The Affordable Laser Difference: Massage

Swedish Massage: This is likely the most common type of massage, sometimes referred to as 'traditional massage.' It as the first modern method of massage. Techniques include long gliding strokes, kneading, friction, tapping and shaking motions that affect the nerves, muscles and glands. It's ideal for relaxation, increasing circulation and energizing you.

Deep Tissue Massage: This is a deep massage meant to reach deep into your muscles and "unstick" the fibers they contain. This is done by deep muscle compression and putting friction along the grain of the muscle. It is especially good for muscle damage from an injury such as whiplash or back strain, and it helps release toxins and break patterns of tension.

Sports Massage: This massage is meant to help prevent athletic injury, relieve swelling, fatigue and muscle tension, increase flexibility and help enhance athletic performance. It can be used before, during and after an athletic event. The techniques used depend on the athlete and the specific outcomes desired.

Reiki: This is a Japanese technique that literally means "universal life energy." It came to the United States in the 1930s after being developed in the 19th century by a Christian Japanese monk, Dr. Mikao Usua, who discovered the technique in ancient manuscripts. In it, hands are placed on specific positions on or above the body in order to transmit the healing "life energy." It's used to relieve pain, heal illness and help with spiritual growth.

Shiatsu: This massage is a form of acupressure (shiatsu means "finger pressure") that's been used for over 1,000 years in Japan. The technique includes pressure applied to specific points along the body's meridians to stimulate the flow of energy. Fingers, hands, elbows, knees or feet may be used to apply the pressure. It's used for pain relief, relaxation and to heal illness.

Thai Massage: The best way to describe this interactive massage is it's a cross between shiatsu, acupressure and yoga. Pressure is applied to your body's energy meridians to help stimulate energy movement in the body while you stretch in yoga-like poses to relieve muscle and joint tension. This massage is used for both relaxation and stimulation, and helps to stimulate internal organs, reduce tension and balance the body's energy system.

Hot Stone Therapy: Typically used in health spas, this massage uses heated stones that are positioned on the body and moved around with light pressure.

Reflexology: This is an acupressure-like technique that's based on the ancient Oriental belief that meridian lines carry energy throughout your body. Each zone has a corresponding reflex point on the feet that can stimulate a certain organ. It became popular in the 1930s. When a certain reflex point is stimulated, congestion of the related organ is said to be cleared out. It's used to help restore health.

Rolfing (aka Structural Integration): American biochemist Dr. Ida Rolf developed rolfing in the 1930s. Dr. Rolf believed that gravity and simply living would push your body out of alignment and weaken your entire system. The massage typically consists of 10 sessions focused on the myofascial tissue that is meant to rebalance and realign your body.