What Are the Different Types of Massage?

Massage therapy is incredibly beneficial for your emotional and physical wellbeing. There are plenty of different choices of massage.

The Tantric Massage

Tantric massage¹ isn’t your typical form of massage. It is a special type of massage to encourage a deeper spiritual connection between the giver and receiver. Often used to form more intimate connections in relationships, it can also be given professionally.

This type of massage uses energy and chakras (energy centres in the body) to relax the person into the state of feeling physical boundaries have dissolved.

You can access tantric massage in London, whereby it is offered in a massage studio space or spa. Tantric massages involve a full body massage, stimulating the full body, including genitalia, while also doing breathwork, meditation and other spiritual practices² or energy work as some describe it.

You can also learn to do tantric massages at home, to connect deeply with your partner. You can incorporate it into your sexuality to introduce slower, more intention and intimate forms of connection.

Swedish Full Body Massage

The Swedish full body massage is another popular option. It’s ideal for people who have a lot of tension in their bodies and are sensitive to touch. It’s also a great option if you’re new to massage.

Swedish massage is popular and most well-known for its ability to release muscle knots. It’s also a great choice for when you want to fully relax during a massage treatment. The Swedish massage requires you to remove all clothes, apart from your underwear. Usually you will be covered with a towel and the massage therapist will only uncover the areas of your body they are working on.

Aromatherapy Massage

Another popular massage available is the aromatherapy massage³. Aromatherapy combines emotional healing with massage. It can help boos your mood, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce symptoms of depression, and relieve muscle tension and pain.

Aromatherapy massages use soft and gentle pressure and combine this with essential oils. Depending on the reason for your visit, your massage therapist will recommend an essential oil. However, you can also let them know your preference if you have one. Aromatherapy massages often focus on your neck, back and head, lasting between 60-90 minutes.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is specific to tension and knots resulting from over-exertion in exercise; often, over-exercising leads to repetitive strain injuries to a muscle group. Sports massage usually applies focused and localized pressure to the area needing relief. However, a full-body approach can be used too.

This massage can also help prevent sports injuries and increase flexibility and performance. It’s a popular choice among professional athletes. Depending on your needs, a sports massage applies deep pressure and soothing strokes. You can have it while being clothed or naked. Either way, the massage therapist needs easy access to your muscles, so loose clothing is advised if you want to be fully clothed.

1. Plancke, Carine. “Bodily intimacy and ritual healing in women’s tantric retreats.” Anthropology & Medicine 27.3 (2020): 285-299. ↩︎
2. Wuthnow, Robert. “Spirituality and spiritual practice.” The Blackwell companion to sociology of religion (2001): 306-320. ↩︎
3. Cooke, Brian, and Edzard Ernst. “Aromatherapy: a systematic review.” British journal of general practice 50.455 (2000): 493-496. ↩︎

Last Updated on August 17, 2024 by Sathi