What type of massage is best for me?

This is one loaded question. There are so many different varieties of massage and bodywork to choose from. They all have a place, and they all serve a purpose. The type of massage that is best for you will depend on your preferences and goals. Let’s break it down into a couple categories: relaxation, rehabilitation, recovery

Oooh, that relaxing massage. The one that feels hug, homemade soup on a cold day, the most nourishing thing you can think of that makes you feel deeply cared for. Most people would suggest Swedish massage for relaxation, and that is a solid choice. Swedish massage is a very broad category for massage that is a general full body massage. There are sub categories of this like Esalen, hot stone massage, lomilomi, among others. All of these use long strokes with a gentle to firm pressure to promote relaxation. If massage is not your thing and you still want that deep relaxation, I highly suggest craniosacral therapy, reflexology, zero balancing-there are a ton of benefits to work that is clothed and specific to one area for both relaxation and pain relief.

The most common answer here is deep tissue massage. Deep tissue is also a broad category of many types of massage like shiatsu, neuromuscular therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, cupping, gua sha/scraping. The list goes on and on. When it comes to rehabilitation keep these things in mind

1. Pain does not equal effectiveness. You do not need to be put into pain to get out of pain. JUST STOP IT ALREADY!!
2. The area where you feel the pain may not be the area that actually needs the work. Sometimes the area where we feel the pain is just that. Pain is a signal that something needs to change, Often times that change is elsewhere. Our muscles are all interconnected and work interdependently with each other.
3. Releasing a spasming are is not always the best medicine. Our bodies are SUPER SMART (even when we are annoyed with them.) They set up protective patterns to keep us from really injuring ourselves. Removing those protective patterns without respect for what they are doing can result in more pain. Massage and bodywork can help tone down those signals and get the body to trust and feel protected without its armor while respecting its overarching job of always keeping us safe.
4. Sometimes its your organs. Our muscles are designed to keep us moving AND to protect our organs. Organs are more important than movement! Muscles that are protecting an organ (for any reason) can cause pain and discomfort.
5. Relaxation techniques can be just as effective as spot specific techniques. If you are feeling stressed to the max and having specific pain then utilizing full body relaxation techniques may be a better choice for you. A mix of both would be the Best!

Recovery can mean a slew of different things. In this context we will talk sports recovery. Sports massage can be both pre and post event work. Other techniques that are great for sports work are fascial stretch technique, stretch therapy, tai yoga massage, shiatsu, functional neurology, manual therapy.

Pre-event work can be weeks, days, and day of work. All serve a different purpose. Any work done within a week of the event should not focus on deep releases or of the muscles or significant change to the structure. This can create an instability in the function too close to an event for the body to adapt. Bodywork done within a week following an event should be general recovery to allow the body to adjust to the work it just performed. Post-event work or work months before an event can have deeper changes which allows ample time for adaptation.

Any bodyworker should be willing to have a conversation with you regarding your needs and the approach they would take. They should always listen and respect when you say something hurts. They should make you feel comfortable, seen, and heard. Your body is the smartest one in the room and it will guide what you need. The biggest hurdle can often be that we haven’t been taught to listen yet.