General Massage Terms Aromatherapy - the practice of using essential oils and fragrances, usually derived from plants, to enhance mood and health. Ayurveda – is argued to be the original form of holistic medicine. Dating back thousands of years, Ayurvedic medicine is still practiced in India. Directly translated into English as “life knowledge” or “life science,” it focuses on balance and harmony of the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of one’s life. Contraindications – are conditions that would limit the benefit of therapy. In massage you will need to understand which conditions would make treatment more harmful than healthful. These limiting conditions are contraindications. Deep Tissue – deep tissue massage refers to any massage types that work the muscles and/or fascia, as opposed to Reiki, hydrotherapy or other body work that does not manipulate deep into the musculature. See: Types of Massage and Bodywork. Modalities – simply put, modalities are types of massage. There are over 80 modalities in massage therapy. Myofascial – a common term used in massage therapy referring to the combining of muscular and fascial tissue. Fascia is the connective tissue found just under the skin, above the muscular-skeletal structure. Manipulating the fascia and muscle together is referred to as myofacial manipulation. Soft Tissue – refers to the muscles, tendons, and fibrous tissues that support or surround the skeletal structure and/or organs of the body. Also refered to as fascia or connective tissue.  Types of Massage and Body Work Acupressure – an Oriental alternative medical practice where pressure is applied to "acupressure points" on the body. Acupressure can be done with hands, elbows or other devices. Accupressure, like acupunture is believed to free the flow of postive energy or "chi" throughout the body for optimum health. Acupressure is also refered to as Trigger Point or Pressure Point massage. Acupuncture – a practice originating in Asia, where small needles are inserted and maneuvered into acupunture points, pathways or meridians all over the body. This technique is used to treat chronic pain and relieve a variety of negative health symptoms. Accupunture, like acupressure, is believed to free the flow of positive energy or "chi" throughout the body for optimum health. Applied Kinesiology – a holistic practice that uses a series of diagnostic muscular tests to determine underlying health issues within the body. Alexander Technique – a body awareness technique that strives to recognize negative physical patterns, such as holding on to tension. Alexander Technique works to free the body from tension by connecting breath, movement and thought. Feldenkrais – a form of bodywork dedicated to bringing greater awareness to your body, relieving tension and teaching you about how your body functions in its daily environment. Also referred to as functional integration or awareness through movement. Hellerwork – a practice that uses deep tissue massage and movement techniques to promote proper body alignment and awareness. Hydrotherapy – the use of water to relieve muscular tension. Often, hydrotherapy uses manual techniques coupled with underwater massagers, such as jetted hydrotherapy tubs. Infant Massage / Baby Massage – massage techniques used on infants to improve sleep and well being. Infant massage is also used to bond with a child and strengthen communication during early development. Medical Massage / Clinical Massage – terms used simply to differentiate between massage practiced in medical facilities to treat specific conditions and those performed in spas or resorts for general wellness. Pilates – utilizes the core muscles to promote a healthy spine and strengthen body posture. Pilates, like other forms of body work, uses the breath and mind to overcome limitations. Pregnancy Massage / Prenatal Massage – massage techniques developed specifically for expectant mothers. Massage during pregnancy is used to relieve pain, promote circulation and improve general wellness during pregnancy. Reflexology – also known as zone therapy, reflexology is a method of massage for the hands, feet and ears. The basic theory of reflexology is that these areas are divided into zones that, when manipulated, directly affect certain parts of the nervous system. Reiki –a Japanese spiritual practice often likened to the laying on of hands, where the hands are used as channels of healing energy. Rolfing – a form of soft tissue manipulation that strives to realign or “reorganize” the human body in its relationship to gravity. Sports Massage – the massage discipline focused on healing common sports and repetitive stress injuries. Sports massage can be found in gyms and sports training centers, as well as medical massage facilities. Swedish Massage – a form of massage therapy that utilizes several stroke types to improve circulation. The following are some of the strokes associated with Swedish massage. Basic Massage Movement for Swedish Massage Effleurage – a long, flowing warm-up stroke before deep tissue work. Petrissage – more aggressive deep tissue work applying pressure through kneading, knuckling, wringing and squeezing the skin and myofascial tissue. Friction – basic rubbing massage technique to create a warming sensation. Oils are often used to alleviate discomfort. Tapotement – a stimulating massage stroke involving pounding, slapping or beating. Compression – a deep tissue stroke for elongating and compressing the myofascial tissue. Vibration – manual or mechanical, this massage stroke is used to settle and relax muscles after deep tissue work. Shiatsu – a Japanese massage modality in which pressure is applied to the tissue with the fingers and palms to release tension and toxins. Shiatsu is also referred to as pressure point massage.  |
