The first time you ever booked a massage, you probably called to schedule it and were immediately asked, “which type of massage would you like to book?” If you didn’t know how to respond, that’s completely normal!
Most people don’t realize just how many types of massage are out there. Even if you do, you probably tend to stick to your tried and true therapy options (relaxation when you’re stressed, deep tissue after the first few days into a tough baseball season).
It’s typically only when you bring up specific issues or pain points with your massage therapist that other massage therapy options will come up. Those are great moments in massage therapy because they allow you to invite new methods of healing into your life that can have a big impact on your long-term health, and even your day-to-day. However, it’s also great to know which treatment options are out there before you go, especially if you’re new to massage.
Here are six popular massage techniques that can be used for specific symptoms, conditions, and ailments:
Hot Stone Massage
When you see a photo of a woman lying on a massage table with smooth, perfectly rounded black stones lining her spine, you automatically think about relaxation. And while hot stone massages can be relaxing, there’s also a more practical purpose to those soothing warm stones.
Hot stone massages are designed to help relieve tension in your muscles using constant heat so that a therapist can work deeper without using more pressure. This can be very beneficial for those with back pain, fibromyalgia, and for the elderly and anyone with age-related conditions, such as dementia. It’s perfect for you if you enjoy the lasting results of a deep tissue massage, but not the pressure of the treatment itself.
Booking a hot stone massage in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Jennifer Moore.
Pregnancy Massage
Got kids? There’s a massage out there just for you!
Most would-be mothers assume that once there’s a bun in the oven, they’ll have to start skipping their monthly massages. Luckily, that’s not the case at all!
When your body is preparing to give birth, there are plenty of changes that happen that can put extra stress on the body. To combat the challenges expected mothers face, there are specific massages to help keep you feeling less pain and discomfort.
Pregnant moms have special massage needs, so be sure to book a pregnancy massage and let your therapist know again when you arrive so she can make you comfortable and take a few precautions.
Booking a pregnancy massage in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Jennifer O’Neill, Emma, Dannielle or Sonia.
Paediatric Massage
While you head in for your pregnancy massage, bring along your kids for their own special relaxing treatment. Research has shown that children benefit from massage therapy in many ways. In particular, many parents of children who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADHD, or anxiety find that massage helps in their care and wellbeing.
If you’re booking a paediatric massage in St. Albert, be sure to book with a qualified therapist trained in treating and massaging children.
Booking a paediatric massage in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Elizabeth, Sonia, Samantha, Jennifer O’Neill, Dannielle or Emma
Fascial Stretch Therapy
Fascial stretch therapy is another complementary form of therapy that many massage clients seek out for its wide-reaching benefits. It’s performed on the massage table, in loose, comfortable clothing. The therapist will assist you with deep stretching designed to loosen the joints. This kind of treatment is perfect for people with chronic pain, joint pain, posture issues, limitations in range of motion, or anyone who plays sports. It can also help with specific conditions like plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff injuries, and pinched nerves.
Booking a fascial stretch therapy session in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Leah.
Manual Osteopathy & MO Massage
Although manual osteopathy isn’t technically a form of massage in and of itself, it’s a complementary treatment that works on many systems of the body. It’s becoming more popular as a specific treatment, but many clients like to add manual osteopathy into their regular massage treatment.
MO is a subtle, hands-on technique that works to help your body restore balance and healing. Check out our previous blog post all about the different techniques within manual osteopathy and its benefits for whole-body health.
Booking manual osteopathy in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Nicole, Sonia or Leah.
Vocal Massage
Vocal massage is a specific type of massage that works with the muscles in the face, jaw, neck, throat, chest, abdomen, and tongue. It’s ideal for anyone who speaks publicly (like radio announcers or actors) or routinely as part of a job (like presenters or teachers). However, the applications extend past people who need to use their voices often, also including people getting over colds, and those with conditions like Parkinsons, asthma, and allergies.
Booking a vocal massage in St. Albert with the Urban Massage & Wellness team? Ask for Jennifer Moore.
Finding the Right Type of Massage for You
Finding the right massage is a little like finding the right scent of essential oil; it’s a personal decision and it might even take a little experimentation or advice from a professional.
The therapists at Urban Massage and Wellness are trained in everything from relaxation massages to sports massages to specialized complementary therapies. We encourage our therapists to work together to create a full treatment plan that works for you, so don’t be afraid to ask your therapist for other treatment types, even if it’s not in their specific range of experience.
Use our easy online booking tool to schedule your next St. Albert massage, or get in touch with us directly to ask us for recommendations for your first treatment with us.
