Massage therapy can be defined as a stimulation of soft tissues in the body. During a massage session, soft tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, internal organs, and blood vessels can be stimulated in several ways. These include applying pressure, tension, vibration and other movements. Massage moves can be applied with your palms, fists, fingers, elbows or legs. There are over 80 ways of doing a massage.
During a massage session, the client is positioned on a massage table or massage chair. Massage table is designed specifically to provide a high comfort, easy to clean after each customer and has a special horseshoe head support to allow the customer to breathe when lying face down. The massage chair is also carefully built to be easy to clean. It also has a horseshoe support, but the customer sits in a higher position than on the table. Massage chairs are designed for 5-10 minutes massage sessions.
In the USA the most popular massage method is Swedish massage, which is sometimes called “relaxation massage” or “European massage”. A Swedish massage session is done with great finesse and relaxing movements. There are many massage methods such as: neuromuscular massage, athletic massage, heated stones massage or prenatal massage, and this is just a small part of the massage methods. Each of these methods is used to get different results. That’s why it’s a good idea to carefully choose the type of massage you need.
The massage can be done by using different types of oils. This method is called “aromatherapy” and is defined as a use of oils and positive emotions. The hot stone massage is based on the Swedish massage with the addition of heated stones, held by the masseur and strategically placed on the body, to aid in relaxation.