Popular Massage Chairs Different Types of Massage Therapy Modalities

Chair Massage gives you a roadmap of the stress areas you choose hold onto in your body. Many times people don't know how much stress they're carrying until they have a massage; then they're able to feel it and usually let go of it. As the massage recliner stretches and loosens muscles and connective tissues or "fascia", stress and muscular tension are released. Once you have an awareness of where stress lodges in your body, you can begin to do something about it. You start to educate yourself and your body, and you reverse a negative cycle, which often leads to dis-ease. Massage, often prescribed for injuries and conditions of pain, works at softening the muscles so that the rollers can move in more deeply to break up adhesions, and scar tissue. This allows muscles to become loose and more elastic, the way they should be. The body then may be freed of spasm and pain, increase its range of motion, and have the ability to avoid injury.

Acupressure

is a form of bodywork based in traditional Chinese meridian theory in which acupuncture points are pressed to stimulate the flow of energy or chi.

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Craniosacral Therapy

Cranio refers to the cranium which is the bony part of the head. Sacral refers to the bony bottom of the spine called the sacrum. In the 1900s Dr. William Sutherland, an osteopathic physician, discovered cranio movement. In the 1970s Dr. John Upledger, an osteopathic doctor, helped to further Sutherland's discovery as both an evaluative tool and a corrective one. Craniosacral therapy is a light touch manipulation of the head and bottom of the spine to restore optimal cerebrospinal fluid movement. It can be especially useful in treating headaches, eye and ear problems, jaw problems, whiplash, and back pain.

Deep Tissue Massage

is also called deep muscle therapy or deep tissue therapy. It is a term used to describe various massage styles that focus on the deeper muscles and connective tissues of the body. The therapist uses movement and pressure to reshape and realign the muscles and connective tissue, breaking old, habitual holding patterns. Rolfing, Trager, Hellerwork and Feldenkrais are all forms of deep tissue massage.

Lomi Lomi

is a gentle, soothing, stretching type of massage claimed to be one of the most relaxing of body work styles, using the long continuous, flowing strokes, combined with the very loving touch, relaxes the entire being, assisting in a letting go of old beliefs, patterns and behaviors that cause limitations and which are stored in the cells of our body. Healing, stress reducing, rejuvenating, Lomi Lomi massage therapy has been practiced throughout Pacific for thousands of years. Polole Lomi, "the gentle hand of the mother," Oluea Lomi, "to harmonize body, mind and spirit," and Oluli Lomi, "to ignite the life-force."

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Lymphatic Drainage

is a gentle rhythmic, pumping movements following the direction on lymph flow in the skin that produces rapid results in reducing swelling and removing wastes from the connective tissue back to the blood stream. Other benefits include reduction of pain, a relaxation response and an apparent enhancement of immune function.

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Myofascial Release

Myo means muscle and fascia is the elastic connective tissue wrapped around muscles and other parts of the body. During myofascial release, restrictions (stuck areas) are located and gentle sliding pressure is applied in the direction of the restriction to stretch the tissues. The stretching of tissues and the heat imparted by the practitioner's hands are thought to help produce a softer consistency of fascial tissues.

Neuromuscular Therapy

This comprehensive program of soft-tissue manipulation balances the body's central nervous system with the musculoskeletal system. Based on neurological laws which explain how the central nervous system initiates and maintains pain, the goal is to help relieve the pain and dysfunction by understanding and alleviating the underlying cause. Neuromuscular therapy can help individuals who experience distortion and biomechanical dysfunction, which is often a symptom of a deeper problem. It is also used to locate and release spasms and hypercontraction in the tissue, eliminate trigger points that cause referred pain, restore postural alignment, proper biomechanics and flexibility to the tissues, rebuild the strength of injured tissues, and assist venous and lymphatic flow.

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Orthopedic Massage

Addresses chronic pain and sports injury conditions with emphasis on knowing the underlying causes and pathology of each condition. Focus is on the entire body, with emphasis on restoring pain free joint range of motion throughout the body and integrating complete structural balance. Pain is released by combining sequences of functional assessment, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, frictioning, muscle energy, stretching, neuromuscular re-education, structural balancing, patient home care, and much more. The combination of these techniques obtains immediate and permanent results in even the most challenging and complicated clients.

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Petrissage

The movements which involve various ways of kneading, rolling and picking up the skin and muscles, is called Petrissage. These movements help in strengthening the structures by stimulating the deep layers of tissue, and also help in increasing the supply of blood to the area. At the same time, it assists improvement of the lymph flow, and relieves congestion by reducing the edema. Petrissage techniques also make muscles more pliable, and are used to relieve soreness and hypertonicity (cramping). Light kneading eases the top muscle layers, while firmer kneading works on the deeper muscles.

Pregnancy Massage

is the massage of pregnant women (prenatal) and women after giving birth (postpartum). It address the special needs of pregnant women such as swollen/painful hands and feet, stress on weight bearing joints, preparation of muscles and cardio system for labor & delivery, scar tissue, exhaustion, and emotional changes.
discomforts in the low back, feet, and legs. This form of massage usually consists mainly of Swedish Massage techniques that are modified slightly to take into account the common aches and pains of pregnancy. Positioning of the client is also modified as the pregnancy progresses and the abdomen enlarges.

Raindrop Therapy

is a unique massage technique used by the Lakotas Indians. During a session essential oils are dropped along the spine and lightly massaged into the skin where the oils nourish all of the organs, this influencing each major system of the body. Raindrop therapy brings the body into balance, help align the energy centers of the body and release blockages.

Reflexology

is a form of bodywork based on the theory of zone therapy, in which specific spots of the body are pressed to stimulate corresponding areas in other parts of the body. Foot reflexology is the most common form of reflexology.

Reiki

is a Japanese word pronounced "ray-kee" and means "Universal Life Energy" or Chi. Reiki is believed to date back to early Tibetan healing practices. Discovered in the 1800's by a Japanese philosopher and Christian seminary educator, Dr. Mikao Usui, Reiki was brought to the United States in the mid-1900s. As an energy healing technique, Reiki involves hands-on touch and visualization applied to the entire body, serving to align chakras and bring healing energy to organs and glands. The practitioner, trained to access and serve as a channel for the life energy, uses a passive touch which some clients experience with a warmth or tingling.

Rolfing

is also called structural integration and was developed by Ida Rolf. Rolfing seeks to reestablish proper vertical alignment in the body by manipulating the myofascial tissue so that the fascia elongates and glides rather than shortens and adheres. The 10-session series can cause deep changes in the body that are physical as well as emotional.

Seated Massage

refers to massage given with the recipient seated in an ordinary or special massage chair. Techniques which provide fully-clothed seated massage, bodywork and somatic therapies to clients, generally in a corporate or business setting. Practitioners utilize Shiatsu, Amma, and Swedish techniques.

Shiatsu

(Japanese for "finger pressure") is a system for healing and health maintenance that has evolved over thousands of years. Shiatsu derives both from the ancient healing art of acupuncture and from the traditional form of Japanese massage, amma.

Shiatsu is a Japanese word: "shi" meaning finger, and "atsu" meaning pressure. But shiatsu is more than acupressure, or reflexology. It is a combination of many different techniques, and modalities, including pressing, hooking, sweeping, shaking, rotating, grasping, vibrating, patting, plucking, lifting, pinching, rolling, brushing, practiced informally since at least 200 B.C. and brought to America in the 1940's by Torujiro Namikoshi. Barefoot shiatsu, used mostly in Shiatsu and Thai massage modalities, which includes walking on the person's back, legs, and feet is also commonly practiced. The belief behind Shiatsu and Acupressure is that the body becomes out of balance due to blocked energy along special points called 'meridians', which are located along invisible channels of energy flow throughout the body. This blocked energy can cause discomfort or disease in the body and can be released with the help of a Shiatsu or Acupressure therapist.

In the practice of shiatsu, each person is primarily responsible for his or her own health and well-being, and immunity towards all dis-ease. This contrasts with the Western belief that the allopathic medical practitioner is principally responsible for our health. In Western medicine an awareness of the unique significance of touch, the essential form of communication between two human beings in the fight to subdue pain, has all but disappeared; certainly it has become minimal. Ironically, in all times and all cultures, the importance of touch, has been acknowledged as a primary means to mitigate and release pain. In the hurried rounds of the Western clinical allopathic physician, practicing surgery, prescribing medicine, and checking hospital charts at the end of the day, alas, it has basically vanished.

Shiatsu strengthens the immune system and, if practiced consistently, truly becomes preventive health care. Who can benefit from shiatsu? Early on, George Balanchine, Ivan Nagy, Martha Graham, and many other dancers experienced regular shiatsu sessions to relieve their pains and restore and maintain their vitality. It is well known that Liza Minnelli and Henry Kissinger have received shiatsu treatments to promote and maintain good health. The goal of each of the different types of Shiatsu being practiced, Zen shiatsu, tsubo point therapy, shiatsu massage, and water shiatsu "watsu", is balancing energy flow. More info here on what Shiatsu has been found to assist with.

Sports Massage

is the application of various massage techniques to enhance athletic performance. Sports massage is applied to athletes to help them train and perform free of pain and injuries. Massage therapists blend classic Swedish strokes with such methods as compression, pressure-point therapy, cross-fiber friction, joint mobilization, hydrotherapy, and cryotherapy (ice massage) to meet the special needs of high-level performers and fitness enthusiasts. Sports Massage can reduce the risk of injury for an athlete, as well as accelerate the body’s natural restorative processes should injury occur. Additional information on sports massage available here.

Stone Massage

A very relaxing massage using hot basalt lava rocks that are used to massage the body. Short tight muscles respond very well to this massage and many achieve a deeper state of relaxation from the stones massage as the heat melts the muscles, and increases circulation to area applied, also is very grounding. Also often incorporated with techniques from Swedish massage to help get the maximum benefits from the session.

Structural Integration

The goals of Structural Integration is to release the rigidity and tightness of the body’s soft tissue through the processes of deep tissue massage and bodywork so that the body can become more flexible and achieve a healthier alignment. Structural Integration goes beyond the modalities that help relieve chronic tension and pain because of its focus on renewing and revitalizing the structure of the body as a whole.

Swedish Massage

is also known as the Western or classic style of massage. It is credited to the Swedish fencing master and gymnastics instructor, Per Henrik Ling. It is a scientific system of manipulations on the muscles and connective tissues of the body for the purpose of relaxation, rehabilitation or health maintenance. Swedish massage therapy is comprised of five basic strokes and their variations: effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement (or percussion) and vibration. The many benefits of Swedish massage may include generalized relaxation, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and improved circulation, which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.

Tapotement

The fast and stimulating movements of massage are termed as Tapotement, or percussion movements. They include cupping, hacking, pounding (also called pummeling). Tapotement should not be used on a particularly bony area or on broken or varicose veins. These movements stimulate the blood circulation, tone and help strengthen sagging skin and muscles, especially the soft tissue areas, such as thighs and buttocks, which are prone to cellulite. The movement is brisk, working rhythmically and rapidly over the tissue. Also helps in toning up the muscles and dispersing the lymphatic fluids.

Thai Massage

is an ancient style of therapy 2,500 years old. It is a combination of full body stretching (a form of yoga), working meridian lines and Shiatsu points. You stay fully clothed and no oils are used.

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Trager

Milton Trager M.D. created Trager. It is also known as Tragerwork and Trager Psychophysical Integration. It operates on the principle that one learns to be lighter, easier, and freer by experiencing light, easy, and free sensations in the body. Practitioners introduce pleasurable sensory information to the soft tissues by steadily, gently, and rhythmically rocking and stretching the body.

Trigger Point

utilizes ischemic compression of individual areas of hypersensitivity in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. These trigger points are defined by their referral of pain to distant locations in muscles, connective tissues, and organs. Janet Travell, M.D., pioneered trigger point therapy in the United States.

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Acupressure