Read on to Get the Lowdown Before Your Next Rubdown

With so many techniques and so little time, choosing the massage style to suit your needs can be a challenge. From stress-melting to tension-busting and everything in between, the art of massage therapy has long been revered for its ability to keep the body and mind at peak performance. Variations in pressure, technique, areas of focus and desired outcome set the various massage styles apart, but which one is right for you? We’ve put together a quick guide help you figure out which massage style best suits your needs.

Read on to get the lowdown before your next rubdown.

South Beach Swedish Deep Tissue Massage

Swedish Massage

Best for: Relaxation, stress relief, first massage

The most common form of massage therapy, the Swedish massage is designed to warm up the muscle tissue to release toxins, tension and general soreness. The therapist will use hands, fingers and sometimes forearms to perform long, gentle, soothing strokes with light to medium pressure.

The Swedish massage is revered for its ability to kickstart circulation and eliminate lymph and metabolic waste often stored deep within the muscle tissue. This technique is ideal for those seeking relaxation and first time spa-goers.

Deep Tissue Massage

Best for: Relieving acute tension

A deep tissue massage is much like the Swedish with an increased level of pressure. This technique hyper-targets deeper layers of muscles and tendons to eliminate toxic waste, blockages and tension in the body. Expect muscle-melting movements utilizing friction to generate heat and stimulate blood flow and deep kneading and muscle manipulation to release chronic muscle tension and knots.

Aromatherapy

Best for: Improving energy blockages

Feeling drained, lazy or grumpy? Improve your flow of energy while detoxifying the body by treating yourself to an aromatherapy massage custom built to cater to your mood. Aromatherapists interview each guest to determine goals for the session and craft a unique blend of essential oils accordingly to help relieve stress, ease anxiety or eliminate toxins.

Reflexology

Best for: Boosting immune function, stress relief, detoxifying

Reflexology is the ancient art of applying pressure to reflex points on the soles of the feet, hands and ears as an alternative health treatment, utilizing the body’s natural capacity to heal itself. Each pressure point corresponds with an organ and system of the body and can be manipulated to promote overall well being and release blocked energy throughout the body.

Sports massage

Best for: Preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance

Whether you’re sore from beach yoga, biking the MacArthur Causeway or jogging the sandy shores of South Beach, a muscle-melting sports massage pinpoints your most painful parts with deep muscle work to target problem areas causing pain and inhibiting performance training.

McAllister’s professionally trained therapists identify the exact location and intensity of discomfort and employ a variety of firm stroking techniques to break down scar tissue and improve elasticity to effectively increase mobility, stimulate blood flow and relieve chronic pain. Sports massages can be performed prior to a bout of heavy exertion to prime muscle tissue or after to flush the system after a race or sporting event.