Oriental Massage is term refering to the types of massage originating from Asian countries such as Japan, China, India, Korea, Thailand and the rest. In other words it is called Asian Massage. This practice was used to treat various illness on the Asian community for the past thousands years.
They works by applying tougher strains to the patient with intensive techniques and uses specific herbs for treatment.
Types of Oriental Massage
1. Tui Na
Its pronounced as “twee naw” which means pinch and pull. This kind of massage is not for relaxation but used for treatment.
In its purest form as practised in thousands of departments of traditional medicine throughout China, Tui Na may be a very comprehensive healing system. It even includes a branch of specialist bodywork for babies and infants. The Chinese use it for all those conditions that within the West would be treated by physiotherapists, sports injury therapists, osteopaths and chiropractors also as some that might be treated with drug therapy. The highly successful Chinese Olympic teams believe Tui Na for all their bodywork requirements. As an aid to sports performance and for treating sports injuries it’s the ultimate .
Those seeking an occasional massage for deep relaxation and therefore the feeling of being pampered, shouldn’t choose Tui Na; it’s far too vigorous, and anyway, that’s not its purpose. it’s serious therapy for all the conditions listed above. After receiving it for the primary time it’s possible to feel a touch sore. This usually wears off after each day or two and subsequent treatments become progressively less uncomfortable.
Most people who are prepared to undertake it on 2 or 3 times become addicts! Not only does it provide effective treatment for pain but it leaves the recipient with a sense of lightness and of being energized. Many use it as regular health care.
Some perceptive listening combined with powerful Qi moving techniques can peel away layer upon layer of pent-up emotions to go away the patient feeling happier and more at one with him/herself and therefore the world around.
Tui Na is performed with the patient seated or on a massage couch. The therapy is performed while clothes on. It is preferable required to wear lighweight cotton clothes.
2. Dian Xue
It is a cantonese chinese word which means squeeze nerve points. It is done through manipulating energy parts of the body by squeezing, beating or pushing. This can be a dangerous act since it can cause paralysis or death if not used properly.
3. Thai Massage Therapy
Thousands of years ago, Thai therapy was designed in Thailand by Buddhist monks. This form of massage incorporates breathing and stretching techniques. Thai therapy is also sometimes colloquially called “lazy yoga,” because instead of a person attempting to stretch his or her own body parts a therapist or a skilled masseur performs the act of stretching while the recipient remains passive. This type of massage specifically affects the nervous system and balances the flow of energy in the body, which is thought to lead to a more harmonized body and mind. It can also enhance flexibility if performed regularly.
4. Shiastu Massage Therapy
Shiatsu is a massage technique from Japan. This method is similar to Chinese acupuncture except that instead of using needles, practitioners exert pressure only with their fingertips. Deep breathing is an important factor in this method. Shiatsu can boost the immune system and, if it is practiced regularly, the patient can develop better digestion and reproductive functions. A further benefit to the body through consistent Shiatsu is a better posture. Shiatsu done frequently is said to lead to a more peaceful mind.
5. Indonesian-Javanese massage
Indonesian-Javanese massage is done by a therapist using the hands and knuckles. This method of massage is a popular therapy to help relieve backaches and muscle tensions. The hands and knuckles are used to massage the body which can make the process somewhat painful for people who aren’t used to it, but the benefits are usually about the same as those associated with Thai and Shiatsu practices.
6. Chi Nei Tsang
Most Asian massages contain influences from the various parts of Asia. Traditional Ayurveda philosophy teaches that a well operating digestive system is absolutely key to good health. Chi Nei Tsang is an abdominal focused massage which blends Thai and Chinese techniques. The therapist works primarily on your stomach area with deep but gentle flowing movements. The aim is to detoxify and balance your internal digestive system through massage therapy.
7. Foot massage
Reflexology has been gaining popularity in the West for the last 50 years. Massaging feet has however been a second nature in Asia for thousands of years. Walk the streets of India and you will often see people just sitting at the side of the road massaging their own feet as part of their daily care routines.
There are many variations of foot massage throughout Asia but the fundamental doctrines are the same as those taught in reflexology. Your feet contain distinct zones which directly correspond to your body’s various vital organs. Correctly applied pressure onto these zones can help to clear vital energy blockages in the corresponding organs. Once blockages are cleared, your organs function better and you feel healthier.
As well as their hands, Asian massage therapists may use special instruments, such as Thai Foot Massage Sticks to massage the feet. The jury is out on whether hands or sticks are better for the recipient. Our personal opinion is that the sticks tend to feel more painful, probably because your masseuse is less directly connected with your body. Therapists often prefer sticks as it means their hands hurt less as a result of doing many repetitive treatments throughout their career. Repetitive Strain Injury doesn’t just affect keyboard users!
8. Ayurvedic Massage
The Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga, or oil massage, touts physical benefits like released muscle tension, lymphatic drainage, and more nourished skin from head to toe. It stands out from other massages due to its focus on the skin, rather than just the underlying muscles—from the oils used to the circulation-stimulating movements, it’s more like a facial massage for your whole body. For someone used to massages that my body like the lump of pizza dough popular wisdom (you are what you eat!) says it is, abhyanga isn’t that.
Your therapist’s main goal is relaxation, and in India, the practice is tied deeply to the notion of self-care. “Sneha is the root word for this type of massage in Sanskrit,” explains Ayurvedic doctor Pratima Raichur, “which also translates to mean ‘love.’” Depending on your skin type, Ayurveda suggests performing abhyanga anywhere from once a week to once a day
9. Indian Head massage
A hugely popular massage and one that we have incorporated into our very own Jet Lag massage. This head, scalp and neck massage uses acupressure style techniques to clear blockages and provide relief from stress and anxiety whilst bringing a general sense of calm to the environment around you.
10. Cupping therapy
Cupping therapy is a significantly different style of massage to all the others mentioned here. It often surprises the unacquainted as it is quite an extreme treatment. Using the mouth of glass or silicone cups, a cupping therapist will place various cups on your body. These are then heated to create a vacuum. Over a period of around 5 to 10 minutes this causes your skin to be sucked up slightly into the cup. The idea is that the resulting movement of blood helps to release built up muscle tension and reduce aches and pains.
The treated area usually looks quite unattractive immediately after a treatment. You will most likely have red round circles in the areas where the cups were placed. This is reflective of the blood which will have rushed to these areas during the therapy. The red marks should dissipate after a short while, although some people find they remain for a day or so. It is not proven whether this massage style originated in ancient China or ancient Egypt. If Egypt, then it is not strictly Asian. However, cupping therapy is certainly widely practiced in Asia and continues to gain popularity in the West, including amongst celebrities. Stars always seem to love the weird and wonderful!
11. Jin Shin Jyutsu
One way to look at Jin Shin Jyutsu is to see it as an incredibly simple version of acupressure massage. This is because it follows the same principles of accupressure, except that it only focuses on 26 points, which are few compared to the 300 points that acupressurists work with. These 26 points are called SELs, which stand for Safety Energy Locks and are located along the body’s energy pathways. Using his hands, a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner will hold on to a combination of these SELs and gently massage through them, allowing the client to experience the flow of energy, which can be as relaxing as it is healing.
12. Amma or Anma
This is a kind of therapy that is based on traditional Japanese massage techniques introduced by Gan Jon Osho, a Buddhist Priest who practiced the Chinese anmo back in the 6th century. It was further developed in the 17th century by Waichi Sugiyama, who established schools for the blind. Being blind himself, Sugiyama taught the blind the ways of amma and they became quite common in the 20th century.
Amma uses a technique that combines application of pressure on acupoints with deep-tissue massage. This aims to cure the imbalances in one’s system, refreshing the entire body after.
Therapeutic and Healing Properties
Different methods of Chinese and Japanese massage are used in drug rehab centers and in hospitals, often as a complement to more traditional treatments for such things as cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These methods are used as a form of relaxation to help the patients control and reduce stress and maintain a balance between the body and the soul, and often put the patient in a frame of mind to accept their diagnosis and accept the challenge of fighting their ailment.
It’s important to note here that massage isn’t typically used on its own to diagnose or treat any condition, and results can vary significantly from person to person. The healing benefits of massage have been speculated on, but haven’t been widely established in the medical or scientific communities. Most people who receive regular treatments do so out of personal conviction that the therapy will achieve whatever ends are desired, whether or not there is any guarantee of the same.
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