What are the 7 types of massage?

The practice of using touch as a healing method dates back thousands of years ago. Ancient civilisations found that massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and produce deep relaxation. Today, if you need a massage, you can choose from about 200 different types of massage, each providing a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques.

Moreover, massage therapies often offer a complex combination of holistic healing practices that involve physical, emotional and spiritual elements. Whether you’d like to relax, or have a health condition or injury, choosing your massage style can be confusing if you’re not quite sure what it involves. Here is our list of the most popular 7 types of massage.

Protectivity provides specialist Massage Therapy Insurance. We protect thousands of holistic therapy businesses across the UK.

1. Swedish Massage

What does it involve? Swedish massage is known as classic or standard type of massage, which is widely practiced in most clinics, gyms, spas, and wellness centres. Using lotion or oil, massage therapists combine kneading, deep circular motions, and long flowing strokes in the direction of the heart.

What are the main benefits? Swedish massage provides full-body muscle relaxation, and it can be especially helpful if you are recovering from minor injury. But the benefits of Swedish massage go beyond relaxation. It can help increase the level of oxygen in the blood, improve circulation and flexibility and help you with pain and muscle rehabilitation.

If you are a therapist and need Swedish Massage Insurance, you can get a quote and purchase it from Protectivity .

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2. Sports Massage

What does it involve? The main purpose of the sports massage is to manipulate the body’s soft tissues and emphasis on certain muscle groups depending on which sport the athlete plays. During the treatment, the therapist applies strokes that are generally faster than a typical Swedish massage. They may also include compression, pressure point therapy, friction and joint mobilization.

What are the main benefits? Sports massage was originally used by athletes to prepare for or recover from sporting events. Although the treatment was intended for sports persons in the past, it is now sought out by amateur gym-goers and even those who suffer from stress. The application of sports massage, prior to and after exercise, may enhance performance, aid recovery, and prevent injury.

If you are a therapist and need Sports Massage Insurance, you can get a quote and purchase it from Protectivity via the above link.

3. Hot Stone Massage

What does it involve? A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy during which basalt heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The massage therapist holds the stones while giving the massage. The stones are heated to between 130- and 145-degrees Fahrenheit and normally retain their heat for an hour.

What are the main benefits?
Hot stone massage is used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. Hot Stone Massage has been specifically associated with symptom relief in people with autoimmune disorders. It also promotes good sleep, increases joint flexibility, and reduces inflammation and muscle spasms.

You can get a quote and buy Hot Stone Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

4. Aromatherapy

What does it involve? Aromatherapy massage involves soft, gentle pressure in combination of scented essential oils. During the aromatherapy massage, you’ll receive a full-body massage while inhaling essential oils through a diffuser and absorbing them through your skin. Sometimes an aromatherapy massage will only focus on your back, shoulders, and head.

What are the main benefits? Aromatherapy massage is ideal for people who want to add an emotional healing component to their massage. This type of massage can help boost your mood, reduce stress, relieve muscle tension and pain.

If you are therapist and need Aromatherapy Insurance, you can get your quote and cover here.

5. Reflexology

What does it involve? Reflexology is a type of massage that uses gentle to firm pressure on key points such as your feet, hands, and ears. Reflexologists believe that those pressure points correspond to other parts of your body and massaging them stimulates your nervous system to heal itself. It is normally preferred by people who are not comfortable being touched over their entire body and they can remain fully clothed during the treatment.

What are the main benefits? Reflexology is linked to many potential benefits, but only a few of them have been evaluated in scientific studies. People claim that this type of massage could help you improve your immune system, boosts blood circulation, reduces stress and toxins.

You can get a quote and buy Reflexology Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

6. Thai Massage

What does it involve? Thai massage is an ancient healing practice and uses very different technique compared to the standard Swedish massage. It’s a unique combination of assisted yoga, passive stretching, and pressing massage movements. The therapist uses rhythmic compression along the body’s energy lines and moves and stretches you in a sequence of postures, usually on a mat on the floor.

What are the main benefits? Thai massage can benefit your health in numerous ways, many of which are supported by scientific studies. Thai massage aligns the energies of the body and helps reduce stress, promotes relaxation, and improve flexibility and circulation.

You can get a quote and buy Thai Massage Insurance from Protectivity via the above link.

7. Indian Head Massage

What does it involve? Indian Head Massage is a therapeutic method that sees pressure being applied in circles to the scalp, deep tissue massage strokes on the neck and shoulders, and tension-releasing stretches of the neck. It is a favourite option for people involved in office work who normally have bad posture as it helps relieve the tension that builds up in the head, neck and shoulders.

What are the main benefits? Indian Head Massage has numerous benefits, but it is mostly complemented for relieving migraine pains and stress, hair follicle stimulation and removing toxins not only from the upper body, but the entire lymphatic system.

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Massage therapy is a treatment approach that is growing in demand and popularity. From helping with stress, pain management to injury recovery and muscle rehabilitation, you are now aware of what different types of massage can do for you. Hopefully, in this blog we’ve helped you decipher the many different styles and benefits of massage so you can book the one that’s best for you.

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