Massage therapy incorporates a variety of advanced modalities that enhance the body's natural functioning, restoration and revitalization. From light to firm touch, massage is used to release tension, relax muscles, increase blood and lymph circulation, and most of all to give a sense of calm and well-being.
Therapeutic massage can be used as an adjuvant or as a supporting pillar:
Also done regularly, massage can boost your health by:
Research has shown that therapeutic massage techniques can be useful in the following conditions:
Since ancient times, touch has been considered a form of healing. Eastern and Western civilizations have discovered that various types of massage have the power to heal wounds, reduce pain, prevent and treat illness, and last but not least, to generate an unparalleled relaxing effect.
Originally thought of as a sacred system of natural healing, massage and related treatments have been repeatedly rejected over the ages: some consider them too intimate. Others simply denied people's right to pamper themselves. To this day, though, massage has earned a secure place among the most respected healing methods on Earth.
Read more about the history of massage.
Rubbing, kneading, and passive joint movement techniques are the most popular and well-appreciated techniques for relaxation as well as stimulation. They all make up Swedish massage.
Read more about benefits of Swedish massage.
Massage performed deep into muscles and connective tissue. It uses techniques, slow and deep pressure movements with either fingers, palms or elbows to release contracted areas of muscles and connective tissues. Deep massage (deep tissue) has spectacular results for athletes or those undergoing greater physical exertion.
Sports massage helps athletes to prepare their muscles for performance, recover from a big event or feel good during training. But this type of massage is not only recommended for athletes, it also helps people with injuries and chronic pain.
Shiatsu is a bodywork style developed in Japan. It aims to restore the flow of energy through the body. Shiatsu massage is similar to acupuncture, but uses finger pressure instead of needling. Its name comes from the two Japanese words 'shi' (finger) and 'atsu' (pressure).
Thai massage is one of the most popular massages. It is offered by most of the world's spas, although it was conceived by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality some 2500 years ago. Thai massage focuses on gentle stretches and small presses along the body's energy lines to increase flexibility, ease muscles and tension and balance the body's energy system. It is extremely relaxing and invigorating.
Lymphatic drainage is a procedure involving a special type of massage, with gentle, superficial movements applied to the surface of the skin. It helps the lymphatic system function better, and the benefits of this type of massage are both medical and aesthetic (slimming, detoxifying, removing water retention).
It complements the treatment of autoimmune disorders, cancer treatments, surgery and contributes to well-being by improving immune response.
It uses precise pressure points to stimulate reflex channels. Hands, feet and ear pressure points can be massaged to promote general well-being but it is especially effective for areas of tension or pain established in various areas of the body.
Read more about reflexogenic massage.
This session massage with volcanic stones usually lasts 90 minutes. It uses a variety of large and small, smooth, smooth, heated volcanic or river stones to massage the body. During the massage the stones are placed on specific parts of the body to melt away deep tension and stress, resulting in deep relaxation.
Therapeutic massage can be of several types. Read more about:
Reiki is a very specific form of energy healing, in which the hands are placed just above the body or can lightly touch the body. Reiki can also be done "at a distance" as a form of prayer.
According to several versions of its origin, Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese seeker of spiritual truths, brought the Reiki method of healing into human consciousness in 1922 after a profound spiritual experience. He is said to have begun teaching others after a severe earthquake struck Japan and felt moved to spread his knowledge.
Reiki can speed healing, reduce pain, and reduce the symptoms that often incapacitate us.
This form of therapy is ideal for evaluating the body's self-healing mechanism, stimulating the immune system and helping the body to eliminate the negative effects (physical or emotional) of illness or an unbalanced lifestyle.
Like many alternative therapies, craniosacral therapy is used more preventively because of its effectiveness in boosting immunity. However, it is recommended for people with health problems as well as for those without health problems, regardless of age.
Therapeutic massage is indicated alongside other treatments, electrotherapy, physiotherapy, kinetotherapy, crenotherapy, climatotherapy, both for prophylactic, relaxation purposes and for medical recovery in many diseases. The role of massage is to prepare the tissues for therapy, to facilitate the onset of a certain therapeutic effect, or to produce a certain therapeutic effect.
The physiological effects of medical massage can be local or general. Many of the local effects also continue on a general level, so we can speak of mechanical effects, reflex changes, psychological effects.
Following the logical methodical sequence of applying the massage from the surface of the body in depth, after smoothing for the skin, friction for the subcutaneous tissues, kneading is the most effective process for massaging deep tissues, especially the muscles.
Perhaps most easily performed by massage practitioners, kneading involves using either thumbs or palms to apply pressure to different parts of the body. The basic idea is to pull, to lift the muscle away from the bone, a practice that helps reduce muscle spasms. The technical name given to kneading is Petrissage, which is mostly used in massage therapy textbooks. It is a massage technique with powerful stimulating actions on tissues located deep down and especially on muscles. Kneading involves lifting, tightening and moving tissues, improving the excitability and contractility of muscles.
For example, for massage of the back, chest, thighs or arms, it is recommended that the tissue is squeezed between the bridge of the palm and the fingers, advancing gradually, without losing this cushion. The pace should be slow and the technique should not be abrupt. As a rule, the therapist should massage the muscle fibers starting from the place where the muscle passes into the tendon, because it is in this area that the effects of stress, fatigue or possible infections in the body accumulate.
The maneuvers consist of trapping muscles and other deep tissues, lifting them up (when possible), squeezing them by compression or pressure on the deep plane. If you're giving someone a massage, one way to find out how much pressure and speed to use is to ask the client their preferences. Otherwise, you can start by adjusting the pressure and speed according to how the client responds during the massage but a thorough discussion beforehand is preferable.
As the title suggests, the friction technique essentially requires the use of thumbs that usually move in a circular motion, applying pressure as they ''move'' over the muscles. Friction is characterized by acting not only on the skin, but also on deep tissues through squeezing and moving movements. The position of the hands is similar to that used for effleurage, but the difference is that the direction of the hand is not guided by the direction of the lymphatic vessels, and the movements can be even more vigorous, especially at painful points. This method is used to stimulate blood circulation in the body as well as to treat muscle and joint pain.
When you rub the skin with your thumbs, you are essentially treating well-demarcated parts of the body, especially where muscles are stiff or joints are stiff. At higher pressure, friction can be incorporated as a technique into a deep tissue massage to relieve stiffness and/or discomfort in deeper layers of muscle tissue.
You can alternate different types of movement patterns as long as you use two thumbs. These strokes, although similar in many ways, may actually be called different, depending on how and when it's used by massage therapists around the world.
This technique is useful in several situations, both for relaxation massage and for sports or joint trauma, or pain caused by neuritis, neuralgia or other types of pre-existing conditions.
A tapping massage is normally used in sports massage as it is one of the best techniques to improve blood circulation in the body. In this massage, the therapist uses his or her hands in quick strokes to tap different parts of the body, especially the back, thighs and buttocks.
In a ''tapping'' massage, the hands can either be positioned as a cup so that only the edges of the palm and fingertips tap the skin or by tapping the skin using the hands placed side by side. When using the tapping technique it is essential to tap the skin rhythmically in a rapid manner. Depending on what feels best for your client, you can adapt the method to use a particular way of tapping. (to curve your hand or straighten it)
Sometimes you may focus on an area of the body that is particularly stiff and painful for the client, or at other times you may want to combine tapping with a hacking movement, where a significant intensity of pressure is applied to a smaller area of the body.
A tapping massage is normally used in sports massage as it is one of the best techniques to improve blood circulation in the body. In this massage, the therapist uses his or her hands in quick strokes to tap different parts of the body, especially the back, thighs and buttocks.
In a ''tapping'' massage, the hands can either be positioned as a cup so that only the edges of the palm and fingertips tap the skin or by tapping the skin using the hands placed side by side. When using the tapping technique it is essential to tap the skin rhythmically in a rapid manner. Depending on what feels best for your client, you can adapt the method to use a particular way of tapping. (to curve your hand or straighten it)
Sometimes you may focus on an area of the body that is particularly stiff and painful for the client, or at other times you may want to combine tapping with a hacking movement, where a significant intensity of pressure is applied to a smaller area of the body.
Finally, this technique is in some ways quite similar to tapping, as it also involves a certain rhythm. Using either your hands on a large surface (such as your back, for example) or your fingers (on your face), you should gently shake your muscles at a fairly high speed to mimic a vibration passing through the area.
Vibration is a massage technique used to stimulate the soft tissues.
The vibration technique can be an up and down movement or a shaking motion that can help stimulate the parasympathetic system and help the muscles relax. Vibration can be used before a sporting event and after overexertion to treat very tight muscles. There are many benefits of vibration. Among the most recognized benefits are reducing stress, relieving tight muscles and improving blood circulation.
This technique usually doesn't involve a lot of pressure, as the idea is mainly to provide a soothing sensation to the muscles and nerves in the body.
1. Musculoskeletal pain
Joint and muscle pain are fairly common problems that affect millions of people every year. Some people find ways to alleviate pain quickly (of any type) with painkiller drugs, but not many know all the options available to everyone, namely that pain can be greatly relieved with a simple weekly massage.
If you want to do something about your pain, massage therapy may be able to be of great benefit.
Massage therapy has been used to relieve pain for thousands of years, but once modern medicine became prominent, the benefits of this type of therapy began to fade into the background...for various (un)known reasons.
Several studies show that massage is very effective in causing the body to release natural painkillers, such as oxytocin, which can relax and relieve unwanted pain in tight joints and muscles. Increased blood flow promotes pain relief and muscle healing at the cellular level, and a well performed massage can greatly increase the amount of blood flowing through muscles and joints 'rusty' from time, physical exertion, inflammatory process etc.
Thousands of patients/clients are now claiming the forgotten benefits that massage therapy offers, and today, it is widely recognized as an effective treatment option for joint and muscle pain.
Massage also changes the way the brain perceives pain. The sharp, brief sensations provided during a good massage can temporarily make the brain forget about other body pains and tensions.
If you have tired, overworked muscles, this form of therapy can relieve tightness and pain. Some of the latest research even shows a link between massage therapy and long-term pain relief, and the results are particularly promising for pain in the lower back, lumbosacral area.
Unlike some non-preferred (medicated) options, massage therapy is completely safe and when performed by a professional, can be a very effective and unbeatable tool for relieving unwanted joint and muscle pain.
2. Stress and anxiety
When looking at the overall effects of massage, the hormones that control mood will also be positively affected. Massage provides a release of serotonin in the brain, which is a chemical that regulates mood, hunger and sleep and promotes a sense of well-being and self-satisfaction. The massage will put you in a better mood and leave you feeling more relaxed.
3. Improving circulation
When you receive a professional massage every day, the positive effects immediately appear in the body.
There are two main types of circulation in the body, lymphatic flow circulation and blood flow circulation. When circulation is impaired, in addition, reactions such as fluid accumulation/retention in the lower limbs, stiffness and pain can occur.
The massage also has the role of activating the blood in congested areas of the body, also allowing lactic acid to be removed from the muscles, leaving you feeling less discomfort in the body, other benefits of the circulatory effects also include:
a) Increased vasodilatation
Various techniques are used in a massage to increase vasodilatation.Vasodilatation is a benefit achieved by sports massage in particular. It is actually an increase in the diameter of blood vessels by relaxing the smooth muscle fibers in their walls (resulting in increased blood flow). Increased vasodilation can increase relaxation, reduce pain and prepare a person for strenuous exercise or sporting competition.
b) Local temperature rise
Increasing local temperature helps superficial and deep tissues by relaxing and loosening muscles. In addition to muscle tissues, the temperature of the fascia can also be increased. Fascia is a thick, fibrous layer of connective tissue below the surface of the skin that can often become restricted. The temperature increases when circulation is improved locally or generally due to friction created between the hands and the skin. An increase in temperature allows muscle tissues to increase in elasticity and flexibility. A massage encourages circulation stimulation. Massage helps to increase the heart rate to allow improved circulation. Improved blood flow in the body will not only increase the temperature of the muscles, but also provide an increase in oxygen and nutrients.
4. Increased flexibility
Increased tissue elasticity is an extraordinary benefit achieved through massage, namely the ability of elastin fibers to allow muscles to stretch to their full range of motion.
A wide variety of techniques are used to help increase tissue elasticity in a massage. Increasing the elasticity of tissues can decrease stiffness and relieve tension and give freedom of movement to muscles and joints. Lack of tissue elasticity can also increase the risk of injury during daily activities.
During a massage, muscle temperature increases due to improved blood flow. Increased muscle temperature improves tissue elasticity and increases muscle flexibility. Increased tissue elasticity and flexibility results in an increase in range of motion that tends to regress over time.
5. Decreased cortisol
A common benefit obtained through massage is a decrease in cortisol. Decreased cortisol is the reduction of stress-related hormones circulating in the body.
A variety of techniques can be used during a massage to help lower cortisol. Cortisol is most commonly known as the stress hormone because it often increases symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
Cortisol is produced in the adrenal gland above the kidneys, it is a ''negative'' hormone that is transported through the body into the bloodstream. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus stimulates the release of cortisol. Too much cortisol can adversely affect a person in different ways. The negative effects cortisol has include increased anxiety and depression, suppression of the immune system and decreased bone formation. Small amounts of cortisol can be healthy for a super-active person, as it is used to maintain homeostasis and the 'fight or flight' response. When cortisol decreases, all the negative effects it can have on a person are reduced and feelings of relaxation can occur.
During a massage the autonomic nervous system is stimulated. The autonomic system triggers the release of positive hormones in the body that help to replace negative hormones, the positive hormones lowering cortisol levels by default.A properly performed massage helps to reduce the negative effects that cortisol can have on a person.
Massage should only be done by qualified therapists.
If you want your clients to feel cared for too and, perhaps most importantly, you want to provide them with services that take into account their health and well-being, then there are some absolutely essential steps to follow.
Pay attention to the details!
Especially if the client is coming to see you for the first time, effective communication can start from the moment they walk through the threshold and can be a key component in establishing a trusting relationship. Be sure to make eye contact and welcome them to your center/lounge by asking for their client name and treatment name as you give them a warm welcome. If they give you a name other than the one listed on the appointment schedule, such as a shortened version of their full name, be sure to use what they prefer. If necessary, make a note for yourself so that when they reschedule you remember. It's a simple idea, but it can go a long way to building a good relationship with new clients. Be careful not to discuss your treatment or other sensitive topics in front of other clients, discretion is utmost.
A well-organized intake form is a first step in getting to know your clients and a great way for them to communicate a wide variety of important information to you, such as any concerns they have about their condition, recent injuries, acute and chronic illnesses, contraindications, and any allergies or sensitivities they suspect. On the other hand, it is the client's duty to communicate as openly as possible without hiding important details of medical nature, pregnancy, allergies, otherwise they expose themselves unnecessarily to various risks etc.
Consider grouping the categories of information in a way that makes sense to you and is easy for the client to understand and complete quickly. You will need to know how, for example, a client with arthritis, blood pressure or diabetes is managing their condition, so it is essential to have a health questionnaire that makes this information easily accessible. Particularly for clients with special medical considerations, your intake form should allow you to quickly and easily determine: precautions and contraindications, the benefits that massage therapy might offer the client, and the steps you should take to maximize the client's comfort and relaxation.
The information a client provides on their intake form will lead you synergistically and naturally to questions that help you focus on the client's expectations. If, for example, a client comes to you because they are experiencing pain, try asking questions that help them understand exactly how they are feeling, rather than general, open-ended questions. You could ask them to explain specifically and localized where they feel pain in their back or how they would like to feel at the end of the massage session.
The more you can focus your attention on the client, the more useful and detailed information you will gain - which, in the long run, helps you to plan a therapy session that will give them the most benefit.
Some clients like to talk during a massage session, but equally many will want to focus their attention on their own relaxation and the experience itself. Either way, whatever their preference, you will need to periodically check in with clients to see how they are feeling, if they need anything, etc.
Respect their wishes! We are all unique! We want nothing but personalized and truly efficient service!
Although you may have talked about the type of pressure the client is expecting during the health questionnaire however it should be checked during the massage session to make sure that the massage pressure is well tolerated. A simple question like "How is the pressure for you?" or "Is the pressure just right?" may be all that is needed, especially if the client/patient has a chronic condition.
Similar to pressure, communicate with the client about their physical comfort. Ask if room temperature and music volume are appropriate. Also talk to them about the comfort of the table, preference of essential oil used in the treatment, or inhalation procedure, etc... For example: Is the bed support comfortable for the face? Does the client want their hair touched by the oil or not? Do we need to adjust the position of the bed? How do you want to feel at the end of the treatment, relaxed, revitalized or re-energized? Again, the idea is not to interrupt the flow of the session, but it is imperative to make sure that nothing negatively affects their experience that you can easily remedy right then and there if need be, before it is too late.
Attracting clients is the first step, but not the most important.More important is to help them understand the value and relevance of making massage therapy an integral part of their health and wellness regimen. The end of a massage session is a great time to get feedback that can help you create loyal clients.
Although the end of a massage may sound a bit formal, don't skip this stage without understanding the client's level of satisfaction. Spend a few short minutes to get the client's impressions of the session, try to understand if it went as desired, etc. This is a great way to reinforce the benefits of massage therapy. Ask questions that help focus their attention on how they are feeling so that they can connect pain relief or relaxation with massage therapy. For example, "We worked to relieve lower back pain in this session. How would you rate your pain now after an hour of relaxation?" or Do you feel better now?" The aim is to explain in detail what you have noticed in your physical body, etc., so that they better understand the benefits of massage therapy and the need for regular appointments.
You should also share any self-care tips you may have, especially if a client remarks on how the therapy has helped them. You can prepare in advance a short sheet of common techniques (abroad it's called a lifestyle guide) for self-care at home that you give to clients after the massage treatment! Or, if they are experiencing a chronic health problem, do you have information you can share about how massage therapy can help them manage their symptoms? The goal here is to show clients that you are genuinely passionate and sincerely interested in making a change for the better, not just strictly financial interest to round out your personal income.
Hydration after massage is not an option but a necessity, and this detail should be mentioned. Avoid stimulating or hyperglycidic drinks. After-care tips related to their daily routine, physical and intellectual activity can complete a flawless experience. These little tips can make all the difference.
Aromatherapy has a special contribution to the whole process of relaxation, healing or beauty. Essential oils, extracted from plants, are a natural and scientifically proven way to help reduce symptoms of physical and mental stress, anxiety and restore a healthy balance. With no major side effects, they are a good long-term solution for those suffering from multiple conditions.
Going to the spa can be a treat, but it can also be a huge boost for your health and well-being!
Massage therapy can relieve all sorts of ailments - from physical pain to stress and anxiety. People who choose to supplement their health care regimen with regular massages will not only enjoy an hour or two of relaxation at the spa, but will see and feel the benefits in the days and weeks after their appointment!
It's within our power to make healthy choices, it's up to each and every one of us. Prevention is the mother of health!
To get the most out of the effects of massage therapy, we suggest going to a spa. The spa atmosphere will contribute to your relaxation and thus enhance the effect of the massage.
Choose a spa or a wellness center in your city.
Also, don't forget to take the opportunity to get a massage whenever you're away on vacation or on business at Spa hotels that we recommend or in the spa centers in the seaside resorts.
Update 2025:
After 15 years of discovering the Spa & Wellness world together, despreSpa.ro has become Wellandia.
A new name, the same team, the same vision and the same values that have inspired our little virtual explorer, Wello, to always bring you reliable information - about relaxation, natural resources, movement, personalized nutrition, modern technologies and recovery - to inspire you on your journey to wellness
Spa, Yoga & Wellness Specialist
