Targeted Treatment or soothing relief.
Living in an age of texting, hunching, sitting and other repetitive activities, Massages have become a necessity for preventing a lot of aches and pains and body imbalances.
With so many different options out there, you may be having difficulty choosing which type of massage is right for you.
If you’re looking for relaxation and relief from tense, tight muscles, relaxation massage is probably right for you.
If you have a specific issue, deep tissue massage can be a helpful part of your treatment plan.
When considering booking a massage, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re looking for.
What is a Relaxation Massage?
If you’re looking for a calming, soothing experience that releases tension and melts away stress, you should consider a relaxation massage.
The main goal with this approach is to leave you feeling — you guessed it — relaxed. Relaxation massage involves the use of long, flowing strokes that create soothe and unwind the body. This is generally a whole body treatment with the use of oil to glide.
Relaxation massage prompts a physiological relaxation response in your body that causes your heart and breathing rate to slow, your blood pressure to decrease, your muscles to relax, and the production of stress hormones to decrease. Massage even stimulates your body’s production of serotonin, a chemical that causes general feelings of well-being and happiness.
What Should I Expect From a Relaxation Massage?
Not only will a relaxation massage leave you feeling loose and relaxed, but there are other health benefits as well.
Massages are scientifically proven to improve your circulation, which has a host of additional benefits, including increased flexibility and healthier skin. Massage therapy also enhances your concentration and productivity, lowers your blood pressure and even provides a small immunity boost.
Relaxation massages are best for relieving everyday stress and loosening general tension in the muscles.
They’re not intended for targeting specific conditions like chronic neck pain, back pain, limited range of motion, sports injuries or other injuries. These issues are more likely caused by tension that is buried deeper in the soft tissue and are better addressed by a more targeted approach such as remedial massage.
Familiarizing yourself with the differences between each type of massage will allow you to optimize your comfort, relaxation, and healing.
What is a Remedial Massage?
Also known as a Sports massage or deep tissue massage, if you have a specific problem that needs attention it’s better to go with this option. With a Remedial massage, your therapist takes a more targeted approach to treat things like:
Inflammation
Sports injuries
Limited range of motion
A lingering car accident injury
A condition that causes chronic pain
Soreness from frequent physical activity, including sports
The effects of a job that involves sitting or standing all day, or repetitive motion
The effects of a job that involves sitting or standing all day, or repetitive motion
A deep tissue massage uses firm pressure strokes to reach deep into your muscles and other soft tissue, targeting specific muscle groups. It is also used to break up scar tissue, muscle knots or adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) that can disrupt your blood circulation.
What Should I Expect During a Remedial Massage?
A deep tissue massage can be full-body or focus on specific areas of the body. Your therapist will discuss your problem areas and work with you to design a treatment plan that suits your needs. They may recommend a single session or recurring appointments, depending on the severity of your problem.
Unlike a relaxation massage, you may experience some discomfort with a deep tissue massage and possible delayed onset muscle soreness the next 2 days following treatment.
Your therapist will check in with you frequently during your massage to make sure they’re using only as much pressure as is needed. A therapeutic massage should never cause intolerable or excruciating pain.
Please feel free to ask all the questions you like before and during your appointment. Be open about your comfort level, your goals and your expectations.
