You might be familiar with popular massages such as the Swedish therapy and USA’s strange Hot Stone tactics, but today we cast our focus on the lesser-known varieties that deserve more attention than they are getting. Up for discussion are incredible massages you probably haven’t heard about or only saw in scanning hurry on a “Did You Know” list, as we uncover the less-trodden path with just as many benefits. Here goes:
1) Hong Kong Massage
A Hong Kong massage or tui-na is one of the world’s oldest, and it has been long prescribed in Traditional Chinese Medicine to cushion illness and pain. If you’re familiar with acupuncture, tui-na is not that different only that instead of stimulating pressure points with needles, the fingers are preferred to manipulate body pressure and improve blood circulation. Hong Kong massage is said to restore a balance of qi (life force) that results in disease and discomfort when unchecked, and can sometimes involve rolling motions for the effective curing of strains and sprains.
2) Amatsu
Combining ancient movement practices, cultural physiology, and a hint of modern anatomy, Amatsu is a Japanese-influenced bodywork that targets the fascia and soft tissues. Brute force is thrown out the window, with therapists adopting the tiniest of natural movements to affect the body in such a way as to remedy problems in the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. This therapy encompasses five pillars, namely environment, emotion, nutrition, energy, and structure, and it tackles stress and muscle issues from all five directions.
3) Burmese
The Burmese massage is quite peculiar because it brings together Indian, Chinese, and Thai styles. It can relieve cramped muscles and even get rid of insomnia thanks to its kneading and acupuncture tactics that work wonders for the movement of blood around critical joints and tissues. The therapy may entail elbow presses and gentle knocking across perceived pressure zones.
4) BioMechanical Stimulation
It was only a matter of time before technology got involved in massages, and BMS therapy is a great example. Masseurs keep their hands to themselves while a machine takes over the role of human contact, employing biomechanical oscillation for stimulation, tension relief, and pain treatment. It’s particularly favored by highly-active individuals such as athletes because of the maximal results BMS assures.
5) Aquatic bodywork
This kind of therapy stands uniquely apart from the rest because it involves the client being partially or entirely submerged in a pool of water. It’s mostly a rehabilitation stepping stone that works by relieving pressure on a damaged joint or bone, allowing the body to slowly acclimatize to the demands of a real-world setting where gravity is in full effect. The warmth of the water helps fight off stress and muscle tension, with the massage in general recommended for pressure ulcers, neurological disorders, spinal discomforts, and musculoskeletal pain.
More examples
Believe it or not, all the massages in the world can make a list well into double dozens, and some of the little-known therapies such as the ones above have helped hundreds of people get past psychological and physiological issues. A few others worth looking into include the 1945 craniosacral therapy, and the unfairly ridiculed cupping massage that gets rid of short-term pain quite effectively.
