Massage Techniques

Just like a handyman must learn how to fix a variety of problems to repair our appliances, a massage therapist must learn different techniques of massage in order to address and maintain our bodies.

These popular massage techniques (and other related therapies) are often found in spas, clinics and private practices.

Abdominal Massage is one of the types of massage therapy often used for women with fertility issues, those who suffer from constipation, or babies with colic.

Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a class which teaches how to actually stretch your client's muscles before therapy.

Acupressure often used as firm pressure on specific muscle issues by using thumbs, fingertips, knuckles or elbows.

Alexander Technique is not one of the techniques of massage, but rather a method of self-care that teaches how to function with more ease and less strain to change bad postural habits.

Animal Massage is given to horses, dogs, cats and other animals to release muscles and tightness in joints.

Aromatherapy Massage uses essential oils to create aromas that are relaxing and soothing to the recipient.

Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy (AOBT) is a modification of ancient styles of barefoot massage.

Asian Massage techniques include Shiatsu, Ashiatsu (using feet), acupressure, Tui Na, Ayurvedic, Qigong or Chi Nei Tsang, which are all different forms of Asian massage and bodywork.

Ayurvedic Massage uses organic oils and massage strokes which have been used in India for centuries to treat various health issues.

Baby Massage (or infant massage) includes slow, gentle strokes with little pressure to help create a calm, relaxing state for babies with colic or sleeping problems.

Back Massage can help relieve pain, stress, muscle spasms, sciatica issues, neck pain, and headaches.

Bamboo Massage uses bamboo stalks and Swedish strokes to release fascia and muscle tension.

Beijing Massage includes oriental massage techniques that may include trigger point therapy, deep tissue, shiatsu, acupressure, ayurvedic, and/or reflexology work.

Bowen Therapy a non-invasive hands-on therapy (not one of the techniques of massage) performed by a certified Bowen practitioner who makes a series of short, gentle rolling moves using thumbs or fingers, with light pressure, across certain precise points on the body.

Breast Massage can be very beneficial for women to treat scar tissue, edema in breasts or lymph nodes, or breast pain and inflammation.

Cat Massage teach owners how to massage their pets to relieve physical and mental issues that cats may have, like nervousness, aggression, or arthritis.

Cellulite Massage is a gentle massage to improve circulation in cellulite-pron areas of the body by helping it to soften and release over time.

Chair Massage or seated chair massage can help reduce stress and anxiety in the workplace or any other place where people are working and/or doing repetitive motions.

Chi Nei Tsang is a massage that concentrates on our core, the center of gravity in our body located in our abdomen, the area from the navel to the pubic bone.

Chinese Massage (or Tui Na) often incorporates many Asian techniques of massage including acupressure, shiatsu, ashiatsu, and reflexology to create a proper flow of Qi (energy).

Couple Massage is where two people are in the same room and being massaged at the same time by two different massage therapists.

Craniosacral Massage is a light-touch massage which is used to release barriers in the craniosacral rhythm.

Deep Tissue Massage uses slow strokes with deep pressure to release tension.

Deep Tissue with Massage Stones uses massage stones with deep massage techniques to release muscle restrictions.

Dog Massage helps dogs by calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, and aiding digestion.

Elderly Massage focuses on massage care for older people, with tips on how to work with them in a therapeutic environment.

Energy Work looks at different types of energy work that therapists may choose to study after massage school.

Esalen Massage is designed to allow the body to re-connect with the mind to begin to attain true peace and serenity. Not considered one of the techniques of massage, but many therapists study it.

Equine Massage uses massage therapy to increase circulation, relax muscles, and improve muscle tone in horses.

Face Massage includes relaxing strokes over the face using circular movements around the temples, neck, cheekbone, mouth, and across the forehead.

Fibromyalgia Massage concentrates massage in the 18 primary pain points of the Fibromyalgia patient's body.

Foot Massage involves rubbing, stretching, flexing, and/or pulling of the feet and toes.

Full Body Massage is a common massage that relaxes you from head to toe using various types of massage therapy techniques.

Hawaiian Massage uses strokes with both hands on different parts of the body, mimicking the freedom of hula dance and the spirit within each of us.

Head Massage will often includes shoulders, upper arms, neck, scalp and facial massage.

Hellerwork is a structural integration therapy (not really one of the types of massage therapy) that uses deep tissue and movement education to educate on the connection of the body, mind and spirit.

Hot Stone Massage is treatment that incorporates smooth, warmed basalt stones to create a deep relaxation and stillness for the recipient. It is one of the massage techniques often found in a day spa.

Indian Head Massage is a massage that is performed on the head, neck, and shoulders using traditional Indian scalp massage routines.

Kansa Vatki Foot Massage is an Ayurvedic technique of foot massage, using either coconut oil or body butter.

Korean Massage uses techniques of massage to create a positive energy flow throughout the body.

Leg Massage aids the client by increasing circulation, decreasing edema (water retention) or loosening muscles due to cramping.

Lomilomi used by ancient Hawaiian culture for its support of physical, mental and emotional health.

Lower Back massage help the recipient reduce pain associated with disc herniation, inflammation, bone or joint conditions, pregnancy, kidney problems, ovary problems and many other issues that cause back pain.

Mana Lomi®is clinically focused lomilomi, it is one of the types of Hawaiian massage techniques.

Manual Lymph Drainage massage techniques are performed for clients who experience edema in legs, arms, abdomen and other areas of the body.

Massage Cupping creates suction and negative pressure which is used to release tight muscles, loosen scar tissue, relax connective tissue, and increase blood flow.

Medical Massage is an outcome-focused massage which deals with specific issues associated with conditions of the body.

Myofascial Massage releases knots and trigger points within the fascia to allow it to return to a normal, flexible state.

Neck Massage is often given to treat painful issues such as headaches, sinus pain, and neck pain.

Neuromuscular therapy uses trigger points to release muscular issues.

Oncology Massage teaches how to work with people in different stages, and with different forms of cancer.

Oriental Massage includes many types of massage techniques : (TuiNa (push and pull), Amno (rub and press), Dian Xue (acupressure points), and Wai Qi Liao Fa (energy work).

Orthopedic Massage includes stretching and resistance therapy as well as soft tissue work.

Pregnancy Massage provides a natural way to reduce anxiety, pain, depression, and stress hormone levels in expectant mothers.

Raindrop Therapy uses essential oils to bring structural and electrical alignment to the body.

Reflexology is a treatment based on the idea that there are areas of the feet, hands, and ears that create responses in other parts of the body when pressure points are stimulated.

Reiki Massage is based on the theory that the transfer of energy from practitioner to patient allows the body's natural energy to heal itself.

Relaxation Massage typically is a full body, head to toe massage using a minimal amount of pressure.

Rolfing is a structural integration of the soft connective tissue to align the major body segments.

Shiatsu Massage uses various styles of Japanese massage techniques to achieve results and focuses on pressure points with fingers, thumbs and palms of hands.

Sports Massage can help prevent injury in because it helps to condition the muscles and stimulates circulation of the blood and lymph.

Swedish Massage uses traditional massage movements such as effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, and friction as well as flowing strokes with light pressure.

Thai Body Massage includes stretches and beep breathing and is often performed with the client clothed.

Therapeutic Massage is a manipulation of the muscles and tissues of the body to alleviate pain, discomfort, and stress.

Trigger Point Therapy involves working on muscles that have referred pain.

Visceral Manipulation is a gentle therapy that focuses on the organ ligaments of the body and their ability to move freely.

Watsu is a technique that floats and stretches a client in warm water in order to release chronic pain conditions of the body.

Zero Balancing is a combination body energy and body structure work which help to connect with the deepest level of energy flow in the body-the skeletal system.

This is a break-down of what this set includes:

SECTION I (DVD 1 & 2) "Fundamentals"

• Palpation and Cultivation of Touch-Working with Layers of the Body
• Body Biomechanics - How to Properly Use Fingers, Knuckles, Fist, Forearm, and Elbow and Save Your Thumbs
• Purposeful Strokes- Strategies to Lengthen Tissue, Free Adhesions, and Release Holding Patterns
• Positioning of Your Client to Increase Effectiveness of Your Work
• The Side-Lying Position to Dramatically Improve Your Effectiveness

This section includes hundreds of techniques and strategies of massage, covering sections of the entire body.

DVD 3: Legs and Pelvis

DVD 4: Continuation of the Pelvis, Rotators, Abdomen (Including the Psoas and Iliacus), and the Back

DVD 5: Working with the Shoulder Girdle, Chest, Arms, and Neck

SECTION III (DVD 6 & 7) "Advanced Techniques and Strategies for Common Complaints and Injuries"

This section covers all the Medical Conditions and Pain Syndromes that you should know how to address through massage therapy.

• Foot/Ankle Injuries Including Sprains, Plantar Fasciaitis, Achilles Tendonitis
• Knee Pain and Dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Minor Back Pain
• Rotator Cuff
• Tennis Elbow and Wrist
• Thoracic Outlet

This is a great reference series to have in your library of massage videos and allows you to provide specialized massage skills to clients, family and friends.

Learning these techniques will help you add to or improve your skill set and gain more clients, building your massage therapy practice...and your professional reputation!