Ten types of massage to explore this season
As the festive period kicks in and the year approaches the tail end, one might feel too exhausted or fatigued after a long 12 months of work. A massage could be one of the ways to relax your body and mind, but to know which type is best for you can be tricky. The key is to pick the right type based on your personal needs
Aromatherapy: This is a massage with essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus. They may be applied directly onto the skin or be diffused in the room during the session.
This massage is great for people who have anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea and pain.
Hot stone: For this massage, smooth, flat, heated stones are placed on specific parts of the body.
The stones are made of volcanic rock that retain heat and are heated between 130 and 145 degrees.
If you’re experiencing muscle tension and pain, insomnia or stress, a hot stone massage may be helpful to you.
This moderate pressure massage is found to be beneficial, especially for those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Trigger point: This one is meant to tackle ‘muscle knots’ — especially when you’re experiencing back or neck pain.
The therapist would target and apply pressure on certain points in your body to reduce your muscle pain.
Thai: Thai massage requires the person being massaged to participate actively in the massage because there is yoga-like stretching involved.
Since the massage has a lot of stretching, it is especially good for people who are active in sports such as athletes and those who need stretching.
The massage can help lower stress, boost energy, relieve headaches, and improve circulation and range of motion.
Prenatal: Prenatal massage can be done at any time during a pregnancy. Getting a massage during pregnancy can help to regulate hormones, reduce swelling and pain and ease stress and anxiety.
Aquatic bodywork therapy: Also known as ‘watsu’, this massage promotes relaxation by supporting and gently moving the person through water in graceful, fluid movements.
It helps to decrease muscle tension and increase range of motion. The massage would be beneficial for people who suffer from muscle pain or stiffness.
Deep tissue: Deep tissue massage is when pressure is applied using slow deep strokes to target the inner layer of muscles.
In doing so, it helps to treat muscle pain and improve stiffness. It’s most suitable for people who engage in highly physical activities or those who have an injury or chronic pain.
Ashiatsu: Ashiatsu massage is like deep tissue massage, but it’s done with feet rather than hands. The therapist will walk on the person’s back barefoot while holding onto propped up railings.
The weight of the therapist adds more pressure than other massage types. It’s good for people who want to reduce chronic pain, stress and improve flexibility.
Active release technique: Nicknamed ‘ART’, the massage treats your body’s soft tissue by identifying, isolating, and targeting the affected area.
As such, it’s effective for dealing with injuries of the soft tissue, such as overuse and sports injuries. It can also help to relieve pain and stiffness.
Chair: A specially designed chair is used in this massage and is done with the person sitting on it fully clothed. It often involves massaging the neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands.
Since the massage chair is portable, it has been argued that the massage would be beneficial for working people in an office because it can give them some time off to relieve stress.
