What are the different types of massage?

In this section, I will explain the most common types of massage: Swedish, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Neuromuscular, Myofascial Release, Chair, Deep Tissue, Baby, and Pet

Swedish is a basic relaxation massage that almost every therapist will incorporate which is comprised of numerous techniques which are very unique to each therapist.  Petrissage which involves squeezing, rolling, and kneading of the muscles is used during a Swedish massage.
Blood flow during the massage is always toward the heart as part of the normal circulation process.

Shiatsu: based on the body's energy meridians where a therapist uses pressure points, related to acupuncture; it is normal to be emotional during and after this type of massage because of the release.

Reflexology: based on the fact that every part of feet and hands corresponds to other parts of the body, if these areas are manipuated, there will be a direct effect on another body part; areas of the feet can be very tender and sensitive, even painful when first starting.  The pressure can be adjusted for each client to accomodate any discomfort.  There are 7000 nerve endings on the sole of the foot so the body serves as a mirror to the foot.  When the feet feel fatigued, massage can be applied to increase energy.

Trigger Point (Neuromuscular or Myotherapy):  An area of ischemia (decreased oxygen) is usually a tender area where muscle has been damaged.  The nervous system maintains the spasm or cramp.  By a therapist applying pressure to a trigger point (area where pain referred) for a short time, new blood flow will go to the area, and muscles will be stretched.  It is a pain relief technique (deep tissue) that is painful but relieving.   Cranio-sacral can be fit into this category as it is a technique to first find and then correct any spinal/cerebral blockages or imbalances that cause dysfunction.

Myofascial release:  This type of massage is done on chronic pain sufferers.  Usually fascia( connective tissue) has been shortened, and blood flow has been restricted leading to fatigue (e.g. fibromyalgia).  A therapist will coax muscles to relax and break up adhesions (knotted areas), apply pressure and/or traction to increase flexibility and mobility.

Chair massage:  usually a shorter massage of 10 minutes, up to 20 minutes where a client sits in a portable chair...Clients are fully clothed, and lotion vs oil is used.  It is popular for groups and in office situations for an employee benefit.

Deep Tissue Massage:  involves releasing a chronic pattern of tension in deeper level muscle by following or going across the grain of the muscle in a contracted area.  Pressure is deep, and everyone has a different level of tolerance which needs to be communicated to the therapist.  There is a great deal of relief when this type of massage is used in combination with other techniques. 

Baby Massage:  Your gentle touch awakens a baby's senses and allows a strong connection increasing the parent/child bond.  Little muscles grow as your touch is love.  Many benefits such as decreased stress response to inoculations/pain procedures, decreased teething pain, decreased constipation and colic, induced sleep, decreased fussiness, and weight gain are obtained from massaging your baby.  Parents also feel good in the process.  Using basic swedish techniques is recommended.  Mothers suffering from post partem depression also will be helped by massaging their babies and deepening the bond.

Pet Massage: There are many benefits of pet massage which include maintaining wellness, increasing circulation of blood and lymph, alleviating pain, reducing recovery time after surgery, stimulating muscles, helping in time of injury, and restoring range of motion and flexibility especially in cases of arthritis or hip dysplasia.  Animal aromatherapy is a relatively new area, but applying essential oils by the owner or vet allows for a more proactive approach to maintain pet health as well as promoting healing.  Oils are absorbed thru the skin and into the blood within minutes; also, the animal breathes in the aroma.  Dogs as well as horses like to have the oil placed on the pad of each foot.  Cats prefer not having it on their feet, so it is best to use a diffuser or put the oils on their bedding.  For birds, use 1`oz of oil with 1 ounce of water and spritz the cage twice a day.  Oil can also be used inside the ears and rubbed along the spine in dogs.  Lavender is a great oil to use for wounds, insect bites, exzema, burns, and in itching and can be used undiluted.  Lemongrass is an oil that needs to be diluted, usually 1 drop to 1 oz of almond oil twice a day to affected area, and can be used for areas of ligament or joint injuries.  For cases of musculoskeletal problems with the spine, other oils such as spruce, rosewood, or frankincense can be used on foot pads.  Combining essential oils with other alternative medical practices such as massage can help heal a variety of conditions affecting pets.   You can go to www.thepetwhisperer.com for more information.

Hot Stone Massage:  In this kind of massage, a therapist uses both hot basalt stones of various sizes as well as her hands to give a massage.  It will be slightly longer than the 50 minute version and will be more expensive due to the extra preparation  time of warming the stones and getting things ready.  The heat relaxes the muscles, improves circulation, and calms the nervous system which makes it even easier for the therapist to massage the client.  Health conditions like insomnia, back pain, arthritis, depression, and stress would be examples of why clients would choose a hot stone massage.  Only oil is used to apply to your body with the hot stones.  Everyone has a comfort zone with temperature, and the stones should be at the 'Goldilocks' temperature, not too hot and not too cold but just right.  Hot stones may be placed in certain key locations for maximum effect and left on your body for a certain time.  They connect with the flow of energy in our bodies to rebalance and allow the most healing to occur.  The elderly and pregnant women should not get a hot stone massage. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• How often should I get a massage?
  A good rule of thumb is to have a massage on a monthly basis.  Of course, if you've been in an accident or have a lot of stress or medical issues, then a weekly massage for a while may be better suited for your situation.  A monthly massage is the healthy way to go in order to remove toxins from the body. 
• What kinds of medical problems does a therapeutic massage help?|
  A therapeutic massage involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body to alleviate stress, pain, discomfort, muscle spasms and cramps as well as promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  It can help with personal or work-related stress/anxiety, arthritis of any type, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, digestive problems, headaches, insomnia, sports-related injuries including decreased range of motion, circulation problems, etc. etc.   The list is endless of the many medical benefits of massage.  
• Are massage therapists licensed in every state?
  There are close to 60 accredited massage schools in the United States, and the list keeps growing with the popularity of the massage career.  Not all states require therapists to be licensed, but the majority do.  Massage schools will provide a minimum of 500 hours of training; some require up to 2 years in community college programs which include many extra modalities. A therapist is licensed (LMT) or certified (CMT), depending on the state, when he or she has passed the national certification exam for therapeutic massage.  Continuing education is required in order to keep skills up to date as well as renewing licenses.
•  Why is drinking water so important after a massage?
   Please drink plenty of water especially after your first massage and for a 24 hr period after each massage to flush out all the toxins that have accumulated to the surface as massage greatly increases your circulation and lymphatic drainage.  Our bodies are approximately 70% water so we're giving back to our bodies what they need most.  
• Why does my nose feel so stuffed up during and after a massage?
  Sometimes this happens because of laying face down in the face cradle.  Again, circulation is increased, and everything comes to the surface trying to leave your body through any pores.  It is part of the lymphatic drainage process which is very normal.  Kleenex is provided in my office and in many massage offices for this very purpose.  When you have more regular massages, you won't feel as stuffed up as much.  Some clients use a nasal spray so that this doesn't happen during a massage.  Some people cannot lay with their heads face down in the cradle for a 20-minute or more period and may lay with their head to the side, especially if it is bothersome to them.
• Are there any medical reasons in which someone shouldn't have a massage? yes, in cases of phlebitis, some cancers, cardiac problems, some skin conditions and infectious diseases, massage isn't recommended.  Ask your doctor if massage is ok, and let your massage therapist know about any areas of concern.

• Why does oil have to be used during a massage?
  Using oil decreases the friction of a therapist's hands rubbing your skin.  Friction is even greater in hairy areas.  It just makes the massage strokes so much easier to manipulate.
• How does massage work exactly to make me feel better?
  By definition,massage is an arabic word meaning stroke.  By a therapist using various massage stokes, he or she is manipulating the soft tissues of the body by increasing the circulation of blood and lymph thereby flushing out lactic acid and uric acid, 2 of the main toxic wastes.  Endorphins, which are the body's natural painkillers, are released during a massage.The skin, which is the largest organ in the body, is stimulated, and ligaments/tendons are stretched.  Emotional and physical stress is decreased as part of the whole process.  Touch is the gift of life.
• Is pet massage recommended?
  Massaging an animal is as beneficial to your pet as it is to you.  An animal's body is designed different from a human's body, but the same benefits are realized, mainly improving the circulation and the overall well-being of the animal, especially in areas of arthritis and pain.   Animal massage is based on using acupressure points.  Please go to www.petwhisper.com if you would like more information.
• Can I receive a massage if I am pregnant?
  Massage is very beneficial to pregnant women, but it is always best to check with your doctor first in case of any high risk situations.  The first trimester is the most crucial period, so your doctor should advise you if it is ok.  After that, there really isn't any issue other than you may not be able to lay face down on the table comfortably.  Usually extra pillows are placed in specific areas to ease your comfort and adjustments to the standard massage have to be made by the therapist.  Special prego cushions are used by some therapist if there's a high pregnancy clientele.  

What is the history of Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is an ancient science and art of controlling the use and application of natutral (plant-derived) essential oils in order to maintain good health and revitalize the body,mind, and spirit.  The history of aromatherapy starts all the way back 6000 years ago with Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscriptsand then spread to Rome, Greece and Britain who all used essential oils for several purposes: body massages, bathing, or embalming the dead.  The Bible also tells of the use of aromatherapy to treat illness and in religious ceremonies. The modern era of aromatherapy started with Rene Gattefosse, a French chemist, who coined the term 'aromatherapy' as the therapeutic use of essential oils.  He was amazed at lavender oil which he used on a burned hand which  left no scars.  Dr. Jean Valnet, a French army surgeon during World War II, used essential oils as antiseptics.  The modern use of essential oils during a massage is credited to Madame Maury who prescribed them as a remedy for her patients and suggested aromatherapy as a holistic therapy.

 What are essential oils?

Essential oils are the life force of a plant and have anti: septic, bacterial, viral, inflammatory, fungal, parasitic as well as pain-relieving properties.  By adding to a carrier massage oil, an environment is produced that stimulates the immune system and increases oxygen.  Essential oils can promote healing physically, emotionally, and spiritually and can product a calming or stimulating action within the body that brings about balance whereby a peaceful mood is created.  They don't remain in the body and leave no toxins behind.  Today, there are more than 300 essential oils which are aromatic essences extracted from seeds, flowers, trees, grasses, shrubs, herbs, petals, fruits, and bark with unique psychological, physiological, and therapeutic properties.  Synthetically made oils do not share these benefits, so look for pure, natural oils in order to experience the benefits.  By either inhaling the aroma in the air or applying to the skin, they can have a healing effect on mind and spirit.     They are more like water than oil and have a shelf-life of 6 years.  No 2 oils are alike which makes them very unique.  Chemically, they are a combination of: aldehydes which have anti-infection, sedating, calming, and stimulating properties, ketones which have the antiseptic, bacteriocidal, and viricidal properties as well as being excellent for burns, the sesquiterpenes which have the anti-inflammatory properties, and finally the terpene alcohols which have diuretic, decongestant, and anti-bacterial properties.

 What is an aromatherapy massage?

This type of massage opens and increases the flow of energy because it combines the enjoyable, healing, and relaxing benefits of massage with the medicinal qualities of essential oils.  You will leave peaceful, mentally more aware, uplifted and energized.  Just breathing in the essential oil aroma stimulates the neurochemicals in the brain such as serotonin and endorphins.   The nose is the only opening to the brain. 
The olfactory system (smell) bypasses the blood brain barrier to influence mood and emotions quickly.  The aromatic molecules travel thru the nose on a subconscious level to stimulate the fear and trauma memory centers of the brain (pituitary and amygdala).

• Should I have a sports massage when I work out at the gym?

If you do any sort of exercise working out or are an athlete or runner, massage is highly recommended on a regular basis.  Sports massage is usually of a higher intensity and faster than other massages.  There can be a lot of concentration done on the legs due to muscles cramping, including stretching.  Massage can be done before activities in order to warm up muscles or after activity in order to decrease pain, prevent soreness and tightness and return muscles to a normal balanced, flexible, and relaxed state again.  Problem areas can be worked out to decrease interference with training and performance as well as avoiding serious injuries.  A sports massage incorporated into a deep tissue or Swedish massage increases the circulation by flushing out wastes (lactic acid and uric acid) and improving the blood and lymph return to muscles.  Adhesions (knotted tissue) are decreased as well as increasing the full range of motion to many joints.  You will experience extra performance and increased conditioning when you schedule regular massages after your work out regimens.