Some people particularly enjoy a massage but what one do you think you would like? Massage is a soothing therapy that can help relieve the aches and pains in the body and also help relieve our tension.

As with many alternative therapies, the origin of massage can be traced back thousands of years to Egypt and in the East.

A massage will not only make you feel better but are some good health benefits to be gained. It increases blood flow to your muscles, tissue and every cell in your body which brings oxygen and nutrients to these critical areas. It also stimulates lymphatic flow, improving tissue drainage and the immune system. By drinking plenty of water after a massage, you can help flush out toxins.

Here are some of the different massages that you might consider.

Acupressure

An ancient Chinese technique involves the therapist using his fingers to acupressure points on the skin and this will release muscle tension and help promote circulation and energy flow. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture involves needles. The pressure restores balance through increasing or decreasing the flow of Chi.

Swedish Massage

This is the most common form of massage. The massage is for relaxation and improved circulation. The therapist applies oil to the skin and uses flowing strokes and kneading movements to relieve tension from the muscles.

Deep Tissue Massage

This type of massage is more vigorous and uses various styles to loosen the muscles. It helps break patterns of tension, relieves chronic pain, including inflammation-related pain such as tendonitis and improves range of motion.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu is Japanese for “finger pressure.” This technique is similar to acupressure where the practitioner uses their finger, thumb, palm, elbow, knee (and sometimes even walk on you) to put pressure on acupuncture healing points. This unblocks the flow of energy and encourages blood and lymphatic flow. It also promotes relaxation and strengthens the body against disease and restores balance.

Sports Massage

This treatment incorporates several massage techniques which is great for athletes. It keeps the body flexible, increases performance and assists in rehabilitation from an injury.

Hot Stone Therapy

During this therapy, heated stones are placed strategically on the body which dilates blood vessels and gets blood and oxygen flowing into tense areas. It can feel like a body “rush.” The soothing heat can also prepare the body for deep-tissue work as well as alleviate pain.

Aromatherapy Massage

The therapist incorporates essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers and roots into the massage. They select the proper oils based on a particular physical condition and blend them into a massage oil or lotion. The end result is a relaxing massage tailored to your individual needs.

Pregnancy Massage

This massage focuses on a pregnant woman’s needs including swollen hands and feet, stress on weight-bearing joints, exhaustion and lower back pain. The practitioner positions you to accommodate your baby bump. This massage should only be carried out by a professional massage therapist.

Seiki Soho therapy was taken from the Japanese Shiatsu. It was devised by a Japanese shiatsu practitioner, Akinobu Kishi.

Kishi felt that when performing shiatsu, the shiatsu was a form of controlling the body whether his client wanted it or not. Through observation, he was able to know exactly where on his client’s body he had to treat. To most people this is a little mysterious, because the practitioner has to be able to see the points of the body he has to touch. In shiatsu, the practitioner traces the meridians and feels the parts of the body where there is an excess or deficiency of ki. This is what he then treats.

Seiki Soho is like a massage but it is supposedly good at helping the client get in touch with their own body and mind and helps relieves stress. The belief here is that it can clear up problems that trouble us. If we do not rid ourselves of negative feelings that trouble us, they can often turn into a physical illness.

As a relative new therapy, there is not a lot written about it at this stage. It is the same as shiatsu where the client lives on the floor, fully clothed, on a mat or futon. The touch is firm as in shiatsu and many of the moves are similar but unlike shiatsu there is no rigid system to work to. It relies on what the practitioner can see. After treatment clients say they are relaxed and distressed and feel that their body and mind has been cleansed.

Clients state that after a session they are calm yet energized. They also state that it improves their sleeping patterns and allows them to better cope with the stresses in their every day life.

I think in our western society, it may be very hard to find a practitioner.

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Reflexology is more than just a hand or foot massage. Reflexology is an ancient therapeutic treatment that dates back thousands of years. Pictographs were found in a physician’s tomb in Saqqara , Egypt dating back to around 2300BC.

The modern version of reflexology was popularized by Doctor William Fitzgerald. He called it “zone therapy” because the feet and hands are divided into various zone for treatment.

Reflexology is a massage therapy. Similar to shiatsu, it is a physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hands using specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of lotion, often a power is applied instead. It is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect the human anatomy on both the feet and hands which in theory have significant effects on the entire body.

There is evidence to suggest that this therapy has been around for thousand years. It is believed to have originated in China over 5,000 years ago and  it was practiced by the ancient Egyptians as early as 2500BC.  The treatment can be dated back in Japan to 690BC. Western society found out about reflexology in the 19th century.

Although reflexology is usually applied to the feet and hands, there are those who also apply the same thing to the ear. This is a rarer form. This technique is considered to be a modified from auricular therapy which is an acupuncture technique.

If you are suffering from certain health issue, some points in the foot or hands can be very sore. If the therapist finds these areas, they will focus on them to reduce the pressure.

Most sessions being conducted by practitioners may last from 30 minutes to an hour. It is also a clothed session so the only thing you have to remove is your footwear. It will be up to your therapist whether you lie down or sit up.

At the end of each session, you should feel relaxed. Remember that you have to drink a fair amount of water to flush the poisons and toxins from your body.
Reflexology is another form of massage therapy you can try if you want to relieve tension and stress from the body. If you are interested in trying it, all you have to do is check if there is a therapist within your neighbourhood.

Acupressure is the ancient healing method that was used up to 5000 years ago in China. It is based on the same meridians as acupuncture. Where as acupuncture uses needles at the points along the meridian, acupressure uses the hands, fingers, thumbs and some times the forearm and elbow.

Through the application of the pressure at specific points along the meridians, you are able to stimulate the body back to health. The system is based on the Ki or Chi that runs through the body.

Illness is caused when there is an imbalance in the flow of this energy force. You can either have this energy in excess or this energy can be depleted. If the energy is in excess, it has to be sedated but if it is deficient it has to be increased(tonified) .

When pressure is place on these points, you will release muscular tension and increase the flow of blood at this point; this in turn will aid the bodies healing. There are several reasons to use acupressure – it can be used to relieve tension in the body but can also be used to cure insomnia, the common cold, increase the reproductive system and the list goes on. There are even points on the face that are used for beauty treatments.

The therapy can be self administrated or you can find a therapist who has been trained and knows the points on the meridians. If you want to learn the points for yourself there are books and charts available to help you.

It is a non invasive treatment that can help you with illness or stress. You can use just specific points or you can have a Shiatsu Massage (Japanese) or a traditional Chinese Medicine Massage (Tui Na). Both of these massages trace out the meridian points while the patient is fully clothed.

The natural healing art of Massage Therapies has been around for thousand of years but its popularity in the last 20 years has skyrocketed. We can thank the entrepreneurs who thought to start clinic and day spas, where most of us go to be pampered and relieve ourselves of our stress and tired and sore muscles.

What type of massage is for you? There are several types of Massage Therapies and I will just give you a brief description of some that are available.

The most common form of massage is the Swedish massage. This is a massage using oil or balm. It contains a series of stokes and movements using hands, fingers, thumbs, elbows and the forearm. The aim of this massage is to relax the client and let them enjoy that revitalized feeling.

Shiatsu, Thai and Tui Na (Chinese Remedial massage) are three Massage Therapies based on the eastern philosophy of treating the entire body. They are based on the meridian system and the energy Ki or Chi that flows through the body. The massage is carried out as the therapist traces out the meridians, using pressure points, and they tonify or sedated the Ki or Chi. These traditional massages are based on the idea that the body, mind and spirit form an integrated whole and that we are all connected to the environment and nature. After one of these massages, the body is returned to balance and the Ki or Chi flows smoothly and freely.

Reflexology is much more than a foot massage. This is an ancient massage and there are images in the tomb of Ankmahor in Egypt, depicting the practice of reflexology. The theory of this massage is that each part of your body is mapped out in the 10 zones of the feet. By massaging different areas of the feet, tension and blockages are released from the corresponding part of the body. This massage stimulates the lymphatic system and blood circulation. This is a non invasive treatment and there are people who love reflexology.

Aromatherapy is another massage that uses oils but they are essential oils and the massage is particular designed for a each particular person. There are about 300 oils that can be used by themselves or combined. The oils work with the chemistry of the body. The aromatherapist will take a full history of the client before deciding what oils to use. It is a very relaxing massage and can be found in most clinics and spas.

Remedial massage is a massage particularly used for people who are experiencing pain or discomfort in a muscle or a muscle group. It is through the use of strokes and firmer pressure to remedy the pain or discomfort. This massage reduces the tightness or soreness, thereby letting the client gains back their range of movement and their flexibility.

There are several other Massage Therapies available but it is an individual choice. My suggestion would be that you try a few of them to see what suits you the best.