Monday, December 9, 2013

How to Choose the Best Type of Massage for You

The art of massage has a long history, dating back to Ancient Egyptian times. The concept of a massage has remained popular for millennia due to the proven benefits for one's health and stress relief. As a gift, or even as treat for yourself, a massage is a great choice. However, it is important to understand the different types available to ensure you get the massage best suited to your particular needs. 

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy utilises your sense of smell to offer a calming and relaxing experience. This is achieved by adding aromatic essential oils to the massage lotion that is used. These different aromas affect you limbic system, which controls emotions, the nervous system and hormones. This kind of massage is a great choice for anyone who is having problems with stress or headaches so aromatherapy massages make a good treat for anyone living a stressful and fast paced life.

A massage therapist properly qualified in aromatherapy will always consult with you to select the right essential oils for your situation. Avoid cheap imitators who do not ask questions or assess your situation before they begin treatment - they are most likely not correctly trained to deliver aromatherapy massage.

Deep Tissue Massage 

This variety of massage therapy is especially useful for anyone experiencing chronic pain, or stiffness. It is designed to realign body tissue and muscle through slow movement, combined with a higher level of pressure than is generally experienced in other massage styles. This is particularly suited to anyone who experiences neck or back pain on a regular basis. 

Deep tissue massage may hurt at certain points of the treatment - this is normal. However, because there is so much pressure being exerted on your body it is important that the therapist is properly trained. If an unqualified therapist conducts deep tissue massage it can cause serious damage. Always check that your therapist has the proper training before you start the massage!

Relaxation Massage

A relaxation massage is what most people are familiar with. There is only one goal here- to relax! The masseuse will use long, gentle strokes, at a much slower pace than used in other kinds of massage. Due to this slow and gentle technique you can become so relaxed that you might even fall asleep! This massage is the ideal gift for that special someone you would like to indulge. 

Choosing the Right Massage Therapist

As you will have already noticed, massage can be used to treat some serious ailments. The flip-side to this is that you can also suffer injuries due to poor massage technique. When choosing a massage parlour, or spa, there are two things you must always check. First, ensure that the massage therapists have been accredited. Any business offering a quality service should have their therapists' qualifications easily visible in the reception area or treatment rooms. Secondly, check that the business has insurance in the event of an injury occurring during, or as a result of, a massage they have given. Even well trained masseuses can make mistakes, so it is important that you are covered.

Massage is a great way to treat aches and pains. Alternatively you can just lay back and enjoy a slow relaxation massage. No matter what your goal, there is a massage style out there to suit your needs. As well as the ones mentioned here, there are literally hundreds more, so get out there and start exploring the wonders of massage!

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