are virtually no side effects to massage and while it may at first glance seem expensive it is often much more reasonably priced than other therapies. If you have never received a massage I urge you to schedule on immediately and experience the benefits for yourself.