Massages not only take away physical pains and fatigue they also help both the mind and body to heal and relax at the same time. Massage therapy is a safe and effective way to pamper and maintain your body. Beyond its benefits for specific physical conditions and diseases, some people enjoy a massage as it often produces the feeling of comfort, caring, and connection.
The term “massage therapy” describes a wide variety of techniques that vary in different manners such as touch, pressure, and even the intensity of the treatment applied.
Get to know more about the different massage therapies and what best suits you and your body!
- Reflexology: Reflexology is a massage technique that focuses on the foot area. But, it’s more than just a foot massage. Reflexology works on energy pathways or specific reflex points on the foot. Applying the correct pressure to the specific area of reflex points can aid in reducing pain and aches from the different parts of your body. Reflexology has proven to provide a lot of benefits, some of those include:
- Improve blood circulation and stimulates energy
- Cleanse the body of toxins
- Boost immune system
- Help relieve back pain, neck stiffness, shoulder tension, etc.
- Stress relief and aids in stress management
- Minus nasal problems and sinus congestion
- Help to improve memory
- Improve healing from various injuries
- Promote overall healing
- Trigger Point Massage: Similar to a small marble, trigger points are tight muscle “knots” that form under your skin. These annoying, tiny knots do not cause that much harm to the overall physical health, but they can cause inconveniences such as painfulness and limited muscle mobility. Trigger point massage therapy is performed by applying the correct amount of pressure at the specific trigger points in the muscle area. By doing so, it cuts off circulation to the tissue temporarily. Nitric oxide increases as circulation are cut off and sends signals up your body to open up the microcapillaries. Blood flow is then increased which then puts a halt to the pain-spasm-pain cycle that causes trigger points. Trigger point therapy promotes numerous benefits on the body, a few of them include:
- Promote lymph drainage
- Enhance strength, speed, and stamina
- Improve blood circulation
- Develop flexibility, mobility, and coordination
- Increase hormone production
- Lift metabolic rate
- Boost collagen production
- Sports Massage: Sports massage is a massage technique that involves the manipulation of the soft tissues and set of muscles of the body that are relevant to a particular sport. Prior to or after exercise, the application of sports massage and physical conditioning may enhance performance, aid in recovery, and prevent injury of athletes. These movements and techniques are used to support the athlete’s body to achieve maximum performance. Sports massage have both physiological and physical benefits alike, these include:
- Increased flexibility
- Increased Range of Motion (ROM)
- Increase elimination of lactic acid (exercise waste product)
- More relaxed nerve excitability (calm nerves)
- Decreased muscle tension
- Reduces chances of injury
4. Swedish Massage: A Swedish massage therapy is designed to deliver relaxation to the body by rubbing the muscles in long, gentle, and circular pressure in the direction of blood returning to the heart. Other Swedish massage techniques may include kneading, light tapping, and karate-style ‘chops’ to associate with the massage. This type of massage is enjoyable and restorative as it works with the muscles and soft tissues to provide a calming and balancing effect to the body. Other benefits include:
- Improve sleep
- Ease muscle pain
- Improve blood circulation
- Reduction of physical and emotional stress
- Aids in immunity
- Release positive hormones
5. Hot Stone Massage: Hot stone massage therapy is a deep massage that uses soothing oils and smooth, flat, heated basalt stones that are commonly placed along the spine, in the palms of the hands, along the legs, and between the toes. Cold stones are often used in treatments that aid with detoxification and healing of the body. The combination of both hot and cold stones increases the lymphatic flow which encourages our body to detoxify and heal through eliminating waste products. Other benefits include:
- Release stored tension
- Relax tense muscles
- Recharge energy levels
- Reduces back and other muscular pain
- Relieve stress, insomnia, depression, and anxiety
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