Types of massage and how to apply them

Massage has been practice for millennia. Nowadays, if you want or need a massage, you can choose from different massage styles with a wide variety of pressures, motions, and techniques.

Massage involves pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with the hands and fingers. Occasionally even the forearms, elbows, or feet are used.

There is a wide range of reasons people massage; More and more people, especially the young and older generation, recognize the health benefits of massage. They choose one of many massage styles to get relief from sickness symptoms or heal injuries, help with certain medical conditions, and promote overall wellness.

Different types of massage

1. Hot stone massage

Hot stone massage
©iStockphotos – Close up of a beautiful young woman receiving stone massage at spa center

The hot stone massage is best suited for muscle pain and tension or wants to relax. In this sort of massage, the therapist uses heated stones instead of or in addition to his hands. It relieves muscle tension, promotes relaxation, improves blood flow, and relieves pain with heated stones.

2. Swedish massage

Swedish massage
©iStockphotos – Woman having a Swedish massage in a spa

It involves gentle, long, warming strokes and rhythmic, light, tapping strokes on muscle uppermost layers. It also is combined with joint movement. By releasing muscle stress, Swedish therapy can relax and energize at the same time. And it can even help after a trauma.

This type is suitable for people that are new to massage.

3. Sport massage

Sport massage
Sport massage

Sports massage is an excellent option if you have a recurring muscle injury, such as something you might get from exercising. It is also a good alternative if you are susceptible to damage because it can prevent sports injuries. You can also use sports massage to improve flexibility and enhance performance. Also, sports massage can be used to relieve pain, anxiety, and muscle tension.

4. Deep tissue massage

Deep tissue massage
Deep tissue massage

Deep tissue massage uses more pressure to penetrate deeper into muscles and tendons. It targets connective tissues surrounding, support, and inhabit muscles, bones, organs, and nerves. It helps to relieve persistent pain and stiffness in arthritis.

5. Prenatal massage

Prenatal massage
A pregnant woman having a Prenatal massage in spa.

This massage style is focused on relieving pain during pregnancy for future mothers. Instead of lying on his back, the client either reclines on his side or uses a massage table with a hole cut into it, allowing him to lean back stomach. It Relieves pain caused by pregnancy and can also help with depression, insomnia, and anxiety.

6. Trigger point massage

Trigger point massage
Trigger point massage

Like deep tissue massage, trigger point massage aims to relieve chronic tension deep in the muscles. But while deep tissue is ideal for the stress that extends over a large area, trigger points are better suited for pain that radiates from a particular location (or spots).

7. Shiatsu massage

Shiatsu massage
Shiatsu massage

Shiatsu massage is most useful for people who want to feel relaxed and relieve stress, tension, and pain. It is a Japanese type of massage that: promotes emotional and physical tranquility, and relaxation helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, relieve headaches and reduce muscle tension.

8. Reflexology massage

Reflexology massage
Reflexology massage

Reflexology uses hand, thumb, and index finger techniques to stimulate specific areas of the feet. These areas’ thoughts correspond to different parts of the body. Thus, massage expects to promote health and well-being.

9. Thai massage

Thai massage
Thai massage

Also known as “yoga massage,” Thai massage usually involves a series of intense stretches on a fully clothed client. Improved flexibility, a more excellent range of motion, and temporary pain relief are just some of the described benefits of Thai massage.

10. Aromatherapy massage

Aromatherapy massage
Aromatherapy massage

It is best for people who want an emotional healing component in their massage. This type of massage uses essential oils. It helps to lift your mood, reduce anxiety and stress, reduce symptoms of depression, relieve muscle tension and relieve pain.

11. Chair massage

Chair massage
Physiotherapist giving Chair massage to a female patient in the clinic

Chair massages are done while you sit fully clothed in a portable, specially designed chair. They usually include massages of the neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands. Chair massage also helps relieve stress and promotes relaxation. This type of massage uses light to medium pressure.

12. Couple’s massage

Couple’s massage
Couple’s massage

Massage therapists knead two customers side by side in the same room. Swedish massage is the typical method of use, but you can also book other types of massage such as hot stone or deep tissue massage.

Although it often has a romantic context, couples massage is also a great way to reconnect with a close friend, sister, mother, daughter, or someone you don’t mind seeing half-dressed.

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