21 Types Of Massage

There are many different types of massage, which has many benefits, as this article shows.

Deciding which type is right for you may require some trial and error, but in my experience, they’re all great.

Note that, for the sake of variety, I will use the words masseur, masseuse, and therapist interchangeably.

I’ll start with probably the most popular and well-known style…

Swedish Massage

This is the default massage technique that you’ll find in places such as gyms and spas, and it’s a full-body massage using either lotions or oils, and it comprises five core strokes:

1. Effleurage, which are long smooth strokes.
2. Friction, which involves small circular movements, or wringing.
3. Petrissage, which is a kneading, rolling, and lifting motion.
4. Tapotement, which is a percussive stroke (e.g. tapping).
5. Vibration, which consists of rocking and shaking movements.

It’s relaxing, and beneficial if you’re recovering from a sporting injury, for example.

Aromatherapy Massage

This is similar to a Swedish massage (see above), but with the addition of aromatherapy oils to the lotion or oil normally used.

Aromatherapy is a massive subject in its own right, and its practice dates back centuries, but fundamentally, it uses what are known as essential oils, which are extracted from various plants (e.g. flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees).

These oils are usually mixed with a neutral carrier oil (e.g. grapeseed) because rubbing pure essential oils into your skin can cause nasty reactions. Similar, ingesting these oils in any form should be done only under the supervision of a professional, because this can be very dangerous.

However, in the case of massage, you don’t need to worry because as I said, the aromatherapy oil will be mixed in with the regular massage oil.

There are oils to help with all manner of ailments (back pain, headaches, insomnia, some digestive disorders, and even premenstrual symptoms), with one of the most well-known being lavender, which has tremendous calming properties.

While your masseur may use specific oils to accomplish certain goals, they may also use pre-mixed blends that can help you relax or lift you up, for example.

If you’re going to request an aromatherapy massage, you should make sure you tell your therapist about any allergies you have, just to be on the safe side.

Ayurvedic Massage

This is similar in some ways to a Shiatsu or Thai massage, except that it is a practice from India, not Thailand or Japan.

It too, therefore, uses acupressure points and is great to help detoxify your body and heal pain.

Belavi

This is a facial massage (which may also involve your limbs and upper body) that is designed to help rejuvenate your skin.

Exfoliation and masks may also be used during Belavi treatment.

Bowen Technique

I had a two-session Bowen technique massage when I had severe pains in my neck, and it’s unusual because rather than the masseuse being with you the entire time, they will gently push and press and roll certain specific parts of your body, and then leave you alone for a few minutes. They then return, move on to the next part of your body, and repeat the process.

This is one of the massage techniques where you can remain fully clothed (although I was asked to remove the belt from my trousers).

Chair Massage

This is a type of massage that focuses primarily on the neck and shoulders and can, as the name suggests, be given while sitting in a chair.

Couple’s Massage

Not strictly a style of massage, this is where you and your partner (or friend) both have a massage, side by side, at the same time.

You can each choose to have a different type of massage (although Swedish and Hot Stone massages are the most popular), if you want, and you will each have your own therapist.

You’ll often find this as part of a package deal at spas, and it’s a great way for the two of you to relax together.

Craniosacral Massage Therapy

This style uses a light touch on the head to help realign your neck and spine, which means it shares similarities with chiropractic treatment.

Deep Tissue Massage

This is a more targeted type of massage for specific injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow, or problems caused by poor posture, so it’s not like a Swedish massage (see above).

Its goal is to address problems that lay deep beneath your skin (e.g. in your muscles or connective tissue), and to help ease what are known as adhesions (i.e. muscle “knots”).

The strokes used will be slow and deliberate, with more pressure than in a regular massage, and they will go against the grain of the muscle.

However, just because the pressure will be more intense does not mean it should be painful. Pain is not required for deep tissue massage to be effective, so if you are experiencing pain, you should tell your therapist immediately.

Esalen Massage

This has been described as what the physical equivalent of going to a psychologist would feel like.

It’s more like a spiritual massage, and it may include elements of several other techniques, such as applied kinesiology, craniosacral therapy, Gestalt awareness, sensory awareness training, Swedish massage, tai chi, and yoga.

Hot Stone Massage

The name sort of gives this one away, but the difference with this technique is its use of warm stones. (Yes, they are more warm than hot, because you don’t want to get burned.)

These stones can be used in two ways – either by laying them on specific parts of your body (usually on your back along your spine), or by the therapist holding them in their hands as they massage you.

The warmth will loosen tense, “knotted” muscles, and help you to relax, but it can also be used to ease pain, improve blood circulation, and relieve stress.

Lomi Lomi

This is a Hawaiian version of an acupressure-style massage, to help restore your body’s energy flow.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

This is a very specific technique that is designed to help improve the flow of your lymph fluids.

Prenatal Massage

Also known as a pregnancy massage, it is, as the name suggests, designed for women who are pregnant and who are often suffering from lower back pain, swollen ankles, and overall tension.

Because this is a specialized type of massage (e.g. special massage tables are used, they need to know which parts of the body to avoid), you need to go to somebody who has been trained in this particular style of massage.

Raindrop Technique Massage

This Native American massage style is a form of Aromatherapy massage (see above) that is designed to help realign your spine and release any toxins.

Reflexology

Again, this is relatively well known, and it’s essentially a foot massage – like a foot rub, but on steroids – which is great for those who are on their feet all day.

The therapist uses their fingers to massage, rub, and knead specific parts of your feet that align to the energy meridians used in acupuncture and acupressure.

And since this is a massage for your feet, you only need to remove your shoes and socks.

Rolfing

This is a form of Deep Tissue massage (see above) that is almost like muscular chiropractic therapy, which is designed to help realign your muscles.

Shiatsu Massage

This style of massage originates from Japan, and the masseuse will use their elbows, fingers, or hands to apply localized pressure in a rhythmic sequence to various acupressure points. Each step in the sequence is typically held for anywhere from two to eight seconds.

Acupressure (and acupuncture) is designed to stimulate energy flow through the body’s meridians, and restore balance.

Shiatsu is performed either on a mat on the floor, or on a lower than usual massage table, and its purpose is to prevent and/or reduce stress. It can also help with pain in the back and neck, as well as relieving insomnia.

It’s also good for those who do not like the idea of being completely or almost naked, because in Shiatsu, the only requirement is that you wear loose clothing.

Sports Massage

This type of massage can be used both to help improve performance and to recover from injuries (or just the wear and tear of all that physical activity).

It is similar to Swedish massage, but the strokes are often faster, and it will be targeted to the specific parts of the body that are used in whatever sport the person plays.

In addition to the regular strokes, the therapist may also use compression, friction, joint mobilization, and pressure point therapy.

Thai Massage

This is one of the types of massage that I’ve experienced, and it has been described as doing yoga but without having to do yoga – because the masseuse moves and stretches your body for you, while you lay on the floor. (It also involved rhythmic compressions.)

In some ways, a Thai massage is similar to Shiatsu in that it is also used to align the energy flow within your body, which is why it can feel energizing.

Although I was wearing only swimming trunks when I had my Thai massages, because I was on the beach at a hotel in Thailand at the time, it is also often done fully clothed.

This type of massage can reduce back pain and muscle spasticity, and has been shown to be useful in treating balance problems and migraine symptoms.

Trigger Point Massage

A trigger point is a knot in a muscle that can cause pain and other problems locally, or in another part of your body completely.

It has similarities to several other types of massage (e.g. Deep Tissue, Sports, and Swedish), and while it may include an all-over body massage, special attention will be paid to any trigger points.

Also, you can remain fully clothed for this type of massage, which is generally not the case with, say, Swedish massages.

Other Massage Types

There are other styles of massage that combine two or more of the above in their own unique way, including:

• Amma Therapy
• Balinese Massage
• Body Electric Massage
• Russian Massage

There is one more type I have personal experience of, but I’m not sure what it was called.

I had one of these when staying in Marrakech, on vacation, and it was like a regular massage, but they also used what I can only describe as a small round, black loofah, so I suppose it was a type of exfoliating massage.

It was sort of uncomfortable, although not painful, but I did feel super clean and relaxed afterwards.

Conclusion

For those who have never had a massage before, then unless you have specific issues that need to be addressed, a Swedish massage is probably the place to start.

It’s been a long time since I had a massage, and I would book one on a regular basis if there were any within striking distance of where I live, but, sadly, the nearest one is several hours’ drive away.

But if you’ve never had one before, I heartily recommend it, even if you have no real medical need other than to relax and feel pampered.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Acupressure Book
2. Aromatherapy Book
3. Bowen Technique Practitioners (US only)
4. Find A Massage Therapist (US only)
5. Massage For Couples
6. Online Massage Courses