A massage service can have a therapeutic or relaxing purpose. It involves the use of a different set of movements to apply pressure to the tissues of the body. The massage therapist performs specific movements at his chosen pace and with adjustable force. Each of his movements follows the line of muscles, tissues, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, leading from their periphery towards the heart.

Massage techniques

In the nomenclature used in massage treatments, there are 8 techniques that, in the order given below, should appear during each treatment. Maintaining this order guarantees the maintenance of the gradation of force put into the treatment, as well as the principle requiring a transition from superficial movements on tissues to techniques acting on tissues located deeper in the body structure.

Each massage treatment should consist of the following techniques:

• strokes
• dilutions
• kneading
• compressions
• occlusions
• vibrations
• shakes
• rolling

Types of massage

It would be difficult to state with certainty the number of types of massage currently used in different areas of the world and cultures. About 40 types of massage have currently penetrated into European culture. This is a number that indicates how much this field has developed in recent years and how huge the market for it is. For the average patient of physiotherapy and wellness centers, the most familiar is classical massage.

What does a classical massage look like?

Classical massage can take many different forms, depending on the goal set for the masseur. It can have therapeutic, relaxing or stimulating properties. Its primary goal is to improve the patient’s psychophysical state. It is used in the prevention and treatment of many different diseases in the areas of orthopedics, neurology, internal medicine, pediatrics or gynecology.

A well-conducted massage of the entire body or covering only the indicated parts, eliminates local pain, improves tissue nutrition, regenerates muscles, increases flexibility and elasticity of muscles and skin, reduces fat tissue and speeds up the body’s metabolism, stimulates blood and lymph flow.

During a massage, the body relaxes and unwinds. The nervous system also relaxes, mood improves, tension in the spine, back and neck is reduced.

How is Thai massage different from classical massage?

Thai massage is definitely different from classic massage. It is performed on a mat laid on the floor and the masseur does not use oils. The person being massaged remains in clothing, voluminous and not restricting movement. The masseur uses a number of techniques, primarily rhythmic yet slow body pressure. but also stretching and passive yoga. During the massage, the masseur applies pressure to specific points on the body, starting from the feet toward the head. Thai massage is performed with the hands, palm thumbs, wrists, forearms, elbows, knees and feet. During the treatment, the person being massaged assumes various positions taken from yoga and the masseur continues the treatment. Thai massage may spice things up a bit, but it has the effect of relaxing muscles and increasing range of motion throughout the body.

This type of massage restores the full harmony of the body, unblocks the flow of energy, stimulates blood and lymph circulation, strengthens the immune system, relaxes muscles and dramatically improves mobility, while bringing the whole body into deep relaxation.

Sports massage not only for athletes

Sports massage, which has become an essential part of every athlete’s training, is also appreciated and recommended for amateur athletes. It differs from the classic one primarily in the amount of energy and force put into each treatment, and the predominance of rubbing and kneading techniques.

The primary purpose of sports massage is to regenerate muscles, but it also has warming, healing, relaxing, widening the range of motion, increasing muscle performance, improving body condition. Depending on the brief purpose, sports massage is divided into: conditioning, pre-exercise, inter-exercise, post-exercise, isometric.

Relaxing Ayurvedic massage

Massage Ayurvedic massage originated in India and is based on the ancient Indian science that is Ayurveda. The masseur uses essential oils during the treatment, selected separately for each patient. The most common is sesame oil, rich in fats and trace elements. The oil must be heated to body temperature and the basic techniques used during the treatment are patting, kneading and applying pressure. This type of massage is divided into many different sub-types, depending on the purpose of the treatment. Ayurvedic massage is primarily aimed at relaxing the body, but it infuses plenty of energy, oxygenates and strengthens the body.

There are also a number of types of massage, which use different kinds of accessories for the treatment. These can be hot stones, stamps, water or bubbles. Sometimes the most important of these are aromatic oils, and other times chocolate. Massage can involve the whole body or just particular parts of it: face, feet, spine or limbs. Massage, regardless of technique or type, has become an important component of physiotherapy, cosmetology and relaxation techniques.