Massage: Levels and Techniques

Massage is all about comfort, but it's also all about necessity.

Massage is a natural response to pain. It is the first action we do to ourselves when we hurt in our bodies. We rub our hands after a long day of typing, our feet after a long day of standing. You get the point. Massage is natural and beneficial and feels oh so good.

Light massage can be done on ourselves for quick manipulation of the muscles: neck, legs, knees and so on. Spas will often offer light, whole body massages. This is a good place to start if you have never had a massage. They are designed to help relax and heal the body, loosen up tired and stressed out muscles, and introduce you to a variety of techniques.

Some massage techniques are very light, such as hot stone massage. This developed in Midwestern spas where hot stones were moved gently around the body with light pressure applied. It is a very relaxing form of massage with the combination of heat and light pressure. Aromatherapy is also a type of light massage. Essentials oils are used to stimulate the limbic area of the brain for a calming affect. Oils are also rubbed into the skin for a physical and psychological reaction in the whole body. Light pressure may be applied along with scented oils to help relieve the maximum amount of stress.

Medium massage will most likely be found in an independent massage therapist's office. This is a whole body massage, but at a deeper layer than a light spa massage. Massage is designed to help heal the body as well as make it feel more comfortable. Pain should not be included in a massage, although some discomfort may come with the territory--especially if you are very tense. A medium massage is good for those who have already experienced the benefits of a light massage and want a deeper level of treatment.

Swedish massage is considered a "traditional" form of massage and is rated medium. By effectively massaging the skin, the rest of the body benefits in reaction to being stimulated. This type of massage uses long strokes with tapping and kneading motions that helps the nervous and circulatory systems, glands and of course muscles. It is a wholeness technique which incorporates Mediterranean and Far Eastern techniques into its structure.

Deep massage is usually reserved for athletes or those who need special healing services. This works the second and third layers of muscle for a deep relaxation that is geared toward whole health and healing in a more intense technique.

Muscle layers can stick together at deeper layers and can hold in toxins that the body produces. Deep massage uses friction against the layers to "unstick" them and release the poisons held together in the body. A trained professional must perform a deep massage to work the muscles properly and without causing damage. Canadian Deep Muscle Massage is a good example of this. The techniques used by massage therapists help to re-hydrate the muscles at the second and third layers and target specific problems within the body. This is why athletes will use this type of healing. Results can be measured quickly as pain and stress is relieved during actual sessions.

Overall, massage is a wonderful way to loose toxins from the body and reduce illness and stress. Whether you chose light, medium or deep will depend on previous experience you have had with massage and what your reasons are for seeking out massage as a way of healing. Many techniques are available and licensed massage therapists are usually easy to come by as their popularity grows.