- Types of Massage Top
- Massage is the practice of applying pressure or vibration to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, and joints. As a form of therapy, massage can be applied to parts of the body or successively to the whole body. It is used to heal injury, relieve psychological stress, manage pain, improve circulation and relieve tension.
- "Therapeutic massage therapy" or "manipulative therapy", is the term often used to denote instances where massage is used for its physical and psychological benefits.
As there are so many different types of massage and bodywork treatments around today, take your time reading about the various methods before making a preferred choice. At times our requirements are very different, so we are fortunate that we have such a good and varied choice. Most massage types can be broken down into the following five broad categories:
3. Structural/Functional/Movement
1. Traditional European
Traditional European massage includes methods based on conventional Western concepts of anatomy and physiology and soft tissue manipulation. The four basic kinds of soft tissue manipulation techniques are:
Effleurage
(Long flowing or gliding strokes, usually toward the heart, tracing the outer contours of the body)
Petrissage
(Strokes that lift, roll, or knead the tissue)
Friction
(Circular strokes)
Tapotement
(Percussion or tapping).
Swedish Massage.
Swedish massage is by far the most predominant example of traditional European massage and it is the most commonly used method in the West. It was developed by Per Henrik Ling in Sweden in the 1830s and uses a system of long gliding strokes, kneading, and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of muscles. It usually goes in the direction of blood flow toward the heart because there is an emphasis on stimulating the circulation of the blood through the soft tissues of the body. Oil is usually used, which facilitates the stroking and kneading of the body, thereby stimulating metabolism and circulation. It promotes general relaxation and improves circulation and relieves muscle tension.
2. Contemporay Western Massage.
Contemporary massage is based primarily on modern Western concepts of human function, physiology, anatomy, using a wide variety of manipulative techniques including emotional release, and balance of mind-body-spirit. These type of massages go beyond the frame work of Swedish they work more on a medical level, which involves, sports injuries neuromuscular massage, lymph drainage.
3. Structural/Functional/Movement.
These are methods that bring about more balanced use of the body and nervous system, creating more ease of movement. This type of approaches is interesting in that some do not involve the practitioner touching the client; many practitioners use multiple techniques that integrate massage, deeper tissue work, and movement all in the same session with a client. Most common of this type of treatment includes Rolfing, Alexander Technique, and Rosen Method.
3a. Rolfing.
Rolfing is the most established method it involves a form of deep tissue work for reordering the body so as to bring its major segments, the head, shoulder, thorax, pelvis, and legs, into a better vertical alignment. These technique releases adhesions in the fascia, the tissue that envelops our muscles and muscle groups. Trauma such as injury or severe local stresses can cause adhesions, in which the fascia is in a sense frozen, not allowing full freedom of movement. Rolfing restores this freedom of movement resulting in a more balanced, vertical alignment
- 3b. Rosen Method.
The Rosen Method sees the body's tensions as indications of unexpressed feelings or other repressed or suppressed aspects of the self. As a result of such holding patterns, which may be subtle, there can be lifelong patterns of tension or organic malfunction. This method uses gentle, non-intrusive touch and verbal exchange between practitioner and client which draws the client's attention to areas of holding. This awareness itself is the key that allows the tension or holding patterns to be released. Often the tightness softens and the area that was being held begins to move easily with the breath.
- 3c. The Alexander Technique.
This is an approach to psychophysical re-education. It works with unconscious patterns of thinking and the resultant movements or postures that become set in the musculature. Such patterns can be made conscious, the student can then become aware of how he/she moves, and can make the choice to change, allowing more balance, and ease of movement. thereby reducing chronic tension or distortion in the musculoskeletal system .The Alexander Technique is taught in private hour lessons.
4. Oriental Methods.
Oriental methods are based on the principles of Chinese medicine and the flow of chi through the meridians, Chi is energy. The ultimate goal is restoration of harmony or balance. Pressure is applied by finger or thumb tips to predetermined points rather than by the sweeping broad strokes of Western style massage. There are over a dozen varieties of oriental massage and bodywork therapy. The most common forms are acupressure, shiatsu and Jin Shin Jyutsu.
4a. Acupressure and Shiatsu.
These are similar varieties of finger pressure massage. Both are based on applying pressure to a pattern of specific points that correspond with the acupuncture points. Pressure is applied with the thumb, finger, and palm. The aim is to balance flow of chi through the meridians. Stretching and movement are also sometimes used.
4b. Jin Shin Jyutsu.
The ancient Japanese healing tradition that also uses touch to restore the internal flow of energy through the body by releasing energetic blockages. The practitioner uses pulse diagnosis to find any energy blocks and then gently holds or touches a specific combination of two of twenty-six acupuncture points to release the blockage.
5. Energetic Methods
These methods are based on energy but do not attach to the principles of Chinese medicine. The best known of these methods are Therapeutic touch and Reiki.
5a. Therapeutic Touch.
This method was born within the context of conventional Western medicine. It is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing traditions. Based on the principle that the human energy field extends beyond the skin the practitioner can use the hands as sensors to locate problems. Disease is seen as a condition of energy imbalance or blocked energy flow. The practitioner then serves as a conduit for universal energy, consciously and actively transferring energy into the participant.
5b. Polarity Therapy.
This is a form of energy work. The practitioner uses subtle touch or holding on specific points to harmonise the flow of energy through the body and also to enhance the body's structural balance. Based on the principle that every cell has both negative and positive poles the body is gently manipulated to enhance the energy flow.
5c. Reiki.
This is the Japanese word for "universal life force energy." The Reiki energy enters the practitioner through the top of the head and exits through the hands, being directed into the energy field of the recipient. Reiki is another very subtle form of healing.
