What is massage therapy?
Massage therapy has a long history in many different parts of the world. In modern times, people use massage therapy to help with a variety of ailments. Massage therapy is often considered part of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States, but there are various conventional uses as well. At True Muscle Solutions we believe massage has more benefits than you might realize.
What is a Massage Therapist?
Massage therapists treat clients using touch to manipulate late soft tissues. Using touch, therapists are able to relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, and overall increase wellness of their clients. Other general roles of massage therapists include:
Talking with clients about symptoms, medical history, and desired results
Evaluating clients to locate painful or tense areas of the body
Manipulating muscles on the body
Providing guidance on how to improve posture, stretching, and relaxation
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a gentle type of massage. It is done on the entire body and is ideal for people who are new to massage, struggle with tension, or are generally sensitive to body touch. It can help to release knots in the muscles and is a great option for relaxation.
It requires you to remove your clothes and lie under a sheet. The massage therapist will move the sheet in order to uncover areas that they are actively working on. The massage therapist will use a combination of
Kneading
Flowing strokes
Deep circular motions
Vibration and tapping
Joint movement techniques
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a great option for those with muscle pain or tension. This type of massage is similar to Sweedish but uses hot stones instead of (or in addition to) their hands. It relieves tension, improves blood flow, and relieves pain. Specifically, it can help to promote relaxation and blood flow.
During this type of massage heated stones are placed on different areas of the body. Your therapist might hold a stone on one part of your body and rub another. Cold stones may be used as well.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massages are a mixture of an emotional healing component with a massage. It is known to boost your mood reduce stress, reduce symptoms of depression and relieve pain. Aromatherapy massages combine soft, and gentle pressure and use different oils for different effects. The oils are diluted before being applied to the skin. Usually, the massage involves inhaling oils through a diffuser and then also having them rubbed on your skin.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage uses more pressure than a Swedish massage and is good for those with chronic problems or an injury. It can also be great to relieve anxiety. During a deep tissue massage, your massage therapist will use slow strokes and relieve tension from the deep layers of your muscles.