What is a Full Body Massage?

A full-body massage is, as the name suggests, a massage for the whole body. If you are shopping for a full body massage near you, most therapists will be offering a head-to-feet, or at least neck-to-feet massage service.

As a general rule, most full-body massages start with the back and shoulders and work down. The therapist then goes back up, covering the neck and shoulders – key tension-bearing areas – and, depending on what you request, perhaps the scalp as well.

Do I Need A Full-Body Massage?

With this description in mind, you may be wondering if a full-body massage is really what you need. Do you really need a full-body massage if you are having particular trouble with your neck, shoulders, or other areas of your body?

Even if you are having pain and discomfort in particular areas, it is still a good idea to get a full-body massage. Your therapist can focus on the parts of your body that are most in need of relief, but the advantage of the full-body approach to massage is that it increases the overall feeling of well-being, peace, and calm.

We’ve talked about this before, but when you get a massage for relaxation, your body’s central nervous system actually responds in ways that affect you physically. Your heart rate slows down, your breathing becomes more relaxed and less hurried, and your blood pressure and stress hormones go down.

Full-body massages are even thought to lead to higher levels of a hormone called serotonin, which is how your body gives you positive, happy feelings.

Too Many Options for “Full Body Massage Near Me”?

As with most things online, if you go searching for “full body massage near me” you may end up with far more results than you ever bargained for. Location may be a convenient way to narrow them down: how nearby is “near me,” anyway?

However, if you are looking for the best experience for your needs, a good starting point might be to look for key terms. There are seven popular types of massage, but the most common kind of full-body massage is frequently called Swedish massage.

The Swedish massage is the one everyone thinks of when they hear the word “massage.” It usually starts at the neck and shoulders, goes down to the feet, and then back up to the neck and shoulders and possibly the scalp. If you are looking for “full body massage near me,” this is unquestionably the default option.

The other main kind of massage that is also arguably a “full-body massage” is Ashiatsu, a Japanese massage technique that is performed by the therapist using their bare feet rather than their hands.

Don’t worry, if you get an Ashiatsu massage your therapist won’t literally be walking on you: instead, they will stand over you with their weight supported by bars mounted in the ceiling, and use their feet to deliver firm but gentle pressure, stroking and kneading your muscles.

The key advantage of Ashiatsu is that it delivers a great deal of relaxation in a very short time: a skilled therapist can use their feet to apply compressive pressure, which can release tension and resolve muscle spasms.

There are other types of massage that you may discover if you search for “massage near me,” like deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, sports massage, and neuromuscular therapy, but these are generally more specialized. If you are pregnant, you may find a pregnancy massage is exactly what you need – and this usually refers to a Swedish massage, modified to accommodate the needs of an expectant mother.

Ready to Book Your Experience?

To learn more about a massage experience, contact About Touch Massage & Acupuncture today. Discuss your preferences, sensitivities, and specific areas of focus. Many spas and wellness centers offer a variety of essential oil options, allowing you to customize your aromatic journey. In the pursuit of holistic well-being, the addition of aromatherapy to a massage proves to be a harmonious union. The therapeutic benefits, ranging from stress relief to enhanced sleep quality, make it a valuable enhancement to the massage experience. As you sink into the massage table, enveloped in the soothing scents of carefully selected essential oils, you embark on a sensory journey that not only rejuvenates the body but also nourishes the soul. At About Touch, we use aromatherapy to transform a routine massage into an aromatic symphony, inviting you to escape, relax, and indulge in the holistic benefits of this sensory delight. Our top-reviewed massage and acupuncture clinic also provides massage therapy for stiff muscles, muscle knots, injuries, and relaxation.  Book your appointment now or call 541-484-3055.

As you breathe in and out your therapist may also be noting subtle cues to muscle tightness or dysfunction. These signs may be familiar to some from yoga or meditation. When we “breathe into the space” we are bringing awareness to all the muscles and how they relate to the lungs. While the diaphragm does 60% to 80% of the muscle work in breathing, many other muscles play an important role too. The other main players are the intercostal muscles between each rib that help expand and contract the ribcage to make more space for the lungs. The intercostals can be impaired long after a violent sneeze or coughing fit, a twisting injury (the swing dancing was a lot of fun that night), a bout of the shingles, or a bra that might be too tight.

When we get really active and need to take deeper breaths the neck muscles (scalenes and sternocleidomastoids, common headache culprits) along with our pecs help lift the top of the ribs and collarbone to make more room for air. It is these muscles we try to assist as we catch our breath and put our hands on our knees, or a table or the top of our head.

Multiple other muscles play into breath work also, such as the lats and quadratus lumborum of the low back. The abdominal wall muscles typically help to expel the air only when we become more active as do other muscles of the torso.

Therapists may also use focused breathing during trigger point therapy or stretching as a gentle way to enhance the technique and give you control of how much pressure to add.

We hope you can use this information to help your massage session be your best. This may mean taking some deep breaths before you come in and pass on any information of tightness or pain to your therapist or just forgetting about it all and taking those deep breaths on the table and letting go naturally and completely.

Ultreya!

Darryl Johnson
Licensed Massage Therapist #21909
ACE Fitness Certified Personal Trainer

Ready to Book Your Session?

To learn more about an aromatherapy massage experience, contact About Touch Massage & Acupuncture today. Discuss your preferences, sensitivities, and specific areas of focus. Many spas and wellness centers offer a variety of essential oil options, allowing you to customize your aromatic journey. In the pursuit of holistic well-being, the addition of aromatherapy to a massage proves to be a harmonious union. The therapeutic benefits, ranging from stress relief to enhanced sleep quality, make it a valuable enhancement to the massage experience. As you sink into the massage table, enveloped in the soothing scents of carefully selected essential oils, you embark on a sensory journey that not only rejuvenates the body but also nourishes the soul. At About Touch, we use aromatherapy to transform a routine massage into an aromatic symphony, inviting you to escape, relax, and indulge in the holistic benefits of this sensory delight. Our top-reviewed massage and acupuncture clinic also provides massage therapy for stiff muscles, muscle knots, injuries, and relaxation.  Book your appointment now or call 541-484-3055.