What is the Difference between a Spa Massage and a Therapeutic Massage?

Massage therapy is generally seen as a way to relax the body and mind, and considered a relaxing treat. However, massage therapy is much more than that. Massage therapy is actually a therapy that is finding increasing clinical use in treating certain chronic diseases and injuries. You will be surprised to know that massage therapy is even prescribed for palliative care for relief from cancer treatment symptoms!

A spa massage is a personal consumer service that is delivered to a client who wishes to indulge in a wellness regime. Therapeutic massage is medical care delivered to a patient, prescribed by a medical practitioner, in order to relieve the patient of certain symptoms or injuries. In a spa massage, the massage therapist uses a straightforward massage technique, and applies light to medium pressure to various parts of the client’s body, with the ultimate intent to help the client relax and re-energize. A spa massage can be a part of the overall services offered by a typical beauty salon. The technique is rather intuitive, without a thorough scientific basis, with the ultimate focus on client satisfaction. The main types of spa massages include the Swedish massage, circulatory massage, hot stone massage, and craniosacral massage.

Therapeutic massages are set up quite differently from a spa massage. These massages are done in hospitals, clinics, and private practice offices. Therapeutic massage uses advanced techniques based on scientific studies that are aimed at providing medical relief to a patient. Therapeutic massages are found to be useful for a number of chronic symptoms and injuries such as fibromyalgia, chronic body pains such as chronic back pain, palliative care massage, pediatric massage, massages to heal sports injuries, arthritis, certain accidents, and posture and weight issues. Therapeutic massages are usually given in multiple sittings, and can continue for months. The focus is on functional outcomes, rather than merely patient satisfaction. The main techniques for therapeutic massage include myofascial treatment, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular trigger point technique, muscle energy technique.

While choosing a massage therapist for your requirement (whether a wellness massage or a therapeutic massage), please keep these differences in mind. Expecting a therapeutic massage from a spa massage therapist might not provide you the expected results. The training a spa massage therapist receives is geared towards providing relaxation to the client, and she might not have sufficient understanding about advanced massage techniques used for therapeutic massages. Likewise, if you go to a therapeutic massage therapist for a mild pain, and expect to be given the kind of treatment you would receive at a spa, you might be wasting your time.

I hope this article helps you in making the right choice so that you can get the most out of your massage – be it spa or therapeutic.

A Career as Massage Therapist: Pros and Cons

The size of the massage industry in the US is much larger than you might think. With an increase in the popularity of alternative medicine, there has been an ever increasing demand for massage therapy, and as a result, massage therapists. A certified massage therapist can find a good job in various sectors such as spas, hospitals, hotels and physiotherapy centres. What’s more, a massage therapist can even work as an independent professional and operate from home. Sounds interesting? Please go through this article and make an informed decision.

1. Becoming a certified massage therapist

You might have come across various programs that offer courses in massage therapy. What is important to consider here is whether the institute is nationally accredited. National accreditation means that the program (and the institute) has been evaluated by a competent authority to ensure that it offers high quality learning opportunities. Some questions you could ask before enrolling for a program are: Will I qualify to practice massage following my graduation? What are the steps to get licensed? Do I qualify to take the national certification exam after graduation? What is your placements statistics?

2. After graduation

After completing your course you need to make a choice – would you work for a third party (a spa, a cruise, a hotel, a hospital) or start your own practise.

Pros: if you really enjoy this work, you will never tire of working. It can be really encouraging when a client is visibly satisfied by your service and tells you how much s/he loves the style of your massaging. The hours of work are more often than not flexible. The pay is much better than the average, and can potentially increase beyond limits depending on your own skills, experience and location. And if you are working on your own, there is practically no investment and 100% profit!

Cons: After a few years of practise, you might start finding the work monotonous, and just not feel like doing it anymore. Apart from this “burn-out”, you might develop certain physical discomfort that might prevent you from practising – the Carpel Tunnel syndrome or a backache problem due to continuous bending for long periods of time. After all, there is a lot of physical effort that goes into practising massage therapy. The work might not be steady at all times, and you may take a hit during bad economic times – luxuries cannot prevail when the wallet is not as full.

3. Misconceptions about a massage therapist

At times, massage therapists may be mistaken for people who perform for pleasure only. This can be a sensitive issue for some. However, with an increase in state training and degree programs, and licensing requirements, massage therapists are now receiving more “official” recognition and enjoy more credibility with doctors. Physicians today are regularly recommending massage therapy for their patients, and recognizing the healing benefits of massage therapy.

In the end, it’s all about your personal preferences and priorities in life. If you feel comfortable with the profession as a massage therapist, do go ahead with it, and see your dreams fulfilled! You are most likely to start a career that will make you happy and satisfied for the rest of your life.

My recent experience with Massage Therapy

I went to a spa resort last weekend where I got a whole body massage. The experience was so exciting that I thought I’d share it with you in order to make you aware of the great effects and to motivate you to go for one yourself.

Working through the week, and resting through the weekend – this becomes the routine after a while, and things start getting monotonous. I’m sure this resonates with most of you. At a certain point of time, you desperately need a break! So, I took that much-needed break, and we went on a weekend getaway to a place about 100 miles from our home. This is a resort spa, and it has beautifully landscaped gardens with fountains, birds chirping, and geese flocking all over the place. Trust me, the place itself was truly invigorating.

I went for a whole-body massage there. This was a 90-minute session. The massage therapist first introduced herself, then went on to explain the massage she would be performing. She explained to me that I would be given a Swedish massage. Swedish massage is a relaxing type of massage, and does not involve lots of pressure. Those are therapeutic massages, and are performed by trained, licensed massage therapists. The therapist told me that she would be using a mix of medicated oils for lubrication during the massage.

The massage started with a head massage. I really liked the way the therapist did this. She first started with some gentle strokes, and then went on to slightly firmer movements. She told me that these movements warm up the scalp, releasing tension and promoting relaxation. Following the head massage, she went for the neck and shoulders, which she did well at. Following these initial massages, I was advised to lie down on a massage table face down. The therapist then started with the back and used a variety of massage strokes – kneading, stretching, tapping, and pressing. What came as a surprise to me was her use of a hot pouch-like thing that she kept placing over my back, while applying slight pressure. This one felt awesome. Following the back massage, the therapist went on to massage my legs and then my arms. This was extremely relaxing and I loved how perfectly she used her skill – the pressure she applied was just right!

It was actually after the massage session that I came to fully realize its true effects. That night, I slept like a baby! I could feel my entire body relax and feel refreshed the next day! There are great benefits attached to massage therapy. I definitely recommend for you to indulge in massages and pamper yourselves at least once a month or very other month. It’s just awesome!

How Can Massage Therapy Help Me?

Massage therapy is a general term for the various techniques used to manipulate the superficial and deeper layers of muscle and tissues by systematically applying pressure to various parts of the body. The purpose of massage therapy is to prevent or relieve pain. Massage therapy benefits people of all ages.

There can be different ways to administer massage therapy, some are listed here:

Swedish massage: This is a type of massage which starts from light pressure to medium pressure. It is a gentle form of massage. It helps to promote blood circulation and lymph movement. This type of massage is good for stress related conditions and also for chronic pain.

Deep tissue massage: This massage technique starts with a slower movement, but with more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. Deep tissue massage is found to be very helpful in healing muscle injuries. It releases muscle tension and provides deep pain relief.

Sports massage: This type of massage is similar to Swedish massage. But it is mainly concerned with people who are involved in sports activities. This massage also helps to prevent or treat injuries occurred to sportsmen. It promotes flexibility and also decreases the risk of injuries. This massage improves endurance and reduces post-workout recovery time.

Trigger point therapy: This technique focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers and relieves the tight areas within muscle tissues.

Foot scrub therapy: This type of massage therapy mainly concentrates on the foot. It makes the feet smoother, hydrates and protects the feet. This type of massage also relieves foot pain and reduces any discomfort of the foot.

Therapists usually evaluate new patients by touching various strategic points to locate painful or tense areas and determine how much pressure to apply. The patient lies on the table either in loose fitting clothes or undressed (covered with a sheet, except for the area being massaged). Oil or lotion is used to reduce friction on the skin.

Some important benefits of massage therapy are as follows:

· Boosts immunity.
· Eases medication dependence.
· Relieves migraine pain.
· Improves blood circulation.
· Promotes tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissues and stretch marks.
· Reduces fatigue.
· Helps reducing pain and anxiety.
· Helps curing digestive disorders, headaches and sports injuries.
· Revitalizes the skin.
· Helps to relax and soften injured, tired and overused muscles.
· Improves concentration.
· Enhances sleep.
· Relieves back and neck pain.
· Promotes deeper breathing.
· Enhances skin tone and skin health.
· Increases and prompts joint flexibility.
· Creates a calm mind.
· Increases peace of mind.

Massage therapy is not only useful for our body, but also useful for our health and skin, and provides a holistic approach to well-being. When is your next massage appointment?

Which Type of Massage is Best for You?

Massage therapy can have a variety of benefits and is gaining popularity among various age groups. Below you will find a list of different types of massage options for you to choose from.

1. Swedish Massage Therapy:
This one is the most common of all types. Swedish massage therapy using long, smooth strokes, pressing and circular movements. This type is a superficial massage, and does not penetrate deeper into tissues. Swedish massage is the best for beginners, and for those who want to just relax their body and de-stress.

2. Deep Tissue Massage:
This type, as the name suggests, targets deeper layers of the skin and muscles. This therapy can be quite vigorous, and often makes people feel sore for a couple of days following the massage. This type of massaging is targeted against painful muscles, injuries, and postural problems.

3. Reflexology:
This type is concentrated on the feet, but is beneficial for the whole body! There are certain known pressure points in our feet that correspond to various systems and organs in the body. Targeting these points can benefit the respective organs and systems. Reflexology can also be very soothing for the feet.

4. Sports Massage:
Sports massage is more appropriate for people involved in physical activities. This type is targeted at preventing or treating injury and pain arising from work-outs and sports. This therapy also helps increasing the flexibility of the muscles.

5. Back Massage:
A back massage can be extremely helpful for people with chronic back pain, or certain back injuries. Regular sittings may be required for long-term relief.

6. Head Massage:
As the name suggests, this is concentrated on the head, more particularly, the scalp. Essential oils are generally used for these massages, and can be an excellent solution to relieve your day-to-day stress. This massage also provides moisture to the scalp which helps to improve blood circulation which is beneficial for the scalp and the hair.

7. Pregnancy Massage:
Pregnancy massage, also called prenatal massage, is gaining popularity among expectant mothers. Certified massage therapists use certain techniques that help reduce stress, decrease swelling, and relieve pains and aches. The massage therapist will first discuss the needs of the woman who is expecting, and will then customize the massage for her particular demands.

8. Aromatherapy Massage:
This type uses the benefits of essential oils to de-stress, relax, and energize.

9. Ayurvedic Massage:
Ayurvedic massage therapy has been practised since ancient times. Because the ayurvedic massage has been around for so long, the massage technique has been optimized over the years. The special techniques used in this therapy, and the ayurvedic oils used provide benefits such as relaxation and detoxification. If adopted as a routine, this therapy can help rejuvenate the body, and provide relief in a variety of diseases. 

10. Hot Stone Massage:
Heated smooth stones are placed at certain points of the body to warm and loosen certain muscle groups and to balance energy centers in the body. The therapist also applies slight pressure over the stones, which can be extremely relaxing.

Many therapies to choose from. Hope you found out what is right for you.