People who participate in massage therapy do so because of the enjoyable experience and the health benefits it offers. Not everyone has the same experience even though they get the same massage. That is because people react differently to different treatments. So it’s important to understand what massage is and being able to select the right type for you.

What is Massage?

Massage is the pressing, rubbing and manipulating of the skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. This will range from light stroking to deep pressure.

What are the Benefits?

Studies have been conducted regarding the various medical conditions that may benefit from massage therapy. Some conditions that have been showing positive results to massage are:

• anxiety
• soft tissue strains
• stress induced insomnia
• fibromyalgia
• sports injuries
• headaches
• and many more

What type is right for me?

This is one of the biggest questions that people have when it comes to getting a massage. While Rumor Has It offers several different types, the two most popular are Swedish and Deep Tissue. Let’s take a look at what these two have to offer.

Swedish Massage

This is a gentle type of massage involving long strokes, kneading, and deep circular motions to help relax the muscles and energize you.

This is the perfect massage for you if:

• You experience poor circulation. The technique involving the long strokes works to open circulation and increase blood flow.
• You are experiencing a great amount of stress. Swedish massage is designed to relax and comfort you.
• You have sensitive skin. Since this is a gentle form of massage, there is no abrading of the skin.

Swedish massage is great for those who are in need of some stress relief but don’t have any knots or kinks to be worked out.

Deep Tissue Massage

This type of massage is typically used for those who are recovering from muscle damage associated with injuries. This technique involves slower and more forceful strokes in order to get to the deeper muscle layers. In certain types of jobs, your muscles compensate for one another, creating an imbalance. Deep tissue massage works out that tension and alleviates the stress on the over-compensating muscle groups.

This is the perfect massage for you if:

• You have a job where you sit/stand all day or if you are engaged in physical activity regularly. These types of jobs, your activity means working certain muscles and those muscle groups having to over-compensate.
• You are experiencing severe and chronic pain or tension in your neck and back or other muscle groups.
• You have a earlier injury that is still bothersome. Deep tissue massage can help promote the healing of those muscles.

Despite the many benefits of massage therapy, it should not be seen as a replacement for your regular medical care. If you are incorporating massage therapy into your treatment, be sure to notify your doctor.

If you would like more information about massages at our spa, Click Here for our Massage FAQ