Massages
What are the popular types of massage?
Open a massage spa menu to the massage section and you’re bound to see a healthy number of modalities. So how do you select which massage type is the best fit for what you’re feeling (stressed out, sore muscles and so on…)? Here’s a good start before booking your next spa appointment. We’re sharing the ten most popular types of massage to help you choose your favorite.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is arguably considered the most popular massage type, appearing on a majority of spa menus worldwide. This Western massage utilizes the following techniques—effleurage (stroking), friction (rubbing), petrissage (kneading) and tapotement (rhythmic choppings)—for a truly relaxing spa treatment experience. It’s a good form of massage to book if you’re a spa newbie.
Couple Massage
Revel in a side-by-side massage of choice with your favorite person, whether that’s your spouse or your sister. A couple’s massage provides the opportunity for partners and BFFs to unwind together in the same treatment room as one therapist works on each person.
Hot Stone
You can amp up your massage experience with a hot stone massage incorporating warm basalt stones, heated anywhere from 120° F to 140° F, for enhanced relaxation. Your massage therapist will apply hot oil to the stones so they glide more along the body, which is a precursor to the stones resting along the back and on the palms and stomach. In a word…heavenly.
Deep Tissue
This therapeutic massage is a favorite with athletes and those with tight muscles. A deep tissue massage combines short, slow strokes and strong pressure (from the therapist’s thumbs, forearms and elbows) to break up tight, knotted muscles and eliminate tension.
Thai Massage
We confess–Thai massage is one of our favorites. In Thai massage the therapist puts you through a series of stretches that cover your entire body. (Think of it as a great yoga session where someone else does the work.) During the massage, you wear loose fitting clothing and lie on a floor mat or on a table wide enough to accommodate the therapist and you.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a deliciously healing type of massage that involves kneading the soft fleshy ball of the foot, pulling on the toes, tracing around the heel and pushing deep into the arch. Much more than a foot rub, your reflexologist will stimulate points on your feet that correspond to specific organs.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is different than most types of massage because it focuses on the fascia, the thin tissue that covers all the organs of the body, rather than just the muscles. The theory is that when muscle fibers are injured or stressed, the fibers and the fascia surrounding it become short and tight. Myofascial release treats these symptoms by releasing the uneven tightness in injured fascia.
Aromatherapy
Using essential oils is an added element that heightens a massage. The fragrant aromatic extracts, derived from herbs, flora and other plantlife, not only stimulate the senses but have added therapeutic benefits: calms body and mind, boosts mood, promotes sleep, etc.—all effects we expect while partaking in a massage.
Shiatsu Massage
This form of traditional Japanese bodywork involves using the fingers, thumbs, palms and sometimes elbows to apply relatively deep pressure to specific areas in an effort to reduce tension and improve blood flow. The technique relies on Eastern acupressure principles to correct your Qi (i.e., energy flow) and is purported to have a wide range of health benefits, such as alleviating lower back pain, according to one study out of St. Luke’s General Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Aside from that, research on the benefits of Shiatsu is lacking, but if you’re looking for someone to go to town on your knots, it certainly won’t hurt to give it a try. (OK, maybe it will hurt a little.)
Sports Massage
As the name suggests, this type of massage is designed for athletes, but gym rats and casual exercisers alike can benefit from sports massage. There is no single method used in a sports massage; instead, the masseuse typically uses a combination of multiple techniques (stroking, kneading, compression and trigger points, to name a few) to improve joint range of motion and flexibility while reducing muscle tension. In fact, numerous studies—like this one published in The Journal of Athletic Training—suggest that sports massage can indeed be effective at alleviating post-workout muscle soreness. Of course, it also just feels good—like all types of massage, sports massage is intended to leave you feeling relaxed and happy.
Get Help?
If you feel your back is sore, unwell, and unable to exercise vigorously…
Or you want to relieve stress and reduce fatigue..
Or maybe you just need a great place to relax…
Please get in touch with us via the contact information below.
You can check the address of our store and walk in directly.
Alternatively you can book your appointment through the online booking system within the website.
If you have any questions, it is recommended that you call us, it will be more convenient to establish contact.
- M Spa
- 754-217-4933
- 10:00AM - 23:00PM
- 2800 E Commercial Blvd Suite 105, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
- Make sure you come to #105 Entrance is inside the hallway
