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It is said that the human body needs to be touched in order for cell growth and repair to ensue. This belief has led many people to resort to massages to be relieved of the stresses they encounter everyday. They go to therapists who specialize in different body treatments, which involve unique approaches in massage.
Many massage therapists have different materials in performing the massages they specialize in. They use oils, powders, fruits, seaweed, mud, salt, and stones. All these materials need to be properly utilized in order to attain the goal of relaxation and rejuvenation.
Two basic massage techniques are never absent whatever method of massage the client prefers. Petrissage and effleurage are two of the most common and most basic of all the massage techniques. Petrissage is a warming up massage performed at the beginning and at the end of each massage. Effleurage, on the other hand, is a simple gliding stroke that also begins and ends a Swedish massage.
These two basic methods are frequently used in hot stone massages. Petrissage and effleurage are perfect methods wherein heat from the stones can be evenly distributed throughout the body while concentrating on the trigger points. They make stone massage sessions very fruitful to both the therapist and the client.
Petrissage is a massage technique of Swedish origin. It involves the use of the palms of the hands to facilitate the transfer of warmth to the body. In hot stone massages, the transfer of warmth is made faster and easier because of the heated stones. The therapist concentrates more on the gentle "kneading" motion, which allows tissue work that is not too deep. This method is perfect for those who want to be pampered and soothed throughout the stone massage session.
Effleurage is also of Swedish origin. It is a gliding motion that uses a flat open palm or a loose fist. It is commonly used to spread oil or lotion during the massage. Known as a transition stroke, it enables the therapist to move from one part of the body to another, also from one massage technique to another. Effleurage is also used as a diagnostic stroke before the actual detailed tissue work. The massage therapist uses it to pin point knots in muscles, and to locate cold or warm spots. The hot stones make it easier for the therapist to concentrate on these trigger points during the stone massage.
These two basic techniques arm the therapist well in dealing with the client's aches and pains. The relaxation and rejuvenation experience is much more intensified with the expert and strategic use of the hot stones. These basic massage methods are said to be the foundations of Swedish or relaxation massage. Therapists know this very well and frequently perform these as prologue and epilogue to each of their sessions.
It is true that basics should never be forgotten. Instead, they should be improved and incorporated into various innovations that are discovered and rediscovered nowadays. Techniques, massages included, are moved a notch higher every time this is accomplished.
In the United States, the Swedish massage tends to be the most common choice for clients needing to relax their minds and bodies. However, several other massage options are available. For more information on stone massage, please go to http://www.tirmassagestone.com.
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