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Balinese massage
Balinese massage is a popular form of traditional Indonesian massage. It was developed in Bali and is a common spa massage offered in the area.
This massage uses a combination of different massage techniques including acupressure, reflexology, and aromatherapy massage. It also uses Swedish massage techniques like petrissage and effleurage.
Like many Oriental forms of massage therapy, one of the goals of this form of massage is to unblock qi (life force) in the body. They do this by ensuring the body is getting enough circulation. They believe that flow of qi and blood flow are linked.
Aromatherapy is an important aspect of this form of massage. This form of massage is done with warm oil that is mixed with various essential oils like sandalwood, rose, jasmine, ginger, clove and lemon. The oils can be blended to address specific complaints and make the massage luxurious.
This form of massage can be used to treat:
• muscle pain
• sleep problems
• anxiety
• stress
• depression
• asthma
Your massage will be given on a massage table or on a mat on the floor. This type of massage is quite deep and relaxing. You'll leave the massage feeling relaxed yet energised.
Esalen massage
Esalen massage combines the techniques used in Swedish massage with energy work. This style of massage is sometimes referred to as "conscious touch" because the therapist is required to be completely mentally present during the massage. The quality of touch is more important than the technique. The therapist tries to tune into the clients body.
This style of massage was created at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California in the 1960's. The Esalen Institute has workshops in psychology, outreach, activism, Eastern medicine, arts, religion and many other things. They believe in a holistic approach to health and life. The institute is often associated with the New Age Movement.
In order to learn this Esalen massage, it is encouraged that you study at the institute. There are a few people who are certified to teach it away from the institute, but that's generally discouraged. The people at Esalen believe that their style of massage is bested learned there so that a therapist learns the Esalen philosophy not just a style of massage.
The massage is very relaxing. Its primary goal is to relax you while balancing your energy and increasing the harmony between mind and body. A relaxed body is a healthy body. But therapists don't just believe they are treating the body, they are also treating the spirit.
The strokes used are long and flowing. The way the strokes are preformed is often called tai chi like. As new bodywork styles emerge they are incorporated into the Esalen style. Some aspects of Trager work, Rolfing and Cranio Sacral therapy are sometimes used in a session.
This type of massage is especially good for people who have neck and back pain. It relieves joint and muscle pain and helps with sleep disorders.
Indian face massage
Indian face massage is sometimes referred to as 'face-lift massage'. This soothing treatment uses a combination of different massage therapy techniques to loosen facial tissue giving your face a younger look.
As muscles in the face contract they form wrinkles in the skin. Our emotions and thoughts all contribute to our facial expressions. This natural face lift releases the tense muscles in the face, scalp and neck. When the muscles of the face relax, the skin that covers those muscles smoothes out.
The connective tissue of the face is made up of two proteins, collagen and elastin. When we are young these proteins slide freely against each other giving our skin its natural elasticity. The waste that builds up in our bodies over time cause the collagen and elastin fibres to get stuck on each other. This is why your skin looses its natural elasticity with age.
This form of facial massage uses manual lymphatic drainage techniques to push the waste materials out of the face. This helps release stuck tissues helping the skin regain its elasticity.
Besides helping you look a bit younger, face massage can:
• relieve mental fatigue
• improve tone in facial muscles
• increase concentration
• improve circulation
• improve lymphatic drainage
• help you feel relaxed and rejuvenated
No oil is used for this therapy. The massage is gentle and usually lasts about one hour. You may see results after one session, but you generally don't see results until after six or eight sessions.
Lomi lomi massage
Lomi lomi massage is a traditional Hawaiian healing art. Its history is not well known, but it has been practiced for generations. Traditionally, Hawaiian massage was practiced by kahunas (traditional healers).
It involves both physical and spiritual aspects of healing. Hawaiians believe that memories are stored in all the cells of the body, not just the brain. Negative memories can block the flow of energy in the body. Lomi lomi therapists work to relieve muscle tension while releasing negative memories from cells allowing energy to flow freely through the body. The spirit of love, honour and respect are essential during a massage. The therapist begins and ends each massage with a prayer.
Lomi lomi massage consists of flowing strokes that are done with the hands and forearms. Multiple areas of the body are massaged at once causing the mind to relax. Sometimes lomi lomi is performed by two therapists at once allowing the mind to fall into a deeply relaxed state. The use of the forearms in the massage helps the therapist get deep pressure more easily.
This is an intuitive form of massage so sometimes it is fast and vigorous and sometimes it's slow and relaxing. The way the massage is done will be determined by the therapist after evaluating you.
Lomi lomi is performed on a massage table without a sheet covering it. This allows the therapist to reach under you more easily. Don't worry: the table is clean! You will be naked during the therapy, expect for a sheet that will be folded to cover you minimally. This allows the therapist to have access to multiple areas of your body at once. Some people experience emotional releases on the table.
Myofascial release technique
Myofascial release technique (MFR) is one of the gentle types of massage therapy that can provide you with great health benefits. MFR can be intergrated with other types of massage or can provide a complete treatment on its own.
Fascia is a thin connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs. You can think of it as an uninterrupted web. It helps hold muscles and organs in place and helps them hold their shape. Fascia gives a lot of support to your body and when it's bound up it can cause dysfunction. Because it's uninterrupted, if one section of your fascia is bound up it pulls on the rest of the fascia causing pain and dysfunction in organs and muscles.
Myofascial release technique loosens bound areas of fascia by gently stretching them. The therapist does this by applying pressure and traction to the skin. When the releases are performed on you, you'll usually feel a stretching sensation on your skin like a gentle tug. Sometimes the area will itch. Sometimes it will tingle or even feel like a burn. These sensations all let you know that more blood is getting to the area.
MFR was brought into the forefront of bodywork by John T. Barnes. Barnes is a massage therapist and physical therapist who teaches MFR techniques to therapists around the world.
MFR can be used to treat these conditions:
• chronic pain
• back pain
• neck pain
• whiplash
• fibromyalgia
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• vertigo
• headaches
• TMJ disorders
• plantar fasciitis
• thoracic outlet syndrome
When you get MFR you'll lay on a massage table partially clothed. No oil or lotion is used during this type of massage because the therapist needs to be able to get traction on your skin. You'll be asked to move around for this therapy. You'll sometimes be asked to sit on the table or stand.
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