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Massage types differ in three main ways: what tools are used, whether you are clothed, and the goal. Everything else is just a variation. Here are the most common types, including their technique, clothing requirements, duration, and intended purpose. For a quick answer: Classical massage is the right choice if a specific muscle is tense. Thai and Shiatsu massages work on the entire system, not just one area.
The ten common species
Classic massage
Also known as Swedish massage, it's the most common type in Germany. It involves applying oil to the skin using five basic techniques: stroking, kneading, rubbing, tapping, and vibration. The focus is on individual, tense muscle groups. You lie on a massage table and are unclothed in the treated area. A typical session lasts 30 to 60 minutes. It's the right choice if you can pinpoint the location of the pain.
Thai massage
Clothed, without oil, on a mat on the floor. Instead of kneading, pressure is applied to specific points, accompanied by guided stretches. More vigorous than a wellness massage and, for many, the most unusual experience because the movements are passive. 60 to 120 minutes. Detailed information: traditional Thai massage.
Shiatsu
The Japanese form is also performed clothed and without oil. The massage is done with the thumbs, palms, and elbows, using steady pressure along energy lines. It is calmer and less stretching than Thai massage. The term also appears in the context of equipment: Shiatsu massage cushions mimic the circular movements with rotating massage heads.
Hot Stone
Heated basalt stones are placed on the body and used as an extension of the hand. The focus is on the warmth; the pressure is gentle. The treatment typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Not suitable for those with circulatory problems, inflammation, or nerve damage with impaired temperature sensation.
Reflexology
The foot is divided into zones that correspond to other areas of the body. The massage is performed using thumb pressure and usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes. The zone model is an explanatory model and not an anatomical description. Nevertheless, many people find it very pleasant as a foot massage.
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Sports Massage
More powerful and targeted than a classic massage, designed to address the specific muscle groups used in a sport. Short and stimulating before competition, longer and more relaxing afterward.
Aromatherapy massage
Technically, it's a classic massage with essential oils. The process is calmer, the strokes more broad. Because oil is involved, the same rules apply as with a classic massage: the area being treated is undressed, and towels cover the rest.
Lymphatic drainage
Very gentle, rhythmic strokes designed to support lymphatic drainage. Unlike other types, it is often prescribed by doctors, for example after surgery. It is not a wellness program or a vigorous massage.
Lomi Lomi
Hawaiian style, large-scale application using forearms and plenty of oil, in flowing, long movements over several areas of the body. Often described as particularly enveloping.
Massage in a massage chair
The only type of exercise that doesn't require a second person. Rollers move along a track on the back, while air chambers compress the arms, legs, and shoulders. The advantage is its availability: ten minutes in the evening, no appointment necessary. What a chair can't do is stretch and target specific areas. All models at a glance.
Which type for what purpose
- A specific area is tense. Classic massage or sports massage.
- My whole body feels stiff. Thai massage, because of the stretching.
- You want to find peace and quiet. Hot stone, aromatic oil or lomi lomi.
- You don't like being touched on bare skin. Thai or Shiatsu, both clothed.
- You need it regularly and at short notice. Massage chair or massage device for home use.
- There is a medical indication. Lymphatic drainage or physiotherapy, not wellness.
This applies almost everywhere
Drink something afterwards, don't schedule an appointment immediately after a longer treatment, and let us know in advance if you have any pre-existing conditions or are taking medication. In case of pregnancy, thrombosis, acute inflammation, fever, or recent injuries, any massage should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
Briefly summarized
- Thai massage and Shiatsu are performed while clothed and without oil, while all other forms use oil on the skin.
- For a single tense area, classic massage is the most obvious choice.
- Stretching is only found in Thai massage; no device can replace it.
- Lymphatic drainage is a medical procedure, not a wellness massage.
- A massage chair doesn't replace a type of person, it complements them by adding availability.
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By the NAIPO editorial team Massage and product experts from Hamburg
Product experts, service technicians and massage enthusiasts from Alsterwell GmbH — specializing in massage technology for over a decade, with its own workshop and showrooms for test sitting.
Reviewed by David Eberst, co-founder of NAIPO
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