It can be confusing to stand in front of a spa
menu and know which is best for you.
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
(www.abmp.com), a national massage
organization, estimates there are over 200
different massage techniques practiced today.
As a massage therapist with over two decades
experience I’ve taken a look at some of the
most popular massage styles and what people
are asking for.
Swedish, The Basics
Swedish, a basic technique that most people
are familiar with, is light work involving long
strokes, kneading and percussion. This is
usually done for relaxation and to increase
circulation and is a style that is very popular
amongst therapists. Similar to Swedish,
Lomilomi or traditional Hawaiian massage uses
a lot of circular movements and forearms.
Lomilomi literally means “to knead or fold”.
Lymphatic Drainage,
Cleansing
Light touch massage used to move the lymph
through the body and flush the system. This
technique is great for edema or swelling and
detoxification.
Hot stone, Rock On.
A popular spa technique in which hot stones
(up to 140 degrees F) are placed on the body.
The stones are then used as tools to give the
massage. Pressure can be deep or light and the
warmth adds to the relaxation. A note of
caution though, this can feel relaxing, but
there is more chance of injury because an
inexperienced therapist cannot feel the tissue
beneath their hands and can go too deep. There
is also the chance of being burned. This is a
very common offering in spas, but make sure
choose the therapist wisely.
Deep Tissue, Some Gusto
Deep tissue is, just like the name implies,
deeper work on the muscles. Deep tissue
utilizes knuckles, elbows, feet or tools. This is
another popular spa modality (often with an
up-charge) and is useful for aches, knots,
tension and muscle pain. Contrary to popular
belief this doesn’t have to hurt. If the pressure
is too much during your massage, ask your
therapist to lighten up. If they decline…get a
new therapist. This is considered a more
advanced technique and not every therapist
has been properly trained in it. It’s not just
harder Swedish so again, an inexperienced
therapist can injure you.
Sports massage, Game On
Sports massage is a combination of techniques
specifically for the athlete. Very useful for pre
and post event, sports massage stretches,
Contrary to popular belief this doesn’t have
to hurt. If the pressure is too much during your
massage, ask your therapist to lighten up.
kneads, shakes and uses deep pressure to help
prevent and address injuries. Post event
massage can calm the nervous system and help
to flush the lactic acid out of the muscles,
reducing recovery time.
Trigger Point, Get to the Root of the Problem.
Similar to deep tissue it searches out specific
points, which refer pain to other parts of the
body. This technique is based on two decades
of research and was made popular in the 1980’s
by doctors who mapped the trigger points and
their referral patterns.
Therapists use this technique for pain
management, increased range of motion and
rehabilitation after injuries. Not typically done
in the spa environment, this is common
amongst stand-alone practitioners and is my
favorite modality in combination with deep
tissue.
Shiatsu, A Taste of Japan
Shiatsu works with energy meridians similar to
those used in Acupuncture. It is performed on
the floor and you stay fully clothed though
some spas have moved it up on the table.
Shiatsu isn’t just about the physical, it is used
to tone and balance the energy and to calm or
activate the system. It’s versatile; the
compression used during shiatsu can be deeper
in a pre-sport situation or lighter to help drain
lymph. It doesn’t focus on specific muscle
groups; it’s about the intention and the energy.
Acupressure is similar with the exception that
it focuses on individual points, not whole
energy meridians and can be used for selftreatment.
Hot Stome, Rock On
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