What is massage – It can be defined as an act
To give a massage to (someone or a part of someone's body)
To rub or press (someone's body) in a way that helps muscles to relax or reduces pain in muscles and joints
A brief history about massage
Massage has developed continuously in China for nearly 5000 years. Western ideas are considered within the traditional framework. It is widely practiced & taught in hospital & medical schools & is an essential part of health maintenance & primary healthcare.
Hot Stone Massage?
During a hot stone massage the therapist heats as many as 50 basalt stones of varying sizes to 120–140º F, rubs them over your oiled body, & rests them on top of & beneath you on your stomach, in your palms, on your back. The stones' warmth enhances the relaxing effects of the pressure. Some people believe the stones have healing, grounding qualities, which makes hot stone massage a more profound experience than your basic massage. The therapist will leave some of the smooth, heated massage stones in contact with your body & use others to massage you. Cold stones are sometimes incorporated, especially on the face, where they have a firming effect. Hot stone is a feel-good treatment found on most spa menus. Hot & cold stone temperatures have said to be like the ‘vascular gymnastics' of the circulatory systems, the system that controls self-healing in the body.
What is Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas such as stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness and sore shoulders.
Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).
Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, injury rehabilitation, and the following conditions:
Chronic pain
Lower back pain
Limited mobility
Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury)
Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Postural problems
Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back
Does Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?
At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain.
It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range.
There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.
What is Sports Massage?
Sports massage was developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.
But you don't have to be and athlete to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area that you present, usually associated with some sort of sports activity, such as running, tennis, or golf.
The most important thing with sports massage is that you find a specially trained massage therapist who has mastery of a wide range of techniques and knows when to use them. Many spas used to put sports massage on their menu as a way to appeal to men. As spas have become more sophisticated, however, they realize they shouldn't list sports massage unless they have some therapists with specialized training.
What Happens During Sports Massage?
Sports massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to achieve the desired goal.
Pre-event sports massage -- a short, stimulating massage 15 - 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion.
Post-event sports massage -- given within an hour or two of the event, to normalize the body's tissues.
Restorative sports massage -- given during training to allow the athlete to train harder and with less injury.
Rehabilitative sports massage -- aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health.
Types of massage you can book
Aromatherapy massage
Back massage
Chair massage
Deep tissue massage
Head massage
Hot stone massage
Pregnancy massage
Shiatsu massage
Sports massage
Swedish massage Therapy
Thai massage
Therapeutic massage
Trigger Point massage
Tui Na massage