Benefits of Massage Therapy

A day of massage therapy is a day in paradise for your skin. Whether you prefer to enjoy a massage together with a partner, a friend, or by yourself, your skin will thank you for the stress relief.

Massage therapy is beneficial for everyone, no matter what the age or gender, and has been a long-used, non-invasive treatment in treating pain, tension and stress. With regular massage therapy you will promote relaxation and relieve stress, not to mention improve flexibility, reduce blood pressure, and increase your range of motion.

Now that you've read about why getting a massage regularly is good for you, let's check out the types of massages you can choose from and the benefits of each one.

Swedish, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, or Sports?

1. Swedish massage is the most popular and well-known massage modality in the United States. It is typically a full-body massage treatment where the therapist uses a free-flowing and gliding movement with light or medium constant pressure, along with kneading and pressure on specific muscle groups. Benefits include reducing stress and fatigue while improving circulation and joint flexibility.

2. Deep tissue massage, commonly misunderstood, gets the assumption that it means deep pressure. Similar to Swedish massage, deep tissue focuses on stretching a three-dimensional web of connective tissue that surrounds and supports all the muscles, bones and organs. In about three days, this deep tissue work creates micro-tears in the fascia, which fill with elastic and collagen, creating muscles that are more flexible and supple, and have a greater range of motion.

3. Shiatsu massage applies gentle stretching techniques over a wider area of the body to integrate the point work and encourage the flow of Chi (energy) throughout the body. It is a meditative healing art that honors the body, mind and spirit. The word, Shiatsu, means “finger pressure,” and the theory underlying it is the same as acupuncture. Shiatsu provides relief from headaches and a wide variety of aches and pains, along with relief from stress and anxiety.

4. Sports massage is broken down into three events: the pre, the post and the rehabilitation or maintenance. The pre-event is a stimulating massage generally performed within one hour of a sporting event, whose purpose is to get you game ready. The post-event massage is targeted to help recover from a high-intensity exercise, competition or training session, and is given anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours after the competition or activity, utilizing techniques and stretching to enhance circulation, calm muscles and aid in faster recovery. The rehabilitation or maintenance massage, typically done on a “rest” day in clinic, targets recovery between training or events, assessment and treatment of injuries, keeping muscles flexible and relief of tender areas.

You owe it to yourself to take care of your body before certain parts don't function as they used to. Don’t wait until you get all up in knots before you reap the benefits of massage therapy. Search on CityOf.com to find a local spa offering these services.

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