Intuitive and Therapeutic Massage
- Acupressure: Acupressure uses pressure in points of energy flow. Pressure at these points is supposed to balance energy in the body (Chi). The points are very close to acupuncture points and in reality probably are the same points. Top
- Aromatherapy: An aromatherapy massage involves incorporating scents from plants (essential oils) into the massage. Different scents are supposed to trigger different areas of the brain to allow healing of various conditions. Most of these conditions are psychological. Certain scents relieve anxiety, some relieve depression, others have a calming effect. So basically, they all are supposed to elevate mood (just different kinds of mood). Some people have claimed that certain essential oils will help with certain medical conditions. For example, rosemary oil is supposed to help with rheumatoid arthritis.Top
- Chair: This form of massage is performed with the client sitting in a massage chair. The client is fully clothed and massage techniques that don’t require massage oil or lotion are used. This type of massage provides an introduction to table massage and is very convenient in the workplace to relieve stress and increase the productivity of employees, as well as their health.Top
- Craniosacral: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathes the brain and spinal cord, much the same way that blood bathes the other tissues of the body. Craniosacral practitioners believe that the CSF creates a “pulse” like blood does in the arteries. This pulse can be felt by placing the hands on the head as well as some other key locations on the body and can be used to access imbalances through the body’s original developing energy. Besides a stand alone therapy, for 1st level practitioners and their clients, it provides a fantastic assessment tool for assisting the client in healing. Top
- Deep Tissue: A deep tissue massage means the therapist is providing massage to structural layers of muscle, incorporating different techniques to assist the muscle in regaining elasticity. Pressure is not the same as deep tissue. Asking the practicioner for more or less pressure is important feedback from the client to assist them in receiving massage at their comfort level. At times, tight, resistant muscles may signal pain as it is released. The client needs to clarify if it remains in the ‘hurts so good’ category vs. ‘ow’.Top
- Energy Work: Two types are used in massage, on, or around, the body. The belief is that the body originates from a universal source of energy, taking on the physical aspects of the mind, and then the body. The individual’s field of energy, much like the concept of a magnet, can be heard, seen, felt, or intuited, by a practitioner with those talents honed, and imbalances can be addressed on a much subtler level, with the therapist’s assistance as a conduit to the universal source. The therapists foremost intention is to aid in healing, in whatever capacity the individual needs to be healthy, without influencing that healing as a conductor of universal energy. Top
- Esalen: This modality involves long, nurturing strokes along the entire length of the body. At the Esalen institute, where this modality was initially developed, both the student receiving the massage and the student giving the massage were naked. This is still one of the foremost leading educational sites for body work, is located near the Bay in California, and is an experience to consider. Top
- Feldenkrais: Exercises that encourage awareness of movement and how that movement makes the body feel. Top
- Full Body: A full body massage is nothing more than massaging the entire body. Many therapists leave parts of the body out, such as the buttocks, face, scalp, chest or abdomen. The effects of a full body massage will last much, much longer than a partial massage, because the tension in the part of the body that wasn’t massaged will work it’s way into the parts of the body that were massaged. Top
- Hot Stone: The stones are placed on the clients body at critical energetic points. Some practitioners also use the stones to massage the client with, others simply place the stones and massage with their hands. Top
- Lomi-Lomi: Lomi-Lomi means rub rub and originated in Hawaii. The therapists use their forearms to glide over the body with long flowing, rhythmic strokes. To receive a traditional healing session, a kahuna spends time with you first in discussion and healing before the hands on bodywork is performed. This may be a half day process. Many practitioners have been trained in the basic hands-on application adopted for table use as a type of massage session and can take as much as 2 hours. As a stand alone therapy, there is still tremendous healing value in this bodywork. Top
- Lymph: Lymphatic drainage is used to decrease edema (Tissue fluid) and improve the immune system’s ability to self heal. The therapist glides along path of the lymphatic vessels to return tissue fluid to the heart. Excess tissue fluid accumulates with various conditions, such as congestive heart failure (CHF). This technique can be applied at any health stage in life as it is a gentle healing technique. Use this in conjunction with regular body work since the lymph system is the cleansing part of the blood. Top
- Muscle Energy: In this modality, the client uses a percent of his/her strength to resist the actions of the therapist. He or She then relaxes the muscle to allow the therapist to stretch the muscle. This is usually done three consecutive times, followed by the client contracting the antagonist (opposite muscle). Top
- Myofascial Release: This modality involves the therapist turning or pressing the fascia (connective tissue that covers muscle) in a direction that causes the therapist to feel either increases or decreases resistance. Ironically, either direction may work. If the direction that increases resistance doesn’t work, the therapists will try the other direction and vice versa. Top
- Neuromuscular: A neuromuscular massage involves the therapist using postural assessment, muscle testing, exercise and stretching to balance the nervous system. This system is widely accepted by western medical doctors. Top
- Oriental: An oriental massage isn’t a specific modality, but rather a philosophy of massage. Therapists who do an oriental massage work at balancing the meridians of the body and use eastern philosophy in their body work. Top
- Orthobionomy: This modality uses positioning of the body in the position of ease to release trigger points. This can be thought of as the opposite of stretching the affected muscle. /The practicioner as well as the client works with their body’s motion, staying in a zone of comfort. It can involve movement during the massage as the body reveals muscular information, or memory of action. This is also a fantastic tool for releasing trauma without experiencing the depth of pain that was originally present.Top
- Polarity: Polarity involves balancing the positive and negative forces in the body (yin and yang) by holding various points on the body and passing energy through these points. Top
- Pregnancy: A pregnancy massage is performed with consideration for the special needs of a pregnant woman. The presence of different amounts and different hormones causes the joints to become looser, which may affect each woman differently in regard to their wellbeing or discomfort. Massage provides effective relief and toning for the mother-to-be and can encourage the very important reduction of fatigue or duress. As the pregnancy progresses, it may be reccommended to increase the frequency of massage so that the mother is healthy, strong, and energetic during delivery. Top
- Reflexology ( foot massage ): A reflexology massage involves the therapist massaging various areas of the feet to promote health in various areas of the body. In general, the big toe represents the top part of the body (the head), the bottom of the heal represents the lower part of the body and the middle part of the foot represents the middle parts of the body. Top
- Reiki: Reiki is an energy modality that doesn’t involve touch. The Reiki practitioner summons energy from the universe to heal or improve the health of their client. Reiki practitioners improve their ability to heal by receiving Reiki treatments from a Reiki practitioner who is at a higher level. Once they have received enough Reiki treatment by higher level practitioner they become a Reiki master.Top
- Sensual: A sensual massage used to mean a massage that is pleasing to the senses. Since people who offer sexual services can’t legally advertise sexual massage, they use the word sensual. Most people who advertise sensual massage, massage the genitals. If you want a massage that is actually sensual, your best bet is to hire someone who advertises Swedish massage, not sensual. Top
- Shiatsu: Shiatsu means finger pressure and is a Japanese form of acupressure. A Shiatsu treatment involves balancing the meridians of the body by pressing and
holding certain points for 2 to 3 minutes each. Meridians are energy channels through which chi (energy) flows through the body.
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- Sports: A sports massage isn’t very strictly defined. Any modality that works well for an athlete will work well for someone who’s not an athlete. The techniques used in sports massage are the techniques that work well on someone who has just performed an athletic event. Also, it can be techniques used to prepare a person for activity before an event. One example of a sports massage technique is a boxer getting his arm shaken by his trainer in between rounds. A sports massage uses many of the same techniques as Swedish massage, except that the person is dressed and no oil or lotion is used. Many people request a sports massage, because they think it will help them become athletic. This is false. Most modalities of massage help with fitness as much or more than sports massage, especially Swedish. Top
- Swedish: A Swedish massage is what most people think of when they think of a massage. It’s a true massage. It involves the Massage Therapist actually rubbing (massaging) the clients body. Many modalities of massage don’t involve massaging the body and some modalities of massage don’t even involve touching the body.There are four strokes in Swedish massage: effleurage, petrissage, friction and tapotement. Effleurage is the long flowing strokes, petrissage is the kneading strokes, friction is used to generate heat and bring blood to the surface, and tapotement is the hitting type strokes. The aim of a Swedish massage is to relax the tissues of the body, relieve stress and improve circulation. Most all Massage Therapists incorporate deep tissue work where needed, with their Swedish massage. Swedish massage is usually done on a massage table using massage oil or lotion, but certain techniques can be done on a massage chair. Top
- Tandem: A tandem massage is two Massage Therapists massaging one client at the same time. Top
- Therapeutic Touch: Therapeutic touch, ironically, doesn’t involve touch. Practitioners place their hands over the clients body, just above the skin. They then feel for areas of warmth and cold, pushing the areas of warmth into the areas of cold. Top
- Thai: A Thai massage involves a lot of stretching of muscles and balancing the positive and negative energies in the body (Yin & Yang). Top
- Trigger Point: A Trigger point is an area of muscle tissue that is hypercontracted (a knot). The therapist pushes on this point to relax the entire muscle. Trigger point therapy is never done without massage, or shouldn’t be. Top
- Tui na: A tui na massage stimulates points on the body that correspond to acupuncture points. The therapist primarily uses the back of the hand to quickly roll back and forth over these points. Other techniques are very similar to western massage, see Swedish massage.Top