Difference in massages

[hippy-chick]

for those that do aromatherapy and body massage:

how does your massage differ? is their any changes or is it pretty similar?

 

[jo1983]

During an aromatherapy massage I normally perform a more relaxing massage, and during a body massage I usually do more petrisage and tapotement!

 

[Helen v]

my aromatherapy massage is completely different to my normal massage, i use alot a pressure points and varying depths of effleurage and petrisage with the work on the back taking much longer, i also incorporate some energy balancing. My normal massage depends on what the client needs but can be more like a workout with me moving them into different positions to get into the muscles where needed.

 

[joe90]

Well, at the moment I cannot do deep tissue massage as I have a shoulder problem but if I could I would be using more pettrisage and tapotement and it would obviously be deep tissue. However, sometimes we do use some aromatherapy oils in our dtm.

My massage routine is totally different also.

Why you ask Ann?

 

[hippy-chick]

I ask because lately I've been getting a lot of aromatherapy massages and realised that I have mixed my swedish and aromatherapy massages up and use techniques from both, so haven't really got a different routine for aromatherapy.

when I trained, the emphasis was on getting the essential oils into the bloodstream via the skin, the movements were long and flowing and quite gentle.

I was thinking of pulling out my old college notes and changing a few things so if people book one or t'other their is a difference.

 

[kennedia]

Yeah mine are totally different.

Like others have said - basically aroma mass is softer, longer, more flowing movements.

Lots of effleurage, reverse effleurage etc. etc.

 

[Miss Sparkle]

I'm not trained in Aromatherapy (but hope to at some point) but I find I always mix massages .. bits of IHM get into my Swedish and bits of Swedish into my Indian Head!
I always incorporate hand massages into my IHMs as I think they are beneficial, especially for office workers. I see my college notes as a guide but after that I follow my instincts and the clients' needs.

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I mix up my massage movements too but adjust them to what the client needs/wants rather than which treatment they are having lol.

I also find that when i'm having a massage i can't fully relax because i'm thinking "oh that movements nice, i'm going to use that" OR "oh no don't like that, mental note not to do that"

 

[Helen v]

Hi, i dont think there is a problem with mixing techniques, when all is said and done if you are working on a more holistic approach then your treatments will always differ, I think i can honestly say client will not get exactly the same treatment twice. i always adapt to what i am feeling within the muscles, and according to any presenting symptoms the client may have. I also find it beneficial to have a read over old notes because you tend to drop certain techniques and forget about them. When all is said and done different styles of massage give you lots of different tools to help your client. Have fun,experiment and be inspired.

helen xx

 

[Martin Duffy]

Technically, as aromatherapy is the application of oils & not a type of massage there isn't really such a thing as an "aromatherapy massage". Unfortunately this arises because people see it as a "relaxing" treatment, when in fact a sports massage could be given with a blend of oils, in fact aromatherapy needn't even involve massage & could use other methods of essential oil application such as bathing, compress etc. I tend to give the massage that the person needs.

 

[hippy-chick]

thanks for that Martin and everyone else.

Its interesting to read all the different comments.

 

[Martin Duffy]

That's OK my dear! It's a bit of a shame that aromatherapy has become associated only with massage & relaxation, which I think is why some who use aromatherapy in a wider context now call themselves clinical aromatherapists. For the large majority of instances massage is a time consuming & inappropriate method of essential oil application.

 

[hippy-chick]

I get booked quite often to do talks on aromatherapy and I get people involved by making Lotions & Potions which go down a storm.