by Rena Sandou

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 27, 2009

Massage therapy has a long and rich history in almost any civilization all over the world. Dating back more than thousand years ago, it was used as a great way to relax mind, body and soul. Existence of practising massage therapy can mostly be found in ancient Greece, China, India, Egypt, and Rome.

Nowadays, massage has become an alternative method for treating various health-related problems. Statistics have indicated that the majority of doctors use it as a parallel treatment with traditional medicines.

There are more than 100 different types of massage therapy. Each one is targeting on a different body part promising to ease pain and tension. Some of the most commonly practiced methods are the following:

- Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the most popular method. Aiming on better blood circulation, stretch of tendons and relief from stress, the practitioners use light pressure combined with strokes.

- Reflexology

Reflexology works a bit differently. Reflexologists claim that can ease pain in every part of the body just by applying pressure on specific regions on the feet and hands. These so called 'reflex points' work as a path for every vital organ. Reflexology tends to be a must in the modern world.

- Shiatsu

Originated in China, Shiatsu aims to pain relief through mild finger pressure. The unique characteristic of this massage therapy is its spiritual point of reference. Shiatsu therapists believe that our body is full of energy paths. Triggering these paths leads to augmentation of the qi spot making energy flow to every part of our system.

- Aromatherapy Massage

More and more people tend to practice aromatherapy massage. Various essentials oils that are used during the session stimulate the brain function leading to pain and stress relief.

- Sports massage therapy:

As the name indicates, this method is especially designed for athletes and generally for people with intense physical activity. Various techniques that combine hand pressure with strokes are used to release muscle tension. Sport massage therapy is applied not only as a therapeutic method but also as a mean to avoid possible injuries.

- Hot Stone Massage Therapy

Hot stones are used to ease tight muscles offering great body relaxation. Excellent for back problems or for muscular injuries in general. This method's popularity keeps mounting around the world.

Experts define how massage works. During a massage therapy session, the brain function is activated. Electrical signals

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