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| Craniosacral Therapy
- Via a gentle, non-invasive manipulative
technique, this encourages your own natural mechanisms to improve the
functioning of your brain and spinal cord to dissipate the negative
effects of stress, promote good health, and enhance resistance to disease. |
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| Deep Tissue Massage
is used to release
chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct pressure or
friction applied across the grain of the muscles. This invigorating
experience is a process of detection of stiff or painful areas by
determining the quality and texture of the deeper layers of musculature,
and slowly working into the deep layers of muscle tissue. Specific hand
positions and strokes are then used to respond to various tissue
qualities. Techniques employing breath and movement are also used for
releasing muscular congestion. |
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| Erotic
or Sensual Massage is really a sexual foreplay technique, rather
than a form of massage. Massage focuses on muscles, whereas erotic massage
focuses primarily on skin. It's been said that 95% of erotic (or sensual)
massage is the same as other massage. This is not an accepted form of
bodywork and therefore not something that you should expect from a
Registered MT. |
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| Esalen Massage is Swedish massage combined with the influence of
early Esalen leaders, Charlotte Selver and Bernie Gunther who taught
sensory reawakening. What sets Esalen Massage apart from other types of
massage is the philosophical approach. For the massage therapist, the work
is a meditation, a time to quiet the mind, and attend to his or her
intuition, and to be fully present in the moment with the client. |
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| Hakomi Method is a body-based psychotherapy using special
states of consciousness to help clients probe non-verbal levels where core
beliefs direct and influence their experiences. Body-mind awareness and
touch are used to explore the body as a deep source of information,
empowering the client to change their attitudes. |
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| Jin Shin Do (means
the way of the compassionate spirit) is derived from acupressure.
The technique involves applying gentle fingertip pressure to thirty
specific points along the body to release, smooth and balance vital
`chi' energy. Practitioners meditate and try to transfer chi to
clients by using knowledge of where energy flows and patterns meet.
According to its practitioners, Jin Shin Do pervades all aspects of
our being by affecting general muscle tension, improving
circulation, balancing emotions and raising the spiritual state of
being. |
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| Manual Lymphatic Drainage
- This healing technique has become a
popular massage choice. It blends soothing, gentle, rhythmical, precise
massage-like movements to accelerate the flow of lymphatic fluid in the
body. |
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| Myofascial
Release is a form of
massage aimed at easing tension in your "fascia," the soft
connective tissue between muscles and bones. The theory, developed
by a physical therapist, holds that trauma, illness, or stress can
cause your fascia to tighten up and pull bones and muscles out of
place, causing pain and stiffness. During a session, you'll lie on a
massage table in your underwear while your therapist uses his
fingers, palms, elbows, and forearms to "stretch" your fascia with
long, firm strokes lasting between 90 seconds and five minutes. The
pressure is gentle and should not be painful. Few studies have
tested this technique, but one small trial found that myofascial
release reduced pain and numbness in patients with carpal tunnel
syndrome. Sessions last 30 to 90 minutes and cost about the same as
other massage therapies. You may require several sessions before
feeling relief from chronic pain. About 20,000 practitioners in this
country have been trained in the technique. |
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| Neuromuscular
Therapy uses advanced concepts in pressure therapy
to break the stress-tension-pain cycle. It aims to relax muscle so that
circulation can increase and the body will return to normal neuromuscular
integrity and balance. The St. John Method is a type of NMT. |
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| Onsite or
Chair Massage is one name for a short (15-20 minute)
massage of a client sitting in a special, portable massage chair. The
client remains fully clothed and no oils are used while their shoulders,
neck, upper back, head and arms are massaged. On-Site is popular at some
offices as an employee benefit and for some conferences, workshops and
certain social events. |
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| Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy Pfrimmer deep muscle therapy was
developed by Therese Pfrimmer. Once partially paralysed, she overcame her
disability through deep muscle manipulation and spent the next 30 years
developing this technique. Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapy works across the
muscles manipulating deep tissues, stimulating circulation and
regenerating lymphatic flow, thus promoting detoxification and oxygenation
of stagnant tissues. |
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| Polarity
Therapy is a holistic approach to natural health care.
It asserts that energy fields exist everywhere in nature, and that the
flow and balance of this energy in the human body is the underlying
foundation of health. Stress, tension, pain, inflexible thinking, and
environmental stimuli are among many factors that can contribute to the
restriction of this energy flow in the human body. According to Polarity
therapists, such energy blocks can be released by the use of four
therapeutic methods: bodywork, diet, exercise and self-awareness. The
founder of Polarity Therapy, Dr. Randolph Stone DO, DC, ND, emphasized the
interdependence of body, emotions, mind and spirit. Polarity therapy
includes gentle body manipulation and holding pressure points (poles) as
well as counselling on developing positive thoughts and attitudes,
understanding the principles of food combining and easy exercises to
increase energy flow. Polarity is often used by care givers in conjunction
with many other therapies. |
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Reflexology
- Sometimes called zone therapy, reflexology is
based on the idea that massaging specific "reflex zones" on your
feet can relieve tension, ease pain, and even improve circulation in
corresponding parts of your body. During the session itself, you'll
generally sit or lie on a padded table -- fully clothed except for
your bared soles -- while a reflexologist uses his thumbs and
fingers to relax your feet and stimulate the reflex zones that
target areas where you might be having problems. To loosen a knotted
shoulder, for example, he'd rub the outside edge of the ball of the
foot. Proponents claim the technique is especially successful in
treating stress-related disorders such as low-back pain, chronic
indigestion, and headaches, but there are no good studies to back
them up. If a reflexologist diagnoses you with a serious illness,
it's a good idea to get a second opinion from a physician. Although
reflexologists generally work on the feet (your feet have a high
concentration of nerve endings and are easy to manipulate) they can
switch to your hands if you have a foot injury. |
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| Reiki
- During Reiki, which means "universal life-force energy,"
the "healer" becomes a channeler of universal energy. The
treatment follows a traditional pattern of hand positions resting on
the body without pressure. Reiki is pure energy, and brings about
deep relaxation and healing. |
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| Rolfing,
also called Structural Integration, is another method of
manipulating your fascia, the soft connective tissue which
intertwines with your muscles and forms a continuous web throughout
the body. Biochemist Ida Rolf, who developed the technique,
maintained that, over time, your fascia can be pulled out of
alignment by accidents, poor posture, and emotional stress, causing
muscle pain and stiffness. During a session, you may lie on a
massage table, or stand or sit in your underwear as the Rolfer
employs deep, often painful pressure with her fingers, forearms, and
elbows to stretch and realign your fascia in an effort to restore
flexibility and relieve chronic pain. Rolfing is generally conducted
in a series of ten sessions lasting 60 to 90 minutes, spaced one to
two weeks apart. Expect to pay $75 to $125 per session. Only those
who undergo 650 hours of study and training at the Rolf Institute in
Boulder, Colorado, can become certified Rolfers. There are currently
about 700 of them throughout the world. |
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| Shiatsu
or
Acupressure is a form of bodywork that
works on the same premise as acupuncture does but without the
needles. The therapist uses his hands, elbows, knees, and feet to
apply pressure to certain points on the body that the Chinese
believe are connected to various organs by way of channels or
"meridians." This pressure is said to improve your well-being by
stimulating or unblocking the flow of a life force called Qi (chee)
along those channels. Western researchers think acupressure triggers
the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Acupressure is most widely available in the form of a Japanese
therapy called Shiatsu. During a shiatsu session, you lie fully
clothed on a mat on the floor while the practitioner applies
pressure in gentle or invigorating strokes. He may also move your
limbs around to stretch your muscles. |
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| Sports Massage
- You don't have to be an athlete to go in for a sports massage.
This variation on the Swedish technique can increase your range of
motion and speed recovery of sore muscles whether you're a seasoned
jock or just starting an exercise program. Get one before a workout
to loosen you up and help protect against injuries. Or get one just
after to reduce soreness. A sports massage therapist uses the palm
of his hand to bear down on the muscles in your legs and back to
separate and relax them and his fingers to put direct pressure on a
muscle in spasm, which can be painful but will reduce your pain
later. If you're a runner, he might concentrate on your legs; if
you're a swimmer, he might spend more time on your upper body |
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| Swedish
Massage (which is a proper name, not a reference to Sweden)
Swedish massage is the kind you're most likely to encounter at the
gym or at a spa. You lie unclothed on a padded table, draped with a
sheet, while the therapist applies oil or lotion to his hands or
your skin and then uses gliding and kneading strokes and even
tapping or shaking to relax your muscles and loosen your joints. All
this rubbing and kneading can really boost your circulation, which
can help reduce swelling from an injury. Massage can also induce a
state of mind called the relaxation response, which has been shown
to minimize the effects of stress and boost your immune system. |
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| Thai Massage or
Nuad Bo-Rarn, the traditional massage of
Thailand, has been practiced for at least 2,500 years. It came to Thailand
along with Buddhism and was originally practiced by Buddhist monks in
their temples. The work consistes primarily of pressure on energy lines
and points, and a large variety of stretching movements. The stretching
movements of Thai massage often resemble passive yoga asanas. One receives
all the benefits of Yoga without having to perform any of the work! These
stretches affect the entire body by increasing flexibility, releasing both
deep and superficial tension, and helping the body's natural energy to
flow more freely. |
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| Trager Psychophysical Integration (usually just called Trager)
uses light, gentle, non-intrusive movements to facilitate the release of
deep-seated physical and mental patterns. Each part of the client's body
is moved rhythmically so that the recipient experiences the possibility of
moving lightly, effortlessly, and freely on their own. A Trager session
should help reduce stress from chronic tension, teach more effective ways
to recover from stressful situations, enhance conscious awareness and
flexibility, improve self-image, expand energy, restore free flowing
movement and full self-expression by reducing constriction and rigidity. A
Trager session can bring about the experience of peace and serenity -- a
high-energy state of well-being beyond relaxation. |
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| Trigger
Point or Myotherapy
- Trigger point therapists
(who are usually osteopathic physicians) use finger pressure to
release tension in muscles that have become chronically tight from
trauma, overuse, or poor posture. Many of these "trigger points" can
cause pain in other areas of the body and are the same as those used
in acupressure. For example, a therapist
might work on your trapezius muscles (the ones between your shoulder
blades and your neck) in order to relieve tension headaches. During
a session, you'll lie unclothed under a drape on a massage table
while the therapist warms up and relaxes the contracted muscles with
kneading strokes. He'll then press directly on the tender points for
eight to 12 seconds. This may feel uncomfortable but shouldn't be
painful, since pain will just cause the muscle to contract further.
Once he feels the trigger points release, the therapist will
continue to work on the surrounding muscles so that they won't
tighten up again. You may feel soreness in the area for a day or two
afterward. A few studies have found trigger point therapy effective
in easing low-back pain. Sessions typically last an hour.
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| Watsu - Water Shiatsu is where a therapist floats you in a warm
pool, the crook of an elbow under your neck, a hand under your sacrum, a
gentle rock, a gradual swaying stretching you from side to side, a rolling
of your spine looser and looser...And while one leg is lifted and rotated
your other stretches out as you are swirled through the water...moments of
activity flow into moments of quiet. The therapist applies the stretches
and movements of Zen Shiatsu while your body is floating in water. The
water allows for movement that is not possible on a conventional massage
table. |
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