Adelaide Massage – Massage Types

Welcome to Adelaide Beauty, here we have provided an overview of the different types of Adelaide massage that is available. There are many Adelaide massage therapy clinics throughout Adelaide and the surrounding areas. Whether you have regular massage therapy treatments or are thinking of trying massage for the first time, make sure you check out your local Adelaide massage therapist. Massage is a relaxing and enjoyable treatment which has a variety of positive physical, mental and emotional benefits.   

Those who perform massage include massage therapists, physical therapists, and sports therapists. 

Acupressure:  physical pressure is applied to a number of different acupuncture points using the hand or elbow.  It is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which is derived from acupuncture  

Anma:  involves deep tissue massage and uses kneading of the muscles, it is a form of traditional Chinese massage  

Ayurvedic massage:  also known as Abhyanga, originated in India, and it incorporates massage with yoga, meditation and herbal remedies.  It is usually performed by either one or two therapists and uses a mixture of heated herbal oils  

Balinese massage:  encourages calm and relaxation.  It is growing in popularity with Adelaide massage clinics.  It is a gentle form of massage, which involve a selection of kneading, stroking and rolling of the skin, and aromatherapy oils are also used.  Sometimes Balinese hot stones are also used  

Barefoot Deep Tissue massage:  is a blend of Eastern techniques and Western medicine.  This form of massage uses deep tissue myofacial release, trigger point therapy, compression, tension, stretching, and transverse friction techniques.  The parts of the feet that are used to perform the massage are usually the heel and plantar surface of the foot 

Breema massage:  is performed with the client lying on the floor, they are fully clothed.  It consists of gentle stretching of the soft tissue and muscles with rhythmical leaning movements  

Champissage:  focuses on the head, neck and face  

Deep Tissue massage:  focuses on the deep muscle layers, commonly used on athletes and clients who have experienced physical injury.  This is a common form of Adelaide massage  

Hilot:  is a method from the Philippines, it incorporates manipulation of joints in order to aid massage and relieve tense muscle groups  

Lomi Lomi:  is a traditional therapy from Hawaii, it incorporates holistic healing methods such as diet and meditation  

Myofascial release:  involves stretching and manipulating the fascial layers of the body, focuses on eliminating pain and increasing the range of motion of a particular joint or muscle group, uses skin rolling and applying shear compression or tension  

Reflexology massage:  uses trigger points in the hands and feet that are believed to relate to and affect each part of the body  

Shiatsu:  is an Eastern health therapy which uses pressure on, what is similar to, acupressure points.  Pressure is applied using the thumbs, fingers, and palms.  It uses techniques including rolling, brushing, vibrating and grasping  

Stone massage:  uses cold or warmed stones to apply pressure to the body, sometimes stones will be coated in oil.  Stone massage is growing in popularity among Adelaide massage therapy clinics and health spas  

Swedish massage:  uses some basic styles of strokes, effleurage (sliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (tapping), and friction.  is used to reduce pain, joint stiffness, and blood circulation  

Thai massage:  originated in India and is based on ayurveda and yoga, and combines practices of stretching and acupressure  

Traditional Chinese massage:  two types of massage exist, the most common Tui Na uses pushing, kneading and stretching of the muscles, the other, Zhi Ya focuses on pinching and pressing of acupuncture points  

Trigger Point Therapy:  is often used in treating headaches and other pains in local areas.  It involves deactivating trigger points that cause the pain 

Watsu:  combines the use of shiatsu with hydrotherapy, massage is performed in a tepid pool around 4ft deep and the therapist is in the water with the client