Treat Yourself to a Massage

There are few things in life that are almost guaranteed to relieve a person of
stress immediately. If a list of such things were available, there would
certainly be a spot reserved for one of the finer enjoyments of life: receiving
a great massage. Stress and tension have a tendency to melt in the hands of a
qualified masseur or masseuse.

Fortunately for you, there are many different types of massage available from
which to choose. You can experiment with the types that catch your fancy and
discover what works best for you when it comes to relieving stress. This
article is a small outline of some of the available types of massage awaiting
your indulgence.

Acupressure is a form of massage developed by the same Chinese folks who
brought the world acupuncture. In fact, the theory behind acupressure is based
on the theory behind acupuncture. But you need not believe in the theories of
traditional Chinese medicine to enjoy a massage. Acupressure uses the fingers,
palms, and elbows to apply pressure to parts of the body believed to have some
connection to the ailment in question. The beauty of acupressure is that many
of its techniques can be done solo.

Aryuvedic massage is a form of massage that stems from the Indian art of
Aryuvedic medicine, a system of holistic treatment. The masseur or masseuse
uses hot herbal oils believed to treat certain conditions of the body and mind.

Reflexology is a form of massage that focuses heavily on the feet. The belief
is that certain parts of the foot correspond in some metaphysical way to
certain parts of the body. Stimulation of parts of the foot is believed to
result in stimulation of the corresponding parts of the body. If you have been
walking non-stop all week and want to experience a style of massage that
centers on your feet, reflexology may be the style for you.

Shiatsu is a form of massage from Japan, based on the same metaphysical beliefs
as acupressure (what the Chinese call chi, what the Indians call prana, and
what the Japanese call ki is the energy believed to flow through the body along
uniform channels). It too uses the hands, particularly the thumbs, to apply
pressure to various parts of the body.

Swedish massage is a very popular form of massage that uses light touches,
kneading, rhythmic tapping, compression, and vibration to relieve the body of
pain, stiffness, tension, and the results of stress. This form of massage is
what people usually think of when conversations about massage arise.

Thai massage is a form of massage that combines stretches with applied
pressure. Depending on the Thai masseur or masseuse, the emphasis may be on
either the stretches or the applied pressure.

Often people find that giving a massage to someone else can be as relaxing as
receiving a massage themselves. If you are one of these people and are having
trouble finding subjects who wish to lie down on your makeshift massage table,
consider signing up for a course in massage therapy at your local community
college. Doing so will provide you with hands-on instruction for a number of
massage techniques (and it does not get any more hands-on than massage!).
Furthermore, you will have plenty of willing subjects available, and you may
one day even be able to charge for your services. At the very least, your
friends and family will no longer be avoiding your massage table as they do
now, scared as they are of being the new power tools for your viselike hands.