The massages of now

Hot stone massage
Massage without hands. A hot stone massage is a massage with stones of about 45 degrees Celsius. Only basalt stones are used for the massage. Basalt is a hard and ferruginous volcanic rock with a high density. This allows the stones to retain heat well. They are dipped in a warm water bath and laid out on the focus areas of the body – usually the back. This gives a pleasant warmth and relaxation. The stones give a certain pressure, which you can compare with a stretching exercise. You will notice this best when you remove the stone.

After the heat treatment, your body is rubbed with oil and massaged. Special effects differ per masseur. He can, for example, spin the stone or drum on it. The combination of heat and movement allows the masseur to penetrate deeper into the muscle tissue, which is extra effective. A hot stone massage contributes to the self-recovery of the body, removes waste products, stimulates the organs and brings the body more into balance. It is mainly intended for relaxation.

foot massage
Sometimes it is wonderful to give tired feet a massage. Especially after a day of shopping, this is a blessing for the feet. But even before the big shopping centers were invented, techniques were already known to pamper the feet. But that was certainly not just for relaxation. Even before our era, a massage technique for the foot was popular in Egypt, China, India and Japan. By massaging certain points on the foot, they could influence certain organs, glands and other parts of the body. Yet it was not until 1930 by Eunice Ingham that a connection was established between pressure on the sole of the foot and the healing process in other parts of the body.
chair massage
Stress, wrong attitude and not making time for yourself. Those are the reasons that cause that knot in your neck, or that painful feeling in your back. Usually you get the complaints because of your work. The chair massage is intended to do something about it precisely there – ie at work. You can achieve a lot in a short time and prevent complaints such as RSI or stress. Sickness absence also appears to decrease significantly with regular chair massage. Even more good news: the employer can fully declare the costs of chair massage as business expenses with the tax authorities.

The masseur has a special chair with him. You can just keep your clothes on. The masseur applies pressure to a number of ‘acupressure points’ with his hands, palms and elbows. In this way he or she influences the energy flow through our body. The pressure point massage is performed on the head, neck, back, shoulders, arms and hands. This removes any blockages and strengthens weak spots.

relaxation massage
A relaxation massage consists of a combination of factors that allow you to completely relax. There is calm music in the background and the masseur uses a warm and scented massage oil. The skin and muscles relax through the alternation of gentle and firm kneading, ironing and a kind of friction. This stimulates blood flow, removes waste products and improves muscle function and metabolism of the muscles. A relaxation massage focuses on your body. Thoughts disappear. This allows the body to become aware of how it feels.

Pressure point massage
Pressure point massage is an ancient treatment from China, also known as acupressure. With this form of massage you assume that the body has various reflex zones and energy points. By stimulating special pressure points on the skin, you stimulate the process of self-healing. Ailments such as head and back pain, insomnia and hot flashes are addressed.

The pressure points lie on invisible energy channels in the body. These invisible lines are called ‘meridians’. On these meridians you can point out points that represent a human emotion or a specific organ. By pressing these points, you can bring about a change in these emotions and organs. By massaging the meridians, you become relaxed and get rid of emotions and tensions.

The masseur can use different techniques to restore the energy flow in the body:

• Apply pressure to the pressure points.
• Stretching the energy channels.
• Kneading or tapping the various energy zones on the body.

It is a very accessible form of massage. Anyone can get started with it – with the help of books or information on the internet. For example, pressure point massage is explained in the book “Pressure Point Massage” by Michael Reed Gach, founder and director of the Acupressure Institute of America.

Did you know that:

• Some people claim that acupressure comes from Japan? There it is called Shiatsu. This literally means: ‘press with the fingers’. Japan has adopted and further developed the technology from China.
• A Chinese doctor used to not get paid for curing his patients? He was supposed to keep them healthy. If someone became ill despite his good care, the doctor treated him for free. There were five types of treatments: acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, moxa and anma (massage), which ultimately resulted in the pressure point massage.

Sports massage
Sports massage is a way to help recovery after exercise. A sports masseur only becomes a person after a thorough training. The standard massage of a sports masseur is nurturing – calm and not too firm – or stimulating – firm and good for blood circulation. Not only athletes benefit from a sports massage. It is also intended for people who suffer from stress, headaches, or who are very active in their spare time. A sports massage offers a solution if you cycle, swim or walk a lot. But also, for example, if you have a weak back or if your shoulder is stuck.

Too much effort – during sports, but also when working, doing odd jobs or even doing housework – can cause muscle pain and injuries. The muscles, tendons and joints suffer too much and get too little opportunity to recover. Ultimately, the complaints can lead to overload. Well-known examples of this are tennis elbow and RSI. This manifests itself in fatigue, stiffness and pain. The sports masseur can play a role in the prevention of injuries with a recovery-promoting massage.

Did you know that:

• There are more and more sports masseurs with a portable massage table? This also allows them to come to your home, so that you no longer have to go to the practice.
• Even sports massage is given to jumping and racing horses?

Deep tissue massage
This is a powerful massage to bring the body back into balance. By means of slow, deep massage techniques with a lot of attention to the muscles, the ‘energy flow’ is improved. This way all the stress and tension flows away. The deep-tissue massage is especially suitable for people who have accumulated tension in body and mind for a long time.

Because the method places a lot of attention on certain areas, your body can sometimes hurt during and after the massage. If you have had a good quality massage, you will feel a lot better after two days. It is very beneficial for your health to undergo this massage. When your muscles are cramped, the circulation of oxygen and blood is locally blocked. Deep tissue massage helps release that blockage.

Did you know that:
Do you have to drink a lot of water after a deep-issue massage? Accumulated waste may be released. Water helps to get rid of waste products.

Connective tissue massage
This is a therapeutic massage, especially intended to restore the skin. Often the face is massaged, but it can also help against cellulite and stretch marks. Firm massage grips in the connective tissue activate the blood circulation and stimulate the production and quality of collagen and elastin.
The classic connective tissue massage was developed by physiotherapists. The massage is performed by skin specialists and skin therapists who have had lessons in connective tissue massage. This massage can help against skin aging, wrinkles, sagging skin, smoker’s skin, poor blood circulation, acne, scars and couperose. A connective tissue massage is even suitable for thin, sensitive and blotchy skin.

Your skin will be cleansed before the massage. After the massage, the skin feels pink and warm. This is because the blood flow is stimulated. The massage is usually given in a course. The first treatments are not exactly relaxing and it can even hurt. But the more times you’ve been, the looser and smoother the weave becomes.

DIY equipment
From foot massage bath to heat belt for the back: there are countless massage devices. It is advisable to check the functions of these devices before purchasing. And what the manufacturers guarantee: not everything has quality. Read the description carefully. Some ‘massage devices’ appear to have a completely different function than massaging the back…

A device helps to massage yourself or your partner. Read the instruction manual before using the device. Most devices work with vibrations. Some devices also give off heat via infrared light. This enhances the effect of the massage. Don’t keep massaging the same body spot for too long, but switch places regularly. To prevent complaints, it is good to pay attention to a number of things:

• Do not massage for more than fifteen minutes.
• The massage with a device should give a pleasant feeling. If it hurts or if the massage is uncomfortable, consult a doctor.

Massagers are available in various stores. The Kijkshop, Blokker, the Mediamarkt and Wehkamp, ​​for example, sell them. Achmeahealthshop.nl is a reliable source of information on the internet. This site provides extensive product information, so that you can compare everything properly.