There are many types of massage therapy that target different ailments. Through soft tissue manipulation, massage therapists can help people heal, relax, or reduce body pain and tension. Continue reading to discover various kinds of massages and their benefits.

Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage

A Swedish massage is the most common types of massage therapy. Techniques include kneading, tapping, circular motions, and long strokes. You can usually book appointments to last 60 to 90 minutes.

  • Advantages of a Swedish Massage: A Swedish massage is fairly gentle, making it perfect for individuals getting their first massage treatment. Swedish massages are highly beneficial for releasing tension, improving blood circulation, and boosting your mood.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: The focus of a Swedish massage is to release muscle tension, loosen knots, and ease joint pain. It can also help people with headaches, depression, anxiety, stress, and chronic pain.
  • When to Expect Results: First-time or infrequent massage clients can feel muscle soreness or tightness following their session. It can take a couple of hours to a day and a half to feel the benefit of a Swedish massage.

Deep Tissue Massage

One of the more intensive types of massage therapy is the deep tissue massage. Rather than relaxation, this massage focuses on treating chronic pain and injuries. Sessions can be 60 or 90 minutes long.

  • Advantages of a Deep Tissue Massage: Benefits of deep tissue massage include reduced pain and inflammation, increased flexibility, and improved posture. Deep tissue massages can also be good for your phycological health as it relieves stress.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: Deep tissue massage treatments target sport injuries, such as tennis elbow, muscle strains, and plantar fasciitis. Chronic pain is also targeted for conditions including fibromyalgia, sciatica, and chronic muscle pain or tightness.
  • When to Expect Results: After a deep tissue massage, it’s common to be sore for 24 to 48 hours. Allow your muscles to heal by resting for at least 24 hours. Once recovered, you will begin to feel the positive effects.
Deep Tissue Massage
Prenatal Massage

Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massages are suitable for women in their second or third trimesters. A prenatal massage shares similarities with Swedish massages, including craniosacral and myofascial release therapies. One session can last 45 to 60 minutes.

  • Advantages of a Prenatal Massage: The many advantages to prenatal massages include both physical and mental health benefits. Prenatal massages reduce the chances of premature labour, boost immune systems, and lessen symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: Prenatal massages target leg, lower back, and hip pain. Prenatal massage can decrease swelling in arms and legs. This type of massage treatment is also great for alleviating joint pain.
  • When to Expect Results: Following a prenatal massage, you may feel lightheaded or fatigued. You can expect to feel the benefits within a couple days of the massage. Regular sessions throughout your pregnancy can lead to greater benefits. Consult with your doctor first.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Lymphatic drainage massages promote a healthy lymphatic system.

Massage techniques include a light and rhythmic movements such as tapping and circular motions. Lymphatic drainage massages are typically 60 minutes.

  • Advantages of a Lymphatic Drainage Massage: The lymphatic system is crucial for maintaining good circulation and eliminating toxins from the body. Lymphatic drainage massages improve oxygen saturation, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and accelerate wound healing.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: A lymphatic drainage massage prevents and treats lymphedema and helps with skin disorders and digestive issues, as well as migraines and insomnia. Lymphatic drainage massages effectively manage pain associated with fibromyalgia, edema, and arthritis.
  • When to Expect Results: Massage clients will experience and notice results at different rates. Most commonly, fluid takes 24 to 48 hours to fully drain after your massage.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Relaxation Massage

Relaxation Massage

The primary focus of a relaxation massage is to eliminate stress and tension from the body. It’s a gentle type of massage, similar to Swedish massages. Relaxation massages are often 60- to 90-minute sessions.

  • Advantages of a Relaxation Massage: Relaxation massages have multiple advantages, including heightened mood, alleviated stress, and better circulation. You can have relaxation massages between training or workouts to help decrease risks of injury.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: Relaxation massages target muscle tension and mental health concerns. You may schedule a relaxation massage after a long work week, or if you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, or depression.
  • When to Expect Results: Relaxation massages can provide immediate benefits, including reduced pain and loosened muscles. The effects of a relaxation massage will become more prevalent over the span of 24 to 48 hours.

Aromatherapy Massage

During an aromatherapy massage, a massage therapist uses essential oils that can be absorbed into your skin, alongside an essential oil diffuser for you to inhale the aromas, in order to promote relaxation. One session can be 60 to 90 minutes long.

  • Advantages of an Aromatherapy Massage: Aromatherapy massages are great for both mental and physical health. Benefits include boosting your mood and easing tension in your body for increased relaxation, sleep quality, and overall healing and positive wellbeing.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: This type of massage can help treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It also relieves muscle pain and reduces inflammation, and has been shown to be particularly helpful in relieving menstrual cramps.
  • When to Expect Results: You may experience what is known as a “healing crisis” within the first 24 hours after a session, where treated symptoms may seem worse due to the quick release of toxins from your body. Once this period is over, you will then start to feel the benefits of the massage.
High-angle view of a soothing back massage therapy session highlighting expert hand techniques.

Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu is a type of Japanese massage treatment where the massage therapist uses fingertip pressure to relieve pain. It is thought to help free blockages in the body’s natural energy flow, known as qi or chi. One session can last 30 to 90 minutes.

  • Advantages of a Shiatsu Massage: By applying precise pressure along specific points of the body, shiatsu massages can restore energy, improve circulation, and loosen muscles. Other benefits include enhancing digestion, improving sleep quality, and relieving stress.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: Using acupressure points, a shiatsu massage targets the flow of energy in your body, helping to free any blockages which positively impacts the nervous system and digestive system, as well as ailments like insomnia and headaches.
  • When to Expect Results: Immediately after a session, you may feel fatigued which should lessen within 24 hours. Benefits should then begin to be felt within a few days, typically 3 days after the session, and can last up to a couple of weeks.

Hot Stone Massage

This massage uses hot stones placed on different parts of your body. The gentle pressure provided by the stones and the heat they transmit help to soothe and relax the body. A session is typically 30 to 90 minutes long.

  • Advantages of a Hot Stone Massage: A hot stone massage can actually work deeper into the muscles without the discomfort often felt during a standard deep tissue massage. This can help improve blood flow and circulation, relax the muscles, and reduce inflammation.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: This massage type targets muscle pain, stiffness, and spasms, particularly in regard to back pain. It also helps to ease chronic pain for people with conditions like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
  • When to Expect Results: You should be able to feel results immediately after a session. Do keep in mind, though, that the skin where the stones were placed may be red for some time afterwards and you may experience a little soreness; this is normal due to the heat and pressure from the stones.
Peaceful spa setting with hot stone therapy promoting relaxation and relief.
Unrecognizable therapist kneading muscles on back of tattooed client during therapeutic massage in spa salon on blurred background with bokeh

Trigger Point Massage

During a trigger point massage, the massage therapist applies pressure to specific trigger points identified as being tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and release tension. The session length varies greatly depending on your needs.

  • Advantages of a Trigger Point Massage: Because this type of body massage provides firm pressure to areas of pain and tenderness, its range of advantages include reduced stiffness, improved blood flow, and muscle relaxation.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: A trigger point massage specifically targets tender areas on your body where you are experiencing muscle pain. These areas, known as trigger points, are often stiff and the massage therapist will apply more pressure as the points soften to foster increased healing.
  • When to Expect Results: Many people feel the results from a trigger point massage immediately after a session. Typically, though, you will start to experience the positive effects within 24 to 72 hours post-session.

Myofascial Release Therapy

Myofascial tissue refers to the layers of tissue in your body that connect your bones, joints, and muscles. Myofascial release therapy is a massage that uses a specialized gentle stretching technique to help relieve pain. One session can last for 45 to 90 minutes or more.

  • Advantages of Myofascial Release Therapy: This therapeutic massage helps to restore mobility, improve your range of motion and circulation, reduce soreness, provide relaxation and stress relief, and enhance the natural healing abilities of your body.
  • Types of Targeted Pain: Myofascial release therapy targets your connective tissue, specifically areas that feel especially tight or stiff as those are the areas that cause the most pain. The massage therapist will stretch the tissue so as to remove knots and eliminate pain.
  • When to Expect Results: You should start to feel relief immediately after a session, though depending on the severity of your condition, you’ll need to have multiple sessions over the course of a few weeks to see long-lasting results.
A soothing massage therapy session focused on relaxation and wellness indoors.

Let’s Book Your Next Massage Therapy Session

There are numerous types of massage therapy available, with something for everyone. Visit Positive Mind Wellness to learn more about the registered massage therapies that can improve your well-being.

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