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Massage is a combination of science and art. This generally presents a soothing experience by an artistic hand that caress on the body to revitalize it. Massage is often based on mechanical handling of body tissues and joints or may be based on touch. Massage is a technique of touching or applying ordered or free pressure, tension, motion, or vibration through a manual process or with the help of mechanical aids to the soft tissues of the body. This includes the muscles, connective tissues, tendons, ligaments, joints, lymphatic vessels, organs of the gastrointestinal system etc. to achieve a beneficial response.
There are several different types of massages available all over the world. The benefits of these massages may vary from soothing to revitalizing. At present over 200 massage techniques are known to us. To know a technique we have tried to provide a list of techniques in alphabetical order:
Anma
This form of massage initiated in Japan about 1300 years ago. Anma is applied on deep tissues, with no oils and this is based on kneading movements.
Amma Therapy
In Chinese, amma means "push-pull." Amma therapy is concerned with removing blockages and balancing the body's flow of energy along its meridians with a combination of many therapeutic massage techniques. This form of massage was invented in China.
Aston Patterning
This technique was developed in the mid-1970s by dancer Judith Aston. She tailored a program to ease rehabilitation, improve performance, and prevent injury; this technique is known as Aston Patterning. It combines not only massage, but also retraining of the body through movements and attentiveness to maintain change.
Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurveda is a natural health care system which originated in India over 5000 years ago. It involves massage therapies too. Ayurvedic Massage therapy is popularly known as Abhyanga. This therapy is usually performed by two therapists working simultaneously, using a heated, select mix of special herbal oils.
Barefoot Deep Tissue Massage
In this technique clients are loosely clothed and laid on a floor-mat. No oil is used. Therapist applies a wide assortment of pressure without difficulty and does not have to strain themselves, more effort and attention can be applied by them to sense and manipulate tissues, release fascia, as well as search for other problems, regardless of patient's size or build. John Harris who developed this technique, states that the blend offers an effective fresh means for strongly enjoyable, effective deep tissue massage and Trigger point work, not considering the patient's size or build.
Bowen therapy
This massage technique is named after an Australian Tom Bowen who, in the 1950's, introduced the concept of having rest periods between a series of massage movements within a treatment session to allow the body to absorb the healing process. This technique involves a rolling type movement over front part, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
Bioenergetics
It is a mixture of physical and psychological techniques. The technique uses physical exercises, deep breathing, and massage to permit the body to give up its need to armor itself.
Canadian Deep Muscle Massage
This technique treats specific muscles and muscle groups. It is a basic method that offers quick results for pain and stress. This technique starts lightly and goes deeper when the outer muscle fibers begin to relax, permitting the successive layers of muscle to be addressed effectively.
Chair Massage
This technique allows you to be massaged fully clothed in a specially designed chair to relax you. Since the chair is portable, you may find the availability of chair massage almost at any vantage point.
Chi Nei Tsang
The term "chi" denotes energy and "nei tsang" denotes internal organs. This technique is mainly applied on the abdomen area with a deep, soft and gentle touch to guide internal organs to function with greater efficiency and improve flow of energy in the body.
Core Energetics
The object of this psychotherapeutic technique is to attract the greater awareness and recognition of the individual's core energy and feelings, letting the individual create his or her life from this deep center. This is achieved progressively by bringing movement and awareness to the body.
Deep muscle therapy
This technique intends to re-establish the circulation of the body with its remedial characteristics up to the cellular level. This therapy is generally used to treat the diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back pain, headaches, poor circulation, whiplash, and many more effectively.
Deep Tissue Massage
This technique is intended to massage the deeper segments of thick muscles, using deep muscle compression and friction along the grain of the muscle, the main object of the massage is to free the fibers of the muscles and release toxins and deeply held tension. This technique is also applied to treat Parkinson's disease.
Esalen Massage
This technique is applied in a specific manner on the muscle and circulation systems of the body. The process is mixed with the bodywork approach for greater effect. It is a very relaxing full body technique.
Fur massage
This technique is used to focus the attention on the importance of touch and to sensitize specific areas of the skin. It is used to stimulate the lymphatic system by exciting the skin. The traditional massage always requires strong tissue rubs and technical expertise; on the other hand fur massage stirs the imagination and highlights the erotic nature of touch. Fur massage is used to release tension and stress.
Haelan Therapy
This technique usually combines therapeutic touch, psychotherapy, and counseling. Haelan therapy tries to help people with physical illness to take part in their curing from a more holistic viewpoint.
Hakomi Therapy
Hakomi therapy is a system of body-centered psychotherapy. The technique uses the tools of touch, massage, energy work, movement learning, and body-mind understanding. This technique leads the individual to an understanding of the unaware beliefs and approaches that drive behavior and limit the responses.
Hoshino Therapy
Hoshino Therapy is an official medical therapy in Argentina. It is a particular form of acupressure. In this system, full hand contact is applied as well as the traditional pressure of the first joint of the thumb.
Indian Head Massage
Indian Head Massage provides healing and relaxation. This technique is used widely in Asia to relieve tension and stress of individuals. The Indian Head Massage relieves and synchronizes the body's natural balance, helping to promote physical and psychological well-being.
Infant Massage
Infant massage is a way of encouraging infant health. It incorporates nurturing touch, massage, and reflexology in a loving, fun, one-on-one interaction.
Integrative Massage
Long flowing strokes are used to move energy from the head down-and-out through the hands and feet. This is combined with the use of deep breath aid the course of action.
Lomilomi
Lomilomi is a massage technique formalized by Hawaiian-born nurse, Margaret Machado. Pressure with the fingers at certain points is also part of the technique, but it is of shorter duration than acupressure. Identifying technique of Lomilomi is the use of forearm and elbow as a massage tool.
Looyen Work
This technique usually works with the interior emotional issue of an individual. Though the effect of the process is deep but the massage is applied in a tender form. This is one of many types of bodywork that encourages emotional well being of the individual through the physical release given by massage techniques.
Lymph System Massage
The lymph system is designed to remove bacteria and toxins from our body, massaging the lymph system usually improve the flow of lymph and benefit us. This technique massages the lymph nodes and lymph system using light rhythmic strokes. Lymph system massages use to apply the strokes with the muscle fiber, rather than cross-fiber, because the lymph system runs in the direction of the muscle fiber.
Maalish
It is a rough form of massage usually applied all over the body, particularly on shoulders, the head, arms and thighs. It is normally done by applying oil over the body or the hands. It requires great effort to perform and relives the individual's physical and mental stress and can last for a very long time.
Mayan abdominal massage
This is a traditional massage applied in the abdomen region practiced in many countries of Latin America. The technique helps to improve digestion, correct digestion related problems, and to help the reproductive organs.
Myofascial Release
This is a manual massage technique to stretch the fascia and release the bonds between fascia and integument, muscles, and bones. The aim of the process is elimination of pain; increase the range of motion and balancing the body. This is usually done by applying compression or tension in various directions, or by skin rolling.
Naprapathy
Naprapathy is a technique of massaging the connective tissue gently to restore best flow of energy throughout the body. Major focus of this technique is on the attention it provides to the ligaments that encase the spinal column. The process is holistic in nature; it pays attention to nutrition, movement, lifestyle and diet.
Neuromuscular therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) addresses pain and specific problems through systematic and site specific massage. NMT reduces pain, tension, postural imbalance, and lengthens and strengthens tissues.
Ortho-Bionomy
This tender massage technique is also known as the homeopathic of bodywork. Ortho-bionomy applies movements and mild manipulations to find the position of most comfort in reaction of a pain. Then work is started from there to release the central problem.
Pfrimmer Deep Muscle
This is one of the early forms of deep muscle massage. This technique uses powerful strokes across the muscle fiber rather than along the length of the fibers. This technique frees adhesions, improves circulation, both lymphatic and vascular, and causes corrective changes in the muscle on a cellular level. It also eases sports injuries, trauma, tension, and stress.
Pregnancy Massage
This massage technique relieves the tensions and aches caused by the extra weight and shift in the center of gravity to the body, reduces swelling, soothes the nervous system, acts as a tonic, reduces fatigue, and enhances energy.
Rebalancing
This technique uses a mixture of deep tissue massage, joint tension release, verbal dialogue, and energy balancing to relieve physical pain, release emotional holding patterns, and increase relaxation. This procedure takes ten sessions,
Reflexology
This technique is performed on the hands and feet and it is based on the ancient Oriental theory that each zone or part of the body has a matching reflex point on the feet, stimulating that reflex point causes stimulation in the natural energy of the related organ. Pressure is applied on particular points located in feet to clear out congestion and restore normal functioning and health.
Rolfing
It is a process of codified series of soft tissue manipulation, which attempts to organize soft tissue relationships, with the sole aim of realigning the body structurally and harmonizing its primary movement patterns and increasing vivacity and well-being.
Shiatsu
This technique uses thumb pressure and works along the energy meridians as acupressure in the body.
Soma Neuromuscular Integration
This is a ten-session phenomenon. The process incorporates movement training and awareness tools as well as massage and manipulation, creates easier, less intrusive ways of working with the fascia and muscles. It also tries to promote greater access to the functioning of each hemisphere of the brain.
Sport Massage
Depending on the needs of the athlete, a variety of techniques are applied including Swedish strokes, cross-fiber friction, pressure-point work, and joint mobilization to relax and rejuvenate the stress points.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage involves long flowing strokes, kneading, friction, tapping, and shaking motions. It is effective for most ailments. Massaging the skin sets up a chain reaction that produces a positive effect on all layers and systems of the body. It mostly affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, and promotes health and well-being.
Tui Na Massage
Tui Na is a form of Chinese massage that focuses more on pushing, stretching and kneading the muscle. Tui Na has been used to treat or complement the treatment of many conditions; musculoskeletal disorders and chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems.
Zhi Ya massage
This technique of Chinese massage is primarily based on acupressure. It is similar to Tui Na massage except it gives more stress on pinching and pressing at acupressure points.
The other popular massage types include Stone massage, Thai Massage, Trager, Trauma Erase, Tai Ji Massage, Trigger point therapy, Watsu etc.
The best part of the correct application of the technique is that it does not produce any side effects, instead it promotes health and the well-being of an individual.
