Massage is an ancient modality that has been practiced as far back as 3000 BC, as seen in the historic Chinese book Cong-Fu of the Toa-Tse. As history progressed, massage evolved into several different modalities, each with their own therapeutic purpose. Depending on your reasoning for seeking out a massage, you may experience several different forms of massage.
Swedish
Swedish is the most commonly practiced massage type in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health. Swedish massage uses oil or lotion to provide a slick surface for the practitioner's hands to glide across. The massage movements include long strokes and kneading movements that gradually increase in pressure as the massage progresses. This helps the massage practitioner slowly work down through the layers of muscle.
Deep Tissue
Deep tissue massage is another form of massage therapy that targets the deeper layers of the muscles, more specifically targeting muscle adhesions, also commonly referred to as muscle knots. Muscle adhesions occur when connective tissues in the body become stuck together. The goal of deep tissue massage is to break down adhesions, releasing them and returning full painless mobility to the affected muscle.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is another form of massage that focuses more on acupuncture points on the body. This popular Japanese modality of massage uses finger pressure on specific points of the body to free the flow of energy through the body in order to achieve homeostasis.
Hot Stone
Hot stone massage is a popular type of massage, especially during colder winter months. Hot stone massage uses heated flat and smooth stones to impart heat on specific areas of the body. Hot stones may be placed and left on the body, or they may be used as a massage tool by the therapist during your treatment. The heat of the stones relaxes the muscles and increases the circulation of the treatment area, according to the Academy of Therapeutic Arts.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is used by sports teams and individual athletes to help improve athletic performance and decrease the risk of sports-related injuries. This form of massage focuses on relaxing specific muscle groups related to sports while increasing flexibility and range of motion.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a form of body massage that focuses more specifically on the feet. During reflexology, your therapist will apply pressure to specific areas of the feet (reflex points) that are believed to correspond with systems and organs in your body. The overall purpose for reflexology is to balance the body's energy, according to the American Cancer Society.
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