What is a relaxation massage?
Relaxation massage is designed to soothe you and involves long, rhythmic, gliding strokes with just enough pressure to relieve stress. It improves circulation and relieves muscular tension. Massages are all about relaxation and focus on rejuvenating your body at a massage-depth that does not cause any discomfort or pain.
Massage is also about kneading and rubbing the body and applying strong or gentle pressure to the joints and muscles throughout the body to ease tension. There are several types of massages, including Swedish massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy massage, deep tissue massage, sports massage, trigger point massage, reflexology, Shiatsu massage, Thai massage, prenatal massage, and chair massage. If you are looking for great therapy, you first should become knowledgeable about what is a relaxation massage and what it involves.
Swedish massage
Swedish massage is the best-known type and is designed to relax you. This gentle type of full-body massage, with its smooth, flowing strokes, is perfect for people who experience a lot of tension and are sensitive to touch. The goal of a Swedish massage is to calm, nurture and relax the mind and body.
A relaxation massage is beneficial for loosening tension in the muscles and relieving everyday stress. This particular type of massage is not intended to help conditions such as back pain, neck pain or old injuries. Swedish massages are usually for calming the nerve system, reducing anxiety and tension, improving blood flow, stimulating the lymphatic system, relieving spasms and helping pain management in conditions such as sciatica and arthritis.
Swedish massages will aid in more patience, better concentration, more energy and improved sleep. Relaxation massages offer stress relief and are effective in managing sleeplessness. Sleeplessness often increases stress levels. Common symptoms of sleeplessness are fatigue, weight fluctuations, and loss of appetite. Swedish massage can ease stress and improve sleep.
Hot stone massage
A hot stone massage is typically for people who have tension or muscle pain and want to relax. During this treatment, heated stones are placed around your whole body on different areas. This type of massage is good for relieving muscle tension with the added heat. Different parts of the body are massaged while the therapist holds a stone and gently applies pressure on the muscles.
Hot stone massage may help to improve blood flow, ease muscle tension, promote relaxation, alleviate pain and relieve stress. massage is usually around 90 minutes long.
Aromatherapy massage
During aromatherapy massage, diluted essential oils are used in combination with soft, gentle pressure. The therapy is about 60 to 90 minutes and involves a full-body massage while inhaling the aroma of the oils through a diffuser. Aromatherapy is a combination of essential oils and the gentle touches of Swedish massage.
Deep tissue massage
A deep tissue massage is more intense and a good treatment for chronic pain, tight muscles, and anxiety. The deep finger pressure and slow strokes will relieve tension of your connective tissue and muscles. The therapist will typically apply more pressure to release muscle knots, usually referred to as adhesions, and tension.
It is highly recommended to drink a lot of water after this type of massage. You may experience some soreness the next day, but it should pass within 24 hours.
Thai massage
Thai massage is one of the most invigorating types and involves the entire body. The therapist will move your body in stretches, loosen your joints, and apply pressure on the muscles. The benefits of Thai massage include:
- Treats headaches, sciatica and neck pain
- Increases and balances energy
- Improves blood flow
- Mobilizes joints
Thai massage involves rhythmic pressing and stretching of the body, including pulling toes, fingers, ears, walking on the recipient’s back, cracking knuckles and moving the body into different positions.
Trigger point therapy
Trigger point therapy is helpful in eliminating pain in conditions such as joint pain, headaches, sciatica, knee, shoulder, neck, and back pain. People seeking massage and physiotherapy often combine other treatments with trigger point heeling. This type of remedial massage therapy is useful in breaking the cycle of established chronic pain patterns that occurred within a month or two of an injury.
Shiatsu massage
Shiatsu massage combines finger pressure with gentle stretches and works on pressure points. This ancient technique from Japan is designed to fix imbalances in the body. Shiatsu massage improves blood flow, alleviates stress, and relieves stiff muscles.
What is a relaxation massage vs deep tissue massage?
Deep tissue therapy is more intense than a relaxation massage. However, in both cases, the massages cause lowered blood pressure and reduce the risks for developing depression and anxiety. With the decreased stress levels, the risk of having kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke are reduced. Stress is often a cause of muscle soreness. Massages reduce pain by relaxing the muscles. Relaxation massages offer stress-relief, and therapeutic massages are helpful in reducing pain.
Advantages of a relaxation massage
Relaxation massages offer great physical benefits. Some of the advantages of this type of therapy include:
- Relaxation massage stimulates circulation and blood oxygenation
- Eases blood pressure problems
- Boosts immune system and offer better resistance to illness
- Improve skin tone
- More energy
- Better concentration
- Eases stress
- Improves sleep
- Reduces chronic pain
Conclusion
What is a relaxation massage? It provides an overall feeling of well-being. A relaxation massage is designed to soothe you and involves rhythmic, long gliding strokes with just enough pressure to relieve stress. It improves circulation and relieves muscular tension. Relaxation massages, often referred to as Swedish relaxation, are beneficial for loosening tension in the muscles and relieving everyday stress.
All types of massages can help you relax and relieve pain. However, if you have a problem deep into your tissue, you will most likely need a therapy more intense than a relaxation massage.