Gone are the days when a massage meant just Swedish. Today, there are over 64 different types of massage to choose from - ranging from Oriental and Indian massage to heat treatments and techniques targeting posture. Here, we bring you an at-a-glance guide to the main types of massage on offer - and where to find them. Most deep-working and sports massage is based on this traditional type of massage which uses light gliding strokes to warm up the body and kneading actions to improve muscle tone, ease joints and smooth out knots in muscle tissue.
The idea is to push blood into the muscle and tone up muscles to protect against injury. Like most massage, this technique triggers the lymphatic drainage system into flushing lactic acid - waste produced in our cells - and other toxins out of our body. What's it best for? This kind of massage is particularly good for the neck, shoulders and back because practitioners use a cupping and pulling action that stretches the ligaments and tendons, helping to keep them supple.
The massage can be rounded off with quick pounding - often associated with Swedish massage. Based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, oriental massage tends to work upon our body's energy system known as 'chi'. Practioners claim our energy flows along meridians - or energy pathways - found in 14 places around our body.
When illness occurs, practitioners claim, our meridians become blocked. In order to unblock energy, finger pressure is applied on certain acupressure points located along these meridian lines. The theory is that each acupressure point corresponds to specific internal organs in our body. It is said that massaging acupressure points can improve digestive conditions, menstrual problems, and asthma.
The technique also stretches muscles and loosens joints so is especially good for treating back pain, shoulder tension and headaches. LaStone therapy is a treatment which involves using heated - and then cold - stones to massage the body. This 'thermotherapy' creates an aerobic effect in the blood - making it speed up and slow down - which boosts your circulation. Increased circulation will bring fresh blood to your skin, hands and feet, warming them up.
