Listening to your body
Listening to Your Body offers massages on Nantes and Saint-Nazaire (Loire Atlantique, 44) or at home, non-therapeutic massage, wellness massage and stress management for individuals and businesses. Sophie Durand, consultant in training, massage practitioner, offers group animation “stress management”, initiation to massage during workshops, workshops and weekends, and finally animation and massage in business.
Benefits of a Massage Therapy
NEWS & BLOG
Know More About Types of Massage
If you are planning to distress yourself, why don’t you try getting a massage? A massage is a great way of releasing all that tension that has boiled up inside you. A massage uses a scientific method that targets your pressure points and other superficial parts of your body to help produce a physical, emotional, and therapeutic experience. Massages have different types and techniques. It would help that you get to know what these types of massages are and the benefits on offer before you decide to go to a massage clinic.
The Swedish massage or Western massage is the typical massage technique used in the United States and in several locations in the Western world. This type of massage utilizes long strokes, friction, and compression to re-energize the body with the stimulation of proper circulation of blood through your heart. This type of massage uses circular movements and a combination of five strokes that focuses on the circulation of blood in the system. The Swedish massage should be the first option of any beginner patient who has never had a massage in his life because it provides the patient a great and relaxing experience since this massage is considered s the softest massage method.
The Shiatsu massage uses a Japanese system combining acupressure and traditional massage methods. The masseur applies pressure with the use of his fingers, thumb, palms, elbow, and even the knee to a certain part of your body. You get to feel a sense of weightlessness and a great dose of pain and stress relief.
Acupressure has the same concept as a Shiatsu massage. It uses fingers and sometimes even toes to press pressure points on your body to stimulate the natural healing processes in your body. This massage technique presses the point commonly called meridians in Chinese medicine culture to release the muscular tension and help improve the flow of blood and life energy referred to as “qi” in the body to hasten the healing process. The only difference it has with acupuncture which is commonly mistaken as is that it does not need any needles to stimulate the meridians. It only uses the hands and feet instead. Just like acupuncture, acupressure provides a reduction in eye strain and neck pains. It would also get rid of headaches, backaches, tension, constipation, indigestion, ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, and a whole lot more. Acupressure also helps release endorphins helping you with your sleep problems. Not only does acupressure alleviate the pain but it also helps in improving the organ functions.
Thai massage, commonly known as Yoga massage is a massage technique that has been cultivated in Thailand for many centuries. The difference between Thai massage and acupressure is that Thai massage involves compressions and body stretches along with the pressing of pressure points. Thai massage mainly focuses on clearing energy blockages in the body and restoring balance and harmony. Yoga massages use a firm mattress on the floor compared to using a table. Breathing techniques are also employed by patients.
You can opt to choose any of these massage types which you think are favorable to you. Be reminded though that a massage is just a form of relaxation and not a treatment or cure for any ailment you may have. Ask your trusted osteopath about the real benefits of massage.
Different Forms of Massage to Relieve Stress
You can experience body pains for a lot of reasons. It can be from stress at work, a very long trip, and other activities where you really use the physical strength of your body. Sometimes, you feel like you are being hit for a lot of times by Tazer guns that all you want is take some rest. When you feel stressed, the performance of any activity can be affected. There are many forms of stress reliever and one of them is letting your body through a massage.
However, there are different kinds of massages. What is best for one might not be best for the other. In other words, some forms of massages work well for others and not for you. That is why you need to learn and try the different forms of massage therapy so that you will be able to know what really suits the needs of your body.
A traditional Thai massage is a form that allows you to be fully clothed because there is no application of oils. It focuses on applying pressure to specific points and more stretching and change in position is done for therapeutic purposes. The therapist makes use of his or her hands, thumbs legs, arms, to keep the body in a specific position for proper blood circulation and relieve body pains.
Another kind of massage is the Swedish type where it involves the use of oils to enhance the application of pressure on muscles and bone structures. If you will be undergoing this kind of massage, you can be undressed or just with your underwear. It is commonly used especially that it follows the flow of blood to the heart and thus good circulation is maintained.
For a traditional Shiatsu massage, it uses the application of pressure on certain points so that it will release any blockage in the energy flow. This is a massage style from a Japanese origin where there is no need to use oils or other lubricating substances. It can be done on a floor where a mat is placed while lying on a bed or even while the person is sitting.
Aromatherapy involves the use of different oils that will have a therapeutic effect on you while the massage is going on. It is made from different plants and vegetables and you can choose a combination of any of the different oil preparations. This is adapted from the ancient Egyptians where they use essential oils for physical and psychological therapy.
Lastly, a common method in massage therapy is acupressure. It is a style of therapy where pressure points are hit and it corresponds to certain organs and diseases experienced by the body. It is of Chinese origin. It can be painful when pressure is made on a certain point but the pain will just go away once the pressure is removed.
The choice is yours as to what method your body prefers when it comes to relieving stress. These are a few of the massage styles that you can choose from. If you want the weakness felt by your body like being hit with stun gun tazers repeatedly to fade, get a day off and go to a massage center. Give yourself a good break from all the stress.