What is the difference between massage and bodywork?
So, you’ve decided to go get help for those nagging aches and pains. Looking around, you’ve found different clinics that may advertise massage, bodywork, or both. What is the difference exactly and when would you want to do each one? Well, today we’ll discuss what exactly the best massage therapy is, what bodywork is, and how to know what you should be looking for.
Massage involves the manipulation of soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Bodywork is often used interchangeably with massage, however it actually includes any therapeutic work that involves the human body. It typically consists of physical manipulation of the body (such as massage), energy work, or breath work. As such, bodywork can be viewed as an umbrella term that incorporates massage within it. Bodywork also usually aims to improve posture, promote awareness of the mind-body connection, or manipulate the electromagnetic field that is thought to surround the human body. Since bodywork includes such a wide range of treatment techniques, it’s important to determine what kind of treatment you’re looking for so that you can receive the care that most appropriately aligns with your goals. If you’re looking for physical or hands-on treatment, either massage or bodywork that primarily consists of soft tissue manipulation would be the best option for you. If you’re looking for treatment that is more hands-off, body work that includes breath practice or energy medicine may be the best option for you.
What is the best massage?
With all of the different types of massage out there, it can be hard to know what the best one is. Many people advocate for deep tissue massage, while others may recommend relaxation massage, hot stone massage, or even other types. There are endless options for massage, and so preferences will vary from person to person. Unfortunately, there is no single best massage type for everyone.
Massage techniques that work best for some individuals won’t always work well for others. It’s important to consider how sensitive you are to pressure before choosing a massage type. For individuals who often feel “tight” and are comfortable with a lot of pressure, a deep tissue massage will likely work well. For other individuals who are more sensitive to pressure, a gentle relaxation massage will likely be more beneficial.
Individuals with a high amount of stress and/or pain may also feel sensitive to pressure and should consider a more gentle massage. In general, starting with a gentle massage is a good idea, unless you’re certain that you’re comfortable with a high amount of pressure. From there, you can decide whether or not it was helpful for you, or if you would benefit from more pressure. Once you’ve determined the level of pressure that you prefer, it can be easy to branch out into other aspects of massage, such as cupping, hot stone, or even acupuncture. Again, your sensitivity to pressure will help guide what will work best for you.
Those who are less sensitive will likely do well with other techniques that involve more discomfort, such as cupping. Those who are more sensitive may still benefit from alternative techniques, but may prefer those that involve less discomfort, such as reiki.
Are massage guns worth it?
In short, massage guns are worth it if you’re someone who benefits from frequent massage. Of course this is highly individual, and will depend on your specific situation and needs. For individuals who get frequent massage, or would like to get frequent massage but are unable, a massage gun can be very useful. Massage guns allow you to massage your body independently or with the help of someone at home. The price for massage guns can vary significantly, so it also depends on which one you decide to purchase. If you know you’ll enjoy being able to have a massage at home, it may be worth it to purchase a more expensive massage gun.
On the other hand, if you’re unsure about performing self massage or having someone assist you with a gun, it may be better to purchase a less expensive massage gun to start. Furthermore, although the massage gun will cost a significant amount of money to purchase initially, it may save you money in the long run, as you may not need to attend actual massage appointments as frequently. Again, it all comes down to individual preferences and needs, but if you feel you would benefit from very frequent massage, it’s likely worth it to purchase a massage gun.