Massage therapy is as much an art as it is a science. A skilled massage therapist can reduce stress, relieve chronic pain, increase productivity during training, and generally make you feel like a new person. There are dozens of techniques, each affording their own benefits. These are just a few of the techniques that massage therapy has to offer.
When it comes to the reduction of stress Swedish massage is by far the most popular. It’s gentle, soothing stokes ease muscle tension, sooth sore joints and set nerves at ease. It’s one of the most widely practiced massage techniques out there and can be found at just about every corner of the globe. It’s a simple enough technique to learn, but like all art forms it takes time to master. They are dominated by five basic movements. There is the effleurage, which are basically strokes; the petrissage, which is essentially kneading the muscles; friction, where you rub with the fingertips in circular patterns; tapotement, which is basically chopping; and vibration, where you press the fingertips firmly against a muscle and shake it for a period of time. The basics of Swedish massage are simple, but it’s the execution that makes a good massage therapists.
When you’re dealing with chronic pain Deep Tissue massage is the best technique for relieving it. There are several variations of Deep Tissue massage, but one of the most targeted forms is called Neuromuscular massage. It targets specific muscles and points of tension in your body to relieve stress in various parts of your body. For example, relieving a knot in your back may relieve pain in your shoulders and vice versa. Neuromuscular massage requires a thorough understanding of anatomy to become skilled in its practice.
Sports massage is the ideal technique for helping you train better. It’s all about loosening muscles to increase circulation and prevent injuries. The basics of Sports massage bare more than a passing resemblance to Swedish massage, but they’ve been adapted for use on athletes. The focus is on preventative care and recuperation rather than general relaxation.
Feldenkrias is the greatest example of massage as an art form. This technique is all about redefining how one moves. It’s a more specialized form of Massage Therapy in that it focuses on the individual as an individual rather than just another human being. The slow gentle movement exercises remind me of the gentle movements in Tai-Chi and are followed by a gentle massage that is designed to help increase your range of motion. These are just a few examples of the art turned science that is massage therapy.
