The massage therapy experience is a healing process to help you improve blood circulation and enhance emotional balance. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a massage therapist with magical hands that make you feel good.
Whether you are a patient wanting to relieve stress, lower anxiety, manage back pain or reduce muscle tension, nothing beats paying a visit to a licensed massage therapist.
Although this process seems complicated, it is necessary to know all the options for massage therapists to find the right person.
Here is everything you need to know about finding the right professional to soothe your pain and why reading online reviews can go a long way.
What Is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy is all about applying pressure and rubbing your tendons, ligaments, connective tissues, and muscles. This is done to significantly improve a person’s health and well-being.
If you do not have serious muscles aches, you can still enjoy a massage therapy experience purely for relaxation purposes. These are exceptional if you are consistently stressed at work and need a reliever to rejuvenate you for another busy day.
Most people love getting massages even if they do not have chronic conditions because it is the most calming adventure. Massages also lower cortisol levels that amplify stress levels.
While lowering cortisol, they boost your happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine. Besides getting that painful knot out of your shoulders, you may find yourself sleeping better and smiling more throughout the day.
Swedish
One of the most common types of massages is a Swedish massage. This is where the top layers get kneaded by a licensed massage therapist.
They may apply a little pressure for soft and long strokes or tap muscles to loosen them. This helps relieve muscle tension, especially if you suffer from an injury.
Remedial
If you need to treat extremely painful or damaged tendons, connective tissues, muscles, or ligaments, it is best to seek a remedial massage.
This process effectively treats your immobile and damaged muscles. You should opt for this treatment at least once a month to speed up your natural healing process.
Sports
Athletes who do sports training and need to increase their flexibility should ask about specific sports massage therapy sessions.
These will ensure that you do not suddenly get cramps while running a marathon, and they help prevent sports-related muscle injuries to keep you physically fit for much longer.
The aim is to reduce the tension when you push yourself during strenuous activities. A sports massage is best to help you significantly improve performance and boost endurance.
Neuromuscular
Neuromuscular massage therapy or trigger point myotherapy is most effective for back pain and muscle strain.
This massage targets trapped nerves, tender muscles, poor circulation, chronic pain, and posture-related issues.
If you do many repetitive movements, you can save yourself from lifelong injuries undergoing this process. Although this type of therapy is painful for newcomers, it eventually relaxes all the muscles to boost oxygen and blood flow.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu massage is pressure applied with fingers to localized parts of the body. These are also known as acupuncture points. Shiatsu is an excellent passive stretching of the entire body to help energize your entire blood circulation system to get rid of toxins.
This will improve your immune system so that your body has a significantly stronger defense. It is no understatement that stress is a killer. Many illnesses can be kept away by relaxing your body with the right massage therapy experience.
Reflexology
Reflexology has also caught a lot of momentum. This is where your therapist will use their thumbs, fingers, and hands to stimulate certain parts of your feet.
The theory is that your feet correspond to systems and organs throughout your body. Your therapist will apply the right pressure on the foot to promote healing and relaxation while improving nerve and brain functions.
Hot Stone
Although a hot stone massage sounds like something exotic you would try during a holiday in Bali, it is one of the best types of massages to help ease all tense muscles while repairing damaged soft tissues.
During this massage, you can expect your therapist to carefully place smooth, heated stones on parts of your body, such as on your spine, stomach, palms, face, and toes.
These stones are typically made of a volcanic rock that retains heat called basalt and can be as hot as 145 degrees. Your therapist will hold these heated stones to massage you with long strokes and kneading, like a Swedish massage.
How to Choose a Massage Therapist?
Now that you know the different types of massages, you can determine which is the right experience for your needs. Once you have identified your goals, you should research top massage therapists in your area.
Never skip reading online reviews because previous clients can help you understand what to expect. Choosing a massage therapist requires research. If you want a Swedish massage, you need to find an expert in that area with years of practice.
Do not feel shy to pick up the phone and call massage centers for more details. They may also offer a test session for you to get a small taste of their skills and techniques.
To find the right practice and method, always emphasize your preferences. This is where you can express where and how you want to be massaged.
For instance, some clients may prefer a spa-like setting with dimmed lights and music by Enya playing in the background to set the mood. Some practices also offer on demand massages for you to book your appointment without any hassles.
Enhance Your Massage Therapy Experience
Knowing how to choose a massage therapist is necessary to build rapport and trust with the person you seek for treatment. Never shy away from asking about staff members’ qualifications and work experience.
This will ensure that you get the best care possible. It also pays to be specific about your needs. Give yourself time to explore the different types of massages.
Then you can provide an accurate overview of pain points that your therapist must focus on. If you enjoyed reading this massage therapy guide, check out some of our other posts for more information.
