Splurging on a Massage

The delicious walking–on-air relaxation, lush flush in your skin and serene sense of well-being you get from a massage make it worth the occasional splurge. But choosing a massage isn’t as straightforward as it used to be at most health clubs, spas and resorts, where massage menus are getting more exotic and more need- and taste-specific.

Here's a quick guide to the most popular types of professionally offered massage now, courtesy of Isadora Guggenheim, LMT (licensed massage therapist, a nationally-recognized certification), in New York.

Swedish massage is traditionally not a deep massage. Its long, stroking movements promote circulation by bringing blood back to the heart. Oils may or may not be used; either way, the effect should be relaxing.

Shiatsu, Japanese pressure-point massage uses acupressure on energy meridians throughout the body that relate to each organ. Acupressure is done principally using the fingertips. The objective of shiatsu is to rebalance the energy lines in the body so that all its systems work more optimally. It's common to feel as if you're moving more lightly and fluidly after you've had shiatsu.

Sports massage is often used by professional athletes before and after performance. Guggenheim says that everyone can benefit from a sports massage anytime and, like the pros, may find that it enhances performance. It's a good way to warm up and stretch muscles before a workout and it helps with alignment, because "you're correcting tight muscles," says Guggenheim. After a workout, it decreases the lactic acid buildup that occurs with exercise, thereby reducing painful stiffness.

Stress-reduction or relaxing massage focuses on the mind/body connection to help manage stress. "It connects with the biochemical feedback systems," explains Guggenheim. During a stress-reduction massage, you'll produce endorphins -- responsible for the "high" you feel after a great workout. This massage also increases glandular secretions and metabolic waste removal, important for health and well-being.

Neuromuscular massage is a very deep body work, isolating each muscle one at a time and releasing them sequentially. It's generally done as a series of visits. Guggenheim calls NMT "medical massage" and frequently gets referrals from physicians to help treat patients with headache clusters, scoliosis, TMJ and auto-accident injuries. NMT is therapeutic but not necessarily relaxing, advises Guggenheim. "Most people don't fall asleep."