Massage has becomes a vital aspect of general health for lots of Malaysians living in today's hectic working environment. It is no longer consider an activity merely for pampering or relaxation.

Numerous massage parlours and spas have been established to cater for the increasing demands. And various types of massage therapy are available in these places.

Here is the list of massage therapies that are commonly found in Malaysia.

Thai massage

Thai massage is a form of massage that entails stretching, pressure point and deep massage. This therapy is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that permit for movement. No oils are applied in Thai massage. The therapists are usually from Thai and use far more parts of their body like feet, elbows, and palms to massage.

Reflexology

This is the most common massage in Malaysia. Reflexology is based on the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all the glands, organs and parts of the body. Therefore, giving pressure to the reflex areas can promote health in the corresponding parts. Reflexology massage make use of hands and fingers.

Swedish massage

Swedish massage employs 5 styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are sliding or gliding, kneading, rhythmic tapping, cross fiber and vibration/shaking. The hand pressure can range from gentle to promote relaxation, to firm but not as firm as in deep tissue massage.

Tui na

Tui Na literally means "pushing" and "grasping". Tui Na methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft muscle of the body, acupressure techniques which directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the muscles and ligaments. The utilization of Tui Na is more for medical purposes rather than the simple relaxation of a Swedish-style massage.

Traditional Malay massage

The local traditional massage combines slow rhythmic gliding stepping, strokes, stretching, long kneading, deep tissue and pressure applied to every portion of the body. It's efficient in calming the nerves and improving overall well-being.

Well, the above list is by no means exhaustive. If you want to get more information related to massage therapy or spa in Malaysia, kindly refer to the malaysia massage blog at http://www.massagemalaysia.com