Swedish Massage: uses soothing, tapping and kneading strokes to work the entire body, relieving muscle tension and loosening sore joints. Swedish massage therapists use five basic strokes, which anyone can learn and use on themselves and others. They are effleurage (stroking); petrissage (muscles are lightly grabbed and lifted); Friction (thumbs and fingers work in deep circles into the thickest part of muscles); tapotement (chopping, beating, and tapping strokes); and vibration (fingers are pressed or flattened firmly on a muscle, then the area is shaken rapidly for a few seconds.
Deep Tissue Massage: targets chronic tension in muscles that lie far below the surface of your body. You have five layers of muscles in your back, for instance, and while Swedish massage may help the first couple of layers, it won’t do much directly for the muscle underneath. Deep tissue techniques usually involve slow strokes, direct pressure or friction movements that go across the grain of the muscles. Massage therapists will use their fingers, thumbs or occasionally even elbows to apply the needed pressure
Sports Massage: is designed to help you train better, whether you’re a world champion or a weekend warrior. The techniques are similar to those in Swedish and deep tissue massage, but sports massage has been adapted to meet the athlete’s special needs. Pre-event massage can help warm up muscles and improve circulation before competition, but it can also energize or relax an athlete and help him focus on the competition. Post-event massage can push waste products out of the body and improve recovery.
Reflexology: involves manipulation of specific reflex areas in the foot, hands, and ears that correspond to other parts of the body. Sometimes referred to as zone therapy, this bodywork involves application of pressure to these reflex zones to stimulate body organs and relieve areas of congestion. Reflexology works with the body’s energy flow to stimulate self-healing and maintain balance in physical function. This technique is used to reduce pain, increase relaxation, and stimulate circulation of blood and lymph fluids. It is especially useful in stress-related illness and emotional disorders.
Shiatsu: is a finger-pressure technique utilizing traditional acupuncture points. Shiatsu concentrates on unblocking the flow of life energy and restoring balance in the meridians and organs in order to promote self healing. With the client reclining, the therapist applies pressure with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow, or knee to specific zones on the skin located along the energy meridians. This treatment brings about a sense of relaxation while stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The benefits of this treatment may include pain relief and the strengthening of the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.
Chair Massage: known as seated massage, chair massage, or on-site massage this technique involves the use of a specially designed massage chair in which the client sits comfortably. Chair massage includes bodywork and somatic techniques, such as shiatsu, amma, and Swedish massage, provided to the fully clothed client in a variety of settings, including businesses, airports, and street fairs.