A hands-on approach to massage

Beauty clinics, health clubs and sports centres routinely offer massage therapy and private practitioners can come to your home or workplace for on-site neck and shoulder massage.

Common types of massage

• Classical Swedish massage: kneading and stroking the body's soft tissue with varying degrees of pressure. practitioners use oil on bare skin.
• Aromatherapy massage. massage, usually Swedish, using aromatic essential plant oils.
• Shiatsu: a combination of massage and pressure on the acupoints, key spots on the meridians (energy channels) that run through the body, according to Chinese and Japanese traditional medicine. Without oil through clothing
• Acupressure: pressure applied to the acupoints, as in shiatsu.
• Tuina: a Chinese therapeutic massage similar to shiatsu, but more vigorous.
• Reflexology: pressing and massaging the soles and toes to 'unblock energy' and restore 'balance' to the body. Uses talcum powder on bare feet.
• Deep tissue massage: slow, intense strokes and deep finger pressure or friction. Oil on bare skin.
• Sports massage: a combination of Swedish and deep tissue movements to improve performance, relieve muscle tension or treat sports-related injuries.
• Manual lymph drainage (MLD): light, rhythmic strokes of body areas with lymphatic ducts to expel toxins and drain excess fluid. Without oil on bare skin.
• Hellerwork and Rolfing: extremely deep tissue massage to re-align the body, combined with instruction on movement and breathing. No oil, light clothing.