Different Types of Massage to De-stress The Mind and Body

Are you tired?  Stressed?  Everyone is stressed and we are all tired. As it becomes chronic, we don’t know what to do. A relaxed body removes your physical stress.  As your body relaxes, your mind and spirit will also be relaxed. Thus, experts recommend a complete massage that soothes our body.  Haven’t you had any massage yet? Definitely, you missed half of your life! Massage is beneficial to us because it releases the tensions and other negativities in us.

Types of Massage

There are lots of massage types that you can enjoy. The benefits are great and there are different techniques that will suit your preferences.

1.    ACUPRESSURE. It’s a type of massage based on oriental healing concept that utilizes pressure of the hand, fingers, elbow and other parts to apply pressure to a specific acupuncture points in our body. By pressing these points in our body, tension swill be released and it allows our blood to circulate freely. Surprisingly, headaches and constipation can be treated through acupressure. Most therapists consider this as a therapeutic massage since it gives relief to us.

2.  ACUPUNCTURE and  SHIATSU. It’s also known as the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Unlike acupressure, needles are placed in the certain meridians of our body. These types of massage concentrate with the energy flow of the body within the 12 meridian pathways. TCM may treat different illnesses such as: breathing difficulty, migraines, arthritis, etc.  Research reveals the positive outcome of acupuncture treatment. Shiatsu recognizes both negative and positive energies.

3.    AROMATHERAPY. Theoretically, the olfactory and the aroma of the essentials oil can cure the stimulating blood circulation and depression. Varieties of herbs have different amazing healing attributes. Like for example, Basil might be used for migraine treatment while oregano might be used to treat an infection. The aroma dissolves in the air gives a soothing feeling while having a massage.

4.    REFLEXOLOGY. A type of massage wherein the pressure applied in certain body sends signal to the corresponding locations such as: gland or the other organs through the nervous system. It can be used n feet, hands or ears. Stimulating those areas may lighten the pain, lessen addiction, release stress and tension and develops nerve functions and blood circulation. 

5.    THAI MASSAGE. This type of massage is based on Ayurveda and Yoga. A complete medical belief and philosophy developed in India more than 5000 years ago, that is used to bring the mind and body to a deep inner peace creating harmony and life balance is known as Ayurveda. As expected, the therapist uses hands, knees, legs and feet to put the us in a yoga positions and exercises. These techniques encourage external body stimulation that produces great effects  within the body that includes the following:

·         Relaxation

·         Increased energy  level

·         High-level of Flexibility.

·         Improved body circulation.

Hence, Reiki, a Japanese modality technique that reduces stress, relaxes body and mind is related to this type of massage. It may be simple but it is powerful since it derives love,   compassion, and kindness.  It promotes healing as the energy flows through the body.

6.    DEEP TISSUE. As it names implies, this type of massage relaxes the soft tissues in the deep areas of the muscle. Deep slow strokes with the use hands, palms, fingers and elbow cause some tenderness and soreness the next day after  the deep tissue massage

It also manipulates the fascia –a connective tissue that creates an unbearable pain and restricts body motions when traumatized. Fascia affects the whole body.

Other types of Massage

The following are other types of message specifically applied as need. 

·       CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY. A massage that gently manipulates the bones of the skull. This therapy treats chronic pain, chronic headaches, scoliosis, whiplash, muscle tension and even the common cold.

·         EFFLEURAGE. A gentle strokes or a light massage technique that warm up the muscle.

·         LYMPH DRAINAGE MASSAGE, LYMPHATIC MASSAGE. It is a rhythmical controlled stroke that restores the connective tissue, releases inflammatory toxins and develops efficiency on our immune. This type of massage treats arthritis, fatigue, pain in joints, cellulite and other lymphatic issues.

·         POLARITY THERAPY. This is the holistic approach wherein manipulation and palpitation are used to recovers harmony in the place as to where the diseases, pain or illness originated. Other conditions that depends on polarity therapy involves the arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, stress, PMS, depression, and etc.

The kinds of massage can be classified as kinds, modalities and therapies.  However, whatever kind of massage we are looking for, it proves one thing – that it relieves tensions and stress that cause to be ineffective and inefficient in our daily lives.