Caution: DO NOT massage a person if they have:
- Recently consumed a large meal, alcohol or addictive substances
- Underwent surgery, do not massage, unless with the permission of his/her medical doctor
- Suffers from heart attacks or strokes should at most only receive
a very gentle massage to help circulation
- Has cancer, massage should not be performed
- Has a fever or infectious disease, do not massage
- Has varicose veins, do not massage directly on the varicose veins
and never massage a person with thrombosis or phlebitis
- Has inflamed joints, gout, arthritic or rheumatoid pain; massage above the area and not on the area as it would be too painful
Massage Warehouse
Equipment & Supplies
6529 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Norcross, Georgia 30071
770-582-9191
or
Toll Free 800-910-9955
www.massagewarehouse.com
Massagers, Massage Tables, Aromatherapy supplies, Loofah Scrubs & more
Day Spa Solutions
1-800-320-7010
www.dayspasolutions.com
Spa Equipment, Supplies, Treatment Products, Spa Apparel & more
Types of Massages
Active Release Techniques (ART)
Acupressure
Alexander Technique
Aquatic Massage Therapy
Aromatherapy
Bowen Technique
Cranio-Sacral Therapy
Deep Connective Tissue Massage
Deep Muscle Therapy
Esalen Tissue Work
Feldenkrais Integrative Manual Therapy
Joint Mobilization
Kinesiology
La Stone Therapy
Lomi Lomi
Manual Lymph Drainage
Muscle Energy Technique
Myofascial Release
Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Integration and Structural Alignment (NISA)
On-site massage
Prenatal/Pregnancy Massage
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
Rolfing
Shiatsu and Acupressure
Sports Massage
Strain/Counter
Strain Swedish Massage
Thai Massage
Tui Na Massage
Watsu
Zero Balancing
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Cranio-Sacral - A technique for finding and correcting cerebral and spinal imbalances or blockages that may cause sensory, motor or intellectual dysfunction.
Deep Tissue - Releases the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the grain of muscles, tendons and fascia. It is called deep tissue, because it also focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue.
Effleurage - A stroke generally used in a Swedish massage treatment. This smooth, gliding stroke is used to relax soft tissue and is applied using both hands.
Friction - The deepest of Swedish massage strokes. This stroke encompasses deep, circular movements applied to soft tissue causing the underlying layers of tissue to rub against each other. The result causes an increase in blood flow to the massaged area.
Myofascial Release - A form of bodywork that is manipulative in nature and seeks to rebalance the body by releasing tension in the fascia. Long, stretching strokes are utilized to release muscular tension.
On-site Massage - (also known as chair massage or corporate massage) Administered while the client is clothed and seated in a specially designed chair. These chairs most often slope forward allowing access to the large muscles of the back. On-site massage usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and is intended to relax and improve circulation.
Petrissage - (also called kneading) Involves squeezing, rolling and kneading the muscles and usually follows effleurage during Swedish massage.
Reflexology - Massage based around a system of points in the hands and feet thought to correspond, or "reflex," to all areas of the body.
Rosen Method - utilizes gentle touch and verbal communication to help clients to release suppressed emotions and subsequently muscular tension in some instances.
Shiatsu and Acupressure - Oriental-based systems of finger-pressure which treat special points along acupuncture "meridians" (the invisible channels of energy flow in the body).
Sports Massage - Massage therapy focusing on muscle systems relevant to a particular sport.
Swedish Massage - A system of long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the more superficial layers of the muscles, combined with active and passive movements of the joints.
Tapotement - Executed with cupped hands, fingers or the edge of the hand with short, alternating taps to the client.
Trigger Point Therapy - (also known as Myotherapy or Neuromuscular Therapy) Applies concentrated finger pressure to "trigger points" (painful irritated areas in muscles) to break cycles of spasm and pain.
There are various methods of massaging and include the following:
Swedish - This method of massaging is the most popular type of massage and includes a variety of strokes and was developed by the Swede Professor Ling. This type of massage is beneficial to promote the feeling of well-being and also helps to reduce emotional and physical stress.
Neuromuscular massage - This way of massaging forms the basis of aromatherapy massage and evolved from the work of Stanley Leif. It is also referred to as "Trigger point" therapy and the overall effect of this massage is to restore the balance of the autonomic nervous system.
Lymphatic massage - This massage helps to improve the flow of lymph and some techniques developed by Marguerite Maury are incorporated in aromatherapy massage. Lymph drainage massage is particularly useful in detoxifying the body and to boost the immune system. Acupressure massage and Shiatsu This method of massage is focused on the meridians (channels) of the body and to relieve "blockages" through pressure on certain points of the body. It can be performed while the person is fully clothed and requires no needles such as in acupuncture.
Reflexology - In reflexology the feet (although the rest of the body can also be used) are manipulated and massaged and focus is placed on certain points on the feet that are said to have corresponding body parts or organs. To read more on reflexology, please click here.
Rolfing - This technique was developed by Dr. Ida Rolf and focuses on massaging the fascia - the connective tissue enclosing the muscles - to bring the body in alignment again.
Aromatherapy massage - Aromatherapy massage has a more holistic approach to the massage and may include some of the principles on the list above, yet will concentrate on more relaxing strokes, but of prime importance is the selection of essential oil/s used during the massage, since they are chosen for their therapeutic effect, and not the fragrance as such.To have a look at the therapeutic properties of the oils, please click here, and to view our index of essential oil profiles please click here. To view photos as well as Mpeg video clips on how to massage, please click here. (The page, due to the material, may take a while to download) There are various techniques or strokes and we have listed the most commonly used ones and a short summary of each:
Effleurage (gliding) - Effleurage is the main or principle stroke to warm up the muscles and to prepare the soft tissue for deeper treatment. This free-flowing continuous movement is done with the flat palm of one or both hands with steady pressure.
Fanning - This effleurage motion is used on the back, chest, legs and arms to stretch and manipulate tension away from the muscles.
Feathering- The feathering stroke is an extremely light stroke and is barely perceivable by the person receiving the massage, yet has a profoundly soothing effect.
Petrissage - (kneading) With petrissage specific muscle groups are worked where tissue is easily grasped, and can be performed superficially or deep. Deep petrissage is helpful in promoting circulation and to loosen muscle tightness.
Friction and Pressure
Cupping - The hands are cupped and the body is struck with the fingertips and the heels of the palms.
Friction is mostly used around joints and helps to increase circulation and the masseur's fingers do not slide over the skin and in sports massage it is often referred to as cross-fiber stroking.
Hacking - Rapid chopping motions are performed with the outer edge of the hand, and the fingers slightly separated so as not to do a karate chop and is used mostly on the fleshy areas like upper shoulders or legs.
Pummeling - While forming a loose fist strike the body with the outer edge of the hand.
Tapotement (percussion) These alternate drumming movements are normally performed on broad areas of the body, such as the back.