Had a long and stressful week at work? There’s almost nothing better than to have a long, relaxing massage to work off those knots, and improve your circulation. It’s good for your mind, body and your soul.
With so many varieties, do you know which is most suited for you?
We’ve compiled the most popular types of massages and everything you need to know about them (including based on your pain threshold)!
TLDR? Here’s a quick overview of these massages:
| What is it? | What products / tools do they use? | Benefits? | Who should do it? | Who should avoid? | How often can you do it? | Pain Level | |
| Swedish | Classic massage | Massage oils | Lowers stress levels. Improves sleep. Increases blood flow to muscles | First-timers and Everyone | Pregnant women | 2 to 4 times a month | Low |
| Balinese | Similar to Swedish but with Kecak (Balinese dance moves) | Massage oils | Reduces stress. Stimulates blood circulation.Relieves strained muscles | Everyone | Pregnant women | 2 to 4 times a month | Low to medium |
| Javanese | Similar to Balinese massage | Body scrape
Hot oils |
Flush out winds | Everyone | Pregnant Women | 2 to 4 times a month | Medium to High |
| Deep Tissue | Breaks up scar tissue and muscle knots. | Hands, knuckles & elbows | Relieves chronic muscle pain. Rehabilitate injuries. | Injuries or chronic muscle pains | Prone to blood clots. Pregnant women. | Once per month | Medium to High |
| Lymphatic Drainage | Unblocks accumulation of lymphatic fluids | Hands & fingers | Reduces swelling. Reduces stress and improves sleep. | Swelling or arthritis, recovering from minor surgeries | People with heart conditions or infections. | 2 times a month | Low |
| Hot Stone | Heated stones placed on body | Hot stones, massage oils | Reduces muscle tension. Increases blood flow Reduces chronic pains & stress | Muscle pains or cramps or have trouble sleeping | Pregnant women. | 2 times a month | Low |
| Tuina | Traditional Chinese Massage. Rebalance the body’s energy | Hands and fingers | Reduces body pains & stress. Improves sleep and blood circulation | Body pains or have trouble sleeping | Pregnant women. People with heart conditions or seizures. | Depends on person – consult with therapist. | Low to medium. |
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If you frequent massage parlours, you’ll often find that you can choose between a Swedish, Balinese and Javanese massage. These 3 massages are similar, however there are some key differences you should note to know exactly what to expect:
1. Swedish Massage
What is it and what are the benefits?
A Swedish massage is the most common and basic massage and therefore very often called a Classic Massage.
Swedish massages promote relaxation of the body and mind, lower stress levels to help eliminate tension headaches and improve sleep. Stroking movements help to increase blood flow which relaxes and even rehabilitates muscles.
How is it conducted?
The goal of a Swedish massage is to relax the body and increase blood circulation around the body. This is done using 5 main techniques:
- stroking
- kneading
- tapping
- friction for heat
- shaking
What tools or products do they use?
Hands and arms are used for the massage. Massage oils such as Ginger and Lavender oil or body lotions are also used.
Who should do it?
Swedish massages are fit for almost everyone especially first-timers.
They are especially beneficial to athletes to promote blood circulation and for those suffering from joint pains and stiffness.
How often can you do it?
If you’re an athlete of you’re suffering from pain, you can go for a Swedish massage every 1 to 2 weeks. If you’re going to simply relax, once or twice a month will do.
Who should avoid it?
Pregnant women.
Pain level
Low
DID YOU KNOW?
The techniques used in a Swedish massage were actually created by a Dutch doctor, Johan Georg Mezger but made famous by Pehr Henrik Ling in Sweden!
We Recommend:
BEYOND BEAUTY
1.5hr Swedish or Ginger Red Wine Full Body Massage (1 session)
Beyond Beauty Locations:
#03-41, JEM
JEM, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-41, Singapore 608549
Tampines Central
Tampines Ave 5 Telepark #01-04/05 SG 529482
#06, RB Capital Building
RB Capital Building, 22 Malacca Street, Level 6 (Near Raffles Place MRT)
Thong Teck Building
Thong Teck Building #01-01/02, 15 Scotts Road SG 228218
Serangoon Gardens
Serangoon Gardens myVillage #02-15/16/17/18, 1 Maju Avenue SG 556679
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2. Balinese Massage
Balinese massages are very similar to Swedish massages. The only difference is that they incorporate more movements such as skin rolling, thumb walking and Kecak (a movement inspired by a traditional Balinese dance – sliding the elbow along the side of the spine whilst shaking the hand thus vibrating the back).
What are the benefits?
Balinese massages help to reduces stress. It stimulates blood circulation and relieves strained muscles.
Pain level
Low to medium
We Recommend:
THE ULTIMATE
60 Minute Full Body Balinese Massage for 1 Person
The Ultimate Location:
Civil Service Club (Bukit Batok)
91 Bukit Batok West Avenue 2, Singapore 659206
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3. Javanese Massage
Javanese massages are similar to Swedish and Balinese massages except that they are ‘rougher’.
What is it & what are the benefits?
The purpose of the Javanese massage is to flush out winds that have accumulated in the body which may result in congestion, flu or rheumatism.
What tools or products do they use?
Javanese massages use a body scrape such as a copper coin, in addition to their hands and thumbs as well as hot oils.
Pain level
Medium to High
We Recommend:
BELLE CARE
1hr Javanese Full Body Massage with Ginger Treatment for 1 person
Belle Care Locations:
Dhoby Ghaut
190 Clemenceau Ave, #03-12/13, Singapore 239924
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4. Deep Tissue Massage
What is it and what are the benefits?
Deep tissue massages are specifically for muscle relief and are more focused on targeting the muscles and connective tissue.
Deep tissue massages help to:
- Relieve chronic muscle pain, back and neck pains
- Rehabilitate injuries from falls or whiplash
- Increase mobility by relaxing the muscles
How is it conducted?
Deep tissue massage techniques are used to break up scar tissue and muscle knots that can inhibit blood circulation and cause inflammation.
These techniques include:
- stripping, which is a gliding pressure applied along the muscle fibre
- friction, which is a pressure applied across muscle fibres
You may feel some soreness after the massage but that should subside within a day or two.
What tools or products do they use?
Therapists will use their hands and arms, specifically knuckles and elbows during the massage.
Who should do it?
Anyone who is suffering from injuries or chronic muscle pains should go for a deep tissue massage.
How often can you do it?
An average person can get a deep tissue massage once a month. If you suffer from severe pain, you can consider going two to three times a month.
Who should avoid it?
People who have or are prone to blood clots should avoid deep tissue massages as there is a risk the clots may get dislodged.
If you have any rashes or open wounds, it’s ideal to wait until they recover. If not, ensure that the masseuse does not massage over them.
Pregnant women should also avoid deep tissue massages.
Pain level
Medium to High
We Recommend:
ELEGANCE FACE BODY SPA
90-min Full Body Deep Tissue Massage
Location:
Orchid Hotel
1 Tras Link, Singapore 078867
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5. Lymphatic Drainage
What is it and what are the benefits?
A lymphatic drainage massage is a gentle massage that aims to increase the flow of lymphatic fluids that help to remove waste products from the tissues in the body. Lymphatic drainage massages help to reduce any noticeable swelling and are known to reduce stress and improve sleep.
How is it conducted?
An accumulation of lymphatic fluids in parts of the body could result in inflammation. Therefore, a lymphatic drainage massage breaks down this accumulation by stimulating muscle movements, which promote fluid circulation. Some of the techniques used are:
- Light pressing movements, just enough to reach the muscles
- Stretching of the skin to stimulate the lymphatic vessels attached to the skin
What tools or products do they use?
Only hands and fingers
Who should do it?
People who suffer from swelling in their body should go for lymphatic drainage massages. They are great for people recovering from minor surgeries (with doctor’s consent) and are also known to help people suffering from arthritis.
How often can you do it?
Lymphatic massages work best when done multiple times within a short time frame – two to four times within a month.
Who should avoid it?
If you suffer from any heart conditions or infections, it is best to avoid this massage. We strongly advise you to consult your doctor first.
Pain level
Low
We Recommend:
SKIN LABO
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Skin Labo Location:
Goldhill Shopping Centre (Novena)
161 Thomson Road, Singapore 307606
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6. Hot Stone Massage
What is it and what are its benefits?
Hot stone massages are great for relaxing the body and reducing the tension in the muscles and tissues. The heat from the stones help to increase blood flow around the body.
They are said to help reduce chronic pains and reduce stress.
How is it conducted?
Heated stones are placed on different parts of the body such as along the spine, stomach, chest and face. Therapists also hold these stone while using massage techniques similar to that of a Swedish massage, such as:
- Long strokes
- Circular movements
- Vibration
- Tapping
- Kneading
What tools or products do they use?
Smooth stones made of basaltic rocks are used as they retain heat well.
Sometimes cold stones are used at the end of the massage to soothe the skin.
Massage oil is also used.
Who should do it?
Anyone who is experiencing any muscle pains, tension on cramping should go for a hot stone massage. People who have trouble sleeping at night should also consider this massage.
How often can you do it?
An average person can get a hot stone massage twice a month.
Who should avoid it?
Hot stone massages are suitable for everyone, except pregnant women. If you have any open wounds or rashes, please inform your therapist to avoid the area.
Pain level
Low
We Recommend:
URBAN SPA
1-Hour Therapeutic Hot Stone Massage for 1 Person
Urban Spa Location:
Peninsula Excelsior Hotel
5 Coleman Street, #03-09, Singapore 179805
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7. Tuina Massage
What is it?
A Tuina massage is a Traditional Chinese Massage that involves applying pressure to pressure points such as the temples and muscles.
It aims to rebalance the body’s energy so as to:
- Reduce body pains
- Treat illnesses
- Reduce stress
- Improve sleep
- Increase blood circulation by stimulating energy flow
How is it conducted?
Tuina is similar to acupuncture but instead of needles, therapists use their fingers and hands to conduct the massage. There are 8 basic movements to a Tuina massage:
- Palpating (mo)
- Rejoining (jie)
- Opposing (duan)
- Lifting (ti)
- Pressing (an)
- Kneading (mo)
- Pushing (tui)
- Holding (na)
What tools or products do they use?
Hands and fingers
Who should do it?
Anyone suffering from body pains such as neck and back pain, and people who have trouble sleeping should go for a Tuina massage. We do advise that you check your suitability with a doctor before going for a Tuina massage.
How often can you do it?
One can go for a Tuina massage if they have a particular injury they want to treat. It is important to consult the therapist on how often you can get a Tuina massage.
Who should avoid it?
Pregnant women should avoid Tuina massages. People with heart conditions or a history of seizures should also avoid this massage.
Pain level
Low to medium
We Recommend:
INDULGE THAIRAPY
1-Hour Tuina / Meridian / Acupoint Full Body Massage for 1 Person
Indulge Thairapy Location:
Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green, #B1-19/20, Singapore 138617
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