There are different types of massages, each of which achieves different results. You can see what Natural Body offers on our services page.
Most of us are familiar with the image of a traditional massage table and oils. However, massage doesn't fit into just one category. There are dozens and dozens of variations, sometimes even within a subset of massage.
Massage is the practice of kneading the body with the hands to relieve pain , tension or simply relax the person receiving it. There are different types of massages and each one has its function and a series of benefits.
To be a little more specific, different types of massages are called modalities, which have been developed to treat specific problems or specific areas.
Not all types of massages are made for everyone, but we are fortunate to have a wide range of massages where we can find one that suits the needs of the patient. And that is what we are going to talk about today, types of massages and how to do them.
Types of massages and their benefits
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is gentle, not particularly indicated for eliminating pain, but rather for making the person relax. This is achieved by using long movements that help circulation, but also circular and deep ones.
Its benefits are multiple, such as increasing oxygen in the blood, improving circulation, decreasing stress hormones or relieving muscle tension.
Deep tissue massage
Unlike the above, deep tissue massage focuses on relieving severe muscle tension. It is especially effective if you have musculoskeletal disorders, postural problems, or chronic muscle pain and tension. Massage therapists often use their knuckles, hands, and elbows to penetrate deeper.
This type of body massage relieves chronic pain in the neck, upper and lower back, legs and shoulders. However, it should be avoided if you have inflamed joints or chronic ailments because it is a forceful technique that could make the pain worse.
It should also be noted that deep tissue massage should not be confused with deep pressure massage. While deep tissue massage focuses on the layers of muscles and fascia, deep pressure massage focuses on the entire body.
Deep tissue massage helps reduce muscle inflammation, relieve pain from osteoarthritis or stress injuries, improves postural problems and is beneficial for breaking up knots.
Sports massage
This massage is specifically designed for people who do a type of sport on a regular basis, such as athletes, because they often need relief from pain caused by repetitive motion associated with their chosen activity. For example, tennis players have repetitive motion that can lead to shoulder pain or, in the case of runners, knee or ankle problems.
Sports massages help speed up recovery times after training, increase flexibility, relieve pain, improve sports performance, release muscle tension...
They can be performed on the entire body or on a specific area, alternating relaxing caresses with deep pressure.
Lymphatic massage
Lymphatic massage is also known as lymphatic drainage. It is performed to move the lymphatic fluid accumulated in the body to help its drainage and reduce swelling. To do this, the masseur makes slow, circular movements.
Performing this type of massage helps the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins and the body to have better circulation, since, otherwise, we can encounter problems such as edema, skin disorders, arthritis, digestive problems, among others.
The main benefits of this massage are lymphatic drainage, reducing swelling and, therefore, the pain that this causes.
Oncological massage
This is a type of massage that people undergoing chemotherapy use. Depending on the person, the masseuse will use one massage or a combination of massages, such as Swedish or deep tissue, during the session.
The goal of massage is to make the patient feel relaxed, so it is very personalized and focused on the person's physical state because it helps to relax them, both physically and emotionally. It also relieves the physical pain experienced by cancer patients.
Hot stone massage
It is a great massage for those who suffer from muscle pain or simply want to experience something different in their relaxation session.
The massage itself is similar to the Swedish one, but with one difference: the masseur uses hot stones to give it, which allows for deeper massage without stopping applying that light pressure that is often necessary.
There is a good reason for the stones being hot, as heat loosens muscle tension and increases relaxation levels. Using the stones and different movements can also improve blood flow and relieve stress.
Aromatherapy massage
This is one of the best types of relaxing massages that exist because the movements are accompanied by essential oils, which help the patient enter a deep state of relaxation and reduce their stress levels.
The combination of these two elements promotes relaxation and can invigorate or energize, depending on the types of aromas the masseuse chooses. It is important to know that consultation is always necessary first to find out what type of essential oils each person prefers, but the choice also depends on the type of ailment that one wants to alleviate. For example, cypress oil is used to relieve muscle pain.
Facial massages
Within the types of body massages we also find those that focus more on the face. In general, their function is more aesthetic, but they are also done to reduce tension, especially in the mandibular area. There are also different types of facial massages:
- Reflexology: This is a technique where specific points on the face are pressed to stimulate other corresponding areas of the body. By working on the pressure points of the face, a facial reflexology can increase energy and improve the circulatory and nervous system.
- Shiatsu: This is a Japanese massage that uses a finger pressure technique to relieve muscle tension, anxiety and stress. It is not limited to the face, but can also be performed on the entire body.
- Radiant or illuminating massage: this is perfect for when the skin is dull and lifeless, to achieve a more radiant skin tone. Different movements are used to activate the circulation of the face and can be accompanied by exfoliants that help eliminate dead skin cells.
- Lymphatic: Just like in the body, lymphatic massages are also performed on the face, as they also reduce swelling and help with fluid retention while increasing blood circulation.
Reflexology
Reflexology uses gentle, firm pressure on different points on the feet, hands and ears. It is ideal for people who are looking to relax or boost their energy levels, but are uncomfortable with having their entire body touched. It is also a quick type of massage that, if you know the technique, you can even do yourself in times of stress, such as at work.
Reflexology is very beneficial for improving sleep, reducing anxiety or certain pains, as well as relaxing and improving mood.
Prenatal massage
Women can also get massages while they are pregnant. During pregnancy they tend to have more fluid retention, body aches, especially in the back, and this type of massage helps them to have a more bearable day-to-day life. However, it is important to go to specialists in this field, since not all massages are suitable for pregnant women.
Prenatal massage uses gentle pressure similar to Swedish massage and the massage therapist focuses on areas such as the lower back, hips and legs. During the session, the woman lies on her side or on a table designed for pregnant women.
Cranial massage
Finally, we want to talk about one of the most popular body massages, and that is the cranial massage, which helps to release compression in the bones of the head, lower back and spine.
Here, the bones of the skull and spine are gently manipulated to solve different problems, such as migraines, headaches, neck pain, to reduce insomnia… Obviously, cranial massages are also performed to help the patient relax.
These have been some of the most common types of body massages, but there are many more, such as Thai or Reiki. It is all a matter of knowing what ailments you want to reduce or if you just want to enter a state of relaxation to reduce stress levels.