Massage therapy seems like a pretty simple complementary wellness practice, right? I mean; how many ways are there to knead a person in the back? In actual fact, there are more than 200 types of massage practiced across the world today, albeit some more than others. You may be able to tell the difference between a Swedish and a sports massage, but what about the more exotic styles? And what can different massages do for your well-being? We’ve rounded up some of the less common types of massage therapy that you need to know about.
1. Arvigo Technique Mayan Abdominal Massage: Although it’s a bit of a mouthful, the Arvigo Technique Mayan Abdominal Massage can help with a wealth of wellness problems, including fibroids, menstrual problems, prostate problems, misaligned uteruses and infertility. This non-invasive technique gently helps reposition the organs in your abdomen, and its likely that your therapist will teach you self-care techniques that you can do at home. You’ll probably find that your Mayan abdominal massage therapist is also a trained herbalists, so you get a lot of bang for your buck.
2. Bamboo Massage: Although this deep form of bodywork originates in Malaysia, it combines aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Tibetan and Polynesian massage styles. For the massage, your therapist will use varying sizes of bamboo sticks, all of which will be well-sanded so that they’re smooth to the touch. Plus, bamboo masseurs use plenty of oil to ensure the sticks aren’t scratching your back, but rather glide easily across your skin. The sticks are used to so that you can get deep pressure into problem areas with very little effort.
3. Barefoot deep tissue massage: As with bamboo massage, barefoot deep tissue massage is great for treating muscular pain. However, unlike bamboo massage which uses styles from various Eastern countries, barefoot deep tissue massage combines aspects of Eastern and Western bodywork; using the heels, balls and sides of the foot to apply compression, trigger point therapy and myofascial releases. You remain fully-clothed for this therapy and lay on a mat on the floor while the therapist uses his or her feet to loosen your tight muscles. Although body weight allows your therapist to apply deep pressure, the broad surface of the foot enables your therapist to do so without causing pain.
4. Breema: This form of bodywork started in a small Kurdish town called Breemava and uses a combination of rocking movements, passive stretching and supported postures to bring balance to your body and emotions. Again, you lay on a mat on the floor whilst wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothing for this therapy. Then, your therapist will gently take you through a series of passive movements that promotes harmony between the mind and body, enhancing your physical and mental wellbeing.
5. Hilot Massage: Traditional healers in the Phillipines use this type of massage as it combines energy work with deep tissue therapy. The practice is largely based on the therapist’s intuition, as he or she will first scan your body to determine which areas are most in need of work. This is done before starting the therapy, using both sight and touch. Your therapist will then cover you in warm banana leaves to heat up your muscle tissue, as this makes it easier to work the underlying layers. Finally, the massage begins, and is done using coconut oil.
6. Watsu: This form of shiatsu massage is done in a heated pool and you float in water supported by the therapist as they stretch and manipulate your body. Not only does this use of water bring you to a deeper state of relaxation, but the massage itself aims to unblock your meridians, allowing your qi or life energy to flow freely through your body.
Comments are closed.