Massage Modalities are so numerous that it can be daunting to even book one if you are not familiar with these different types of massage. I imagine the average person who is looking for healing for themselves would hit a wall when they get to choosing what type of massage they want during the whole scheduling process.
Here is a list of Massage Modalities that will quite possibly give you Choice Paralysis when thinking about what it is you want from a massage.
1. Aromatherapy Massage
Full-body massage while inhaling diffused oil or with diluted oil applied to the skin.
2. Chair Massage
Quick tension relief for neck, shoulders and back while seated, to relieve stress and provide relaxation.
3. Couple’s Massage
A shared, side-by-side experience. It typically includes Swedish massages, hot stone massages, pedicures, facials, and/or body scrubs.
4. Craniosacral Massage
Gentle, soft touch to improve functioning of the central nervous system’s membranes and cerebrospinal fluid.
5. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep finger pressure with slow strokes to relieve tension in the connective tissues.
6. Digestive Massage
Gentle pressure on abdomen to relieve bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and other symptoms.
7. Electric Massage
A variety of products including hand-held, dual-handed, and tables that provide kneading, vibration, rolling, compression, percussion, infrared, TENS, and other stimulation to improve circulation and relax the muscles.
8. Fertility Massage
Non-invasive holds, abdominal massage, reflexology, visualization, and aromatherapy to enhance reproductive health. Find more at Muna Therapy.
9. Foot Massage
Gentle or firm pressure on various parts of the foot.
10. Hot Lava Shell Massage
Tiger Striped Clam shells are heated and laid on the body, providing a release of calcium ions on the skin. This treatment can regenerate the skin, ease tension, and restore balance.
11. Hot Stone Massage
Stones that are used to apply gentle pressure and heat to the body.
12. Indian Head Massage AKA Champissage™
Based on an ancient head massage called Champi, this therapy relaxes the face, ears, scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper arms to bring pain relief, reduced stress and insomnia, and promote hair growth. Find more at Indian Champissage.
13. Integrative Structural Massage Therapy
Evaluation of gait, muscle spasms, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance to restore balance and alignment. Find more at Paths In Healing.
14. Intraoral and TMJ
Massage that is intraoral (meaning inside the mouth) focuses on muscles in the neck, face, scalp, jaw, lips, cheeks, and soft tissues inside the mouth cavity. It can relieve pain and discomfort from Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders including headaches, jaw clenching, and teeth grinding.
15. Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD)
Gentle massage to encourage natural drainage of lymph node waste products away from body tissues; uses light pressure with circular rhythmic movements.
16. Myofascial Release
Pressure on connective tissues to relieve stiffness, tension, misalignment, scar tissue, and pain.
17. NO HANDS® Massage
Application of the core Swedish strokes of effleurage, friction, and petrissage using forearms, body weight, and slower strokes. Find more at NO HANDS Massage.
18. Pregnancy Massage
Safe option for pregnant women to reduce hip, lower back, and leg tension with mild pressure.
19. Reflexology Massage
Gentle or firm pressure on feet, hands, and ears to restore energy levels.
20. Shiatsu Massage
A Japanese “finger pressure” method [指圧]using pulsing, rhythmic strokes on the palms and thumbs to relieve tension and pain. Find more at Shiatsu for Health.
21. Somatoemotional Release
Therapeutic process using Craniosacral Therapy to rid the mind and body of the residual effects of trauma.
22. Sport Massage
Limited or full-body massage for sport-related repetitive use injuries, tension, or pain.
23. Swedish Massage
A full-body kneading method to relieve tension and pain, typically done with minimal clothing, and often using essential oil blends.
24. Thai Herbal Ball Compression
Massage using a heated muslin herbal-scented ball with light or strong pressure.
25. Thai Massage
Full-body yoga-like stretching with firm pressure, twisting, and positioning to add flexibility and increase circulation. Also called Thai Yoga Massage.
26. Trigger Point Massage
Broad, flowing, and gentle strokes in areas of muscle tightness called “Trigger Points”; can include Neuromuscular Therapy.
27. Warm Bamboo Massage
A cross between deep tissue and Swedish massage; used to loosen tight muscles and improve sports performance.
This is just a little list and it does not even include Lomi Lomi,Mayan abdominal work, Ayurvedic massage or Herbal oil massage (different from aromatherapy) . Some of these are very similar, and there is a lot of overlap, but unless you are familiar with the work, how do you even know where to start?
I don’t typically look for a specific modality unless I am familiar with it. But sometimes you just want to feel better, it may not take the newest reiteration of Shiatsu or it might. How would you know if you are not familiar with the different types?
Is the massage going to be executed well? Will I feel better after, or will I be sore? If you are like me, you want a massage that is an effective one that gives you the results you need, with a minimal amount of suffering afterwards.
The answer? It’s about how well you connect with your Massage Therapist. Someone could have years of training, but if the communication between therapist and client are lacking, you may not get the results you are looking for.
Because of the nature of massage therapy, how a therapist works will have to do with a variety of factors.
How many clients do they see in a week? Limited clientele may help some MTs fight fatigue and other issues MTs face like bursitis, rotator cuff injuries, trigger finger etc. But their services will cost more and they may limit their clientele in a week. Ultimately the decision is to give you a better and more effective massage.
Did you hear from a friend or acquaintance about the work of this therapist? This is a great way to get to know how effective a massage was for someone else and could be a good indicator of how it may work for you.
Personally as a MT I would love to help the world, but I can only start one person at a time. I myself am a human being with a family, hounds at my side and a garden I like to tend to. Our time on earth is limited, why waste it feeling bad? If You would like to book a massage with me, you can BOOK HERE.
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