Glossary of Massage Styles

I’m still working on getting more thorough info on all of these styles.  If you have a specific question, like wondering what’s best for you (even if you don’t live near me), I’m happy to answer.  You can post here or send me an email if you’re giving info that’s just too personal to post.

Acupressure (also sometimes called Shiatsu)

Traditional Chinese technique of applying finger pressure to special points that lie along acupuncture meridians.

Aromatherapy

Barefoot Shiatsu

Chair Massage (often called On-site Massage)

a type of massage administered while the client is clothed and seated in a specially-designed chair. It allows the massage therapist to massage the muscles of the back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands.

Craniosacral Therapy

Deep Tissue

A technique that releases chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on contracted areas, either following or going across the grains of muscles, tendons and fascia.  This type of massage is most helpful for pain relief.

Hot Stone

A massage technique, used in conjunction with other modalities, in which warmed stones are placed on points, such as acupuncture points, and sometimes used as massage tools.  This is typically for deep relaxation.  There is a company called “La Stone” which put this approach on the map, using alternating hot and cold stones.  However, a therapist does not have to do “La Stone” to be effective.  Many spas offer this.

Infant/Baby

Lomi Lomi - Lomi Lomi combines the use of prayer (pule), breath (ha), and energy (mana) with a variety of massage strokes to release “blocked” areas of tension in the body. Lomi Lomi improves physical and athletic performance through the rhythmic application of thumbs, knuckles, forearms and elbows.  Lomi Lomi relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation and creates a tangible sense of well being. It is useful for maintaining health, and relieving pain from injury and debilitating illness. It is the “dance of massage,” and is as wonderful to give as to receive.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Medical Massage

Myofascial Release – Myofascial Release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.

Neuromuscular Therapy – NMT is a thorough program of recovery from acute and chronic pain syndromes which utilizes specific massage therapy, flexibility stretching, and home care to eliminate the causes of most neuromuscular pain patterns. This specific and scientific approach to muscular pain relief will help to bring about balance between the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. NMT enhances the function of joints, muscles and biomechanics (movement) and it releases endorphins, the body’s own natural pain killers. It can be part of a comprehensive program, complementing all other health care modalities.

Positional Release

Prenatal/Pregnancy/Postpartum

Pressure Point

Reiki

Reflexology

Rolfing is named after its founder, Dr. Ida P Rolf.   Rolfing is the brand name for Structural Integration and is a form of bodywork that reorganizes (repairs) the connective tissues in the body, called fascia, which permeate the entire body.  I think of Rolfing as “corrective massage.”

More than fifty years ago, Dr. Rolf recognized that the body is inherently a system of seamless networks of tissues rather than a collection of separate parts. These connective tissues surround, support and penetrate all of the muscles, bones, nerves and organs. Rolfing works on this web-like complex of connective tissues to release, realign and balance the whole body.

Essentially, the Rolfing process enables the body to regain the natural integrity of its form, thus enhancing postural efficiency and your freedom of movement.  Since Rolfing dramatically alters a person’s posture and structure, it frequently resolves patterns of discomfort and releases tension which eliminates chronic pain. Rolfing aims to restore flexibility, revitalize your energy and leave you feeling more comfortable in your body.

Athletes, dancers, children, business professionals, and people from all walks of life have benefited from Rolfing. People seek Rolfing as a way to ease pain and chronic stress, and improve performance in their professional and daily activities. It’s estimated that more than 1 million people have received Rolfing work.

Thai Massage

Therapeutic Touch - Therapeutic Touch is a contemporary healing modality drawn from ancient practices and developed by Dora Kunz and Dolores Krieger. The practice is based on the assumptions that human beings are complex fields of energy, and that the ability to enhance healing in another is a natural potential.  Therapeutic Touch (TT) is used to balance and promote the flow of human energy. It is taught in colleges around the world and has a substantial base of formal and clinical research. This research has shown that TT is useful in reducing pain, improving wound healing, aiding relaxation, and easing the dying process. It can be learned by anyone with a sincere interest and motivation towards helping others.

Trigger Point

Seated/Chair

Shiatsu

Sports Massage

Swedish Massage

Tuina

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Asian Body Work

Monitoring the flow of the vital life energy (known as chi, ki, prana) is at the heart of Asian bodywork. Using physical pressure and manipulation, the healer evaluates and modulates this energy flow to attain a state of balance. Popular modalities include shiatsu, amma, Jin Shin Do, Thai massage and tui na.

Ayurveda Massage

Gentle surface massage aimed at calming the nerves and stimulating blood flow.

Chair Massage

see “On-site Massage.”

Cranio-Sacral®

a gentle touch method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of the central nervous systems

Effleurage

a smooth, gliding stroke, generally used in a Swedish massage, using both hands to relax soft tissue.

Friction

the deepest of Swedish massage strokes, it encompasses deep, circular movements applied to soft tissue causing the underlying layers of tissue to rub against each other. This causes an increase in blood flow to the massaged area and can breakdown scar tissue.

Hydrotherapy

Referring to the therapeutic use of water in any of its various forms: sea water, mineral water, baths, showers, underwater massage, ice, etc.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

A hands-on method for lymphatic drainage involving flat hands, utilizing all of the fingers to stimulate wave-like movements. This enables the practitioner to feel the rhythm of the body fluids to determine the exact pressure, direction and rhythm needed.

Massage

a manual soft tissue manipulation, and includes holding, causing movement, and/or applying pressure to the body.

Massage Modality or Technique

a kind of massage, such as Swedish, deep tissue or myofascial release.

Massage therapy

a profession in which the practitioner applies manual techniques, and may apply adjunctive therapies, with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the client.

Meridians

the invisible channels of energy flow in the body according to Asian medical systems.

Myofascial Release

Uses long, stretching strokes to release muscular tension.

Petrissage (also called kneading)

the squeezing, rolling and kneading of the muscles that usually follows effleurage during Swedish massage.

Polarity Therapy

Health system involving energy-based bodywork, diet, exercise and self-awareness. It works with the Human Energy Field, electro-magnetic patterns expressed in mental, emotional and physical experience.

Quick Reference Dictionary for Massage Therapy and Bodywork

Reflexology

a technique that uses pressure to points on the feet, hands and ears thought to correspond, or “reflex,” to all areas of the body.

Shiatsu (also called acupressure)

a Japanese system of applying finger pressure to specific points that lie along specific meridians.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is designed to enhance athletic performance and recovery. There are three contexts in which sports massage can be useful to an athlete: pre-event, post-event, and injury treatment.

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. The four strokes of Swedish massage are effleurage, petrissage, friction and tapotement.

Tandem

a massage in which two therapists work on one client at the same time, sometimes called four hands massage.

Tapotement

a Swedish massage technique executed with cupped hands, fingers or the edge of the hand with short, alternating taps to the client.

Thai Massage

a technique in which the therapist uses his or her body to move the massage recipient into a series of poses, and includes muscle compression, joint mobilization and acupressure.

Trigger Point

irritated area in muscle fibers that when compressed may elicit pain or a twitching response.

Trigger Point Therapy (also known as Myotherapy or Neuromuscular Therapy)

a method that applies concentrated finger pressure to trigger points to break cycles of spasm and pain.

Tui Na

a traditional Chinese technique that stimulates acupuncture points by brushing, kneading, rolling and pressing areas between joints.