Know All About Massage Therapy
The exertive work schedules often leave us in excruciating pain at the end of each day which we casually overlook and welcome even bigger problems in future. However a small detour to a massage clinic would rather be beneficial because, really, your limbs and muscle never take a day off. So a little you could do is relish a massage every once in a while.
Commonly known benefits of massage therapy
A massage therapy is an ultimate power management package that aids relaxation of stressed muscles, improves sleep, flexibility and circulation. It also helps exfoliate skin, ease fatigue, reduce tension in post-surgery swellings, eliminate anxiety and depression, improve posture and stimulates soft tissues to cleanse lymphatic fluids. Massage therapy is generally considered as a secondary treatment; however majority of healthcare regimes today include massage therapy due to its naturally occurring benefits.
Types of massage therapy
Some of the well-known massage therapies are listed below:
Swedish massage: With the knowledge of human anatomy and basic physiology, it uses different oils and lotions to relax the large group of body muscles using certain basic strokes including long strokes, small circular rotations, kneading, percussion and vibration. It is the most commonly known therapy.
Aroma therapy: This particular brain stimulating therapy uses volatile substances extracted from plants known as essential oils to relax stress, heal skin conditions and hormonal imbalance. The oils are massaged deep into the skin and properties of the oil heal the affected area. The aroma in the atmosphere soothes the mental stress and improves brain functions.
Hot stone massage: This authentic massage therapy uses hot stone placed at certain point along the spine, hands, face, feet and head to improve the temperature and blood pressure at the spot so that the deep knotted muscles or stressed spot to be worked on are easily accessible to the masseuse.
Reflexology: This technique is limited to touching only your hands, feet and outer ears. Applying pressure on the reflex zones on your hands, feet and ears can manipulate the effect of stress on the entire body. It results in improved blood circulation and elimination of toxic fluids through lymphatic system. Along with muscular flexibility it enhances the health of the organs in direct contact to the nerves at the reflex points.
Deep tissue massage: It is a therapeutic treatment to treat muscle knots, repetitive pain in lower back, upper back, chronic muscle injuries due to sports and other mishaps. The deeper layers of affected muscles and tissues are targeted by applying slow but pressurized strokes to access the areas to be worked on.
Thai massage: This is another therapy which is worked on full clothed to align the energy of the body. The therapist uses rhythmic sequences of tension and compression to release the stress in muscles and thus improves the body balance and flexibility.
Common questions asked about Massage therapy:
What to expect in a massage therapy?
The ambience of a massage center is quiet and dimly lit to help you feel relax and often a soothing music hums in the background. The therapist may ask you a few questions about your history of severe injuries or medical conditions which you should truthfully answer. In case of any serious conditions, visit a doctor before booking a massage appointment. As the therapy begins the therapist starts with applying lotions or oils to reduce the friction of your skin for smoothing the strokes. Some therapies are performed fully clothed too. The duration can range from 10 to 90 minutes. Generally there are flat tables with soft sheets for the clients to rest during the treatment but for certain therapies such as Thai massage, floor mats are used for convenience of the process.