Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas such as stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders.
Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).
How Does It Work? Techniques
When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.
The use of hot towels or hot stones to aid in muscle relaxation will hasten the process of lengthening the deep muscles. Muscles must be relaxed in order for the therapist to reach the deeper musculature.
Deep tissue is not recommended for a client that has just sustained an acute injury. It is more effective for persons with habitually tight muscle groups. A combination of deep tissue and assisted stretching are a good combination for a person looking to gain more flexibility.
Sports Massage & Injury Recovery
Sports massage is manual manipulation of the muscles geared specifically toward helping people who have physically demanding lifestyles and/or hobbies. ... The conscious focus of sports massage therapy maximizes the benefit of certain massage techniques and supports further physical exertion and activity.
Why would someone choose this kind of athletic therapy when there are so many other kinds of massages available? Activities such as athletic games, official sports, and intense exercise can be hard on the body. This means choosing the right kind of massage method for an active lifestyle and body. The purpose of a deep tissue massage, for example, is to treat chronic pain and on-going tension. This might be beneficial in a very general sense, but sports massage therapy is specifically designed to support and enhance the performance, recovery, and relaxation of people (typically athletes) who are frequently and/or intensely physically active. .
Swedish Massage/ Ultimate Relaxation
A Swedish-style massage primarily involves long, soft, kneading strokes to release tension from the deepest muscles of your body. While releasing tension from the surface layers of muscles, this method uses light, tapping, rhythmic strokes.
A Swedish massage is designed to relax the entire body by rubbing the muscles in long, gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. But the benefits of Swedish massage go beyond relaxation. It can help increase the level of oxygen in the blood and improve circulation and flexibility. Talk to your therapist about incorporating elements of Swedish massage into your next session.
Table Thai massage
Table Thai Massage blends the unique compression and stretching poses of Traditional Thai Massage with the added benefits of Deep Tissue and Swedish techniques. The session is a dynamic experience where the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints receive the benefit of movement and massage.
Thai for the Table is a relatively new phenomenon. Functionally, there is little to no difference in the number of techniques or type of techniques you can perform using table Thai massage versus Thai massage on a floor mat. The primary difference comes from shifting the therapist’s body position.
For example, in traditional Thai massage, there are a number of movements where the therapist is standing over the client. In Thai for the Table, the therapist moves to the side or head of the client but performs an identical or similar movement that creates the same impact on the client’s body
Lymphatic Drainage
What is manual lymphatic drainage massage?
MLD is a specialized massage type that gently assists the lymphatic system in maintaining the body’s fluid balance, blood circulation, and immune mechanisms. The system’s network of vessels and nodes contains lymph, a mixture of water, proteins, immune system components, waste products, and other remnants of cell metabolism. lymph nodes, which filter out the debris, are found throughout the body, with especially large groups of them in the neck, armpits, and groin. These major collections of lymph nodes ensure that the lymph passes through as many nodes as possible before it returns to the circulatory system.
During a lymph drainage massage, a specially-trained massage therapist uses a series of gliding, compressing, stretching, and cupping motions over the client’s body. The light rhythmic movements, applied without massage oil, stimulate the lymphatic system without compressing the vessels – allowing lymph to move easily through the tissues and lymph nodes. MLD follows a specific sequence over the body so lymph isn’t trapped anywhere, making sure every area is treated with care.