A full body massage consists, first of all, of the client undressed to his/her undergarments (or completely undressed as he/she feels comfortable).

The client lies on the massage table draped with fresh linens, the lights are usually dimmed, and relaxing music is played in the background.

The full body massage includes the neck, the back, the arms (front & back), the glutes (buttocks, bare or through the sheet, depending on the client's comfort level), legs (front & back), hands & feet.

The basic and most common "Swedish Massage" focuses mainly on relaxtion. As you get into "Deep Tissue" (which can be incorporated into Swedish work), the client's muscles are worked on directly to work out any tension and/or knots the clients may be dealing with.

Only the part of the body that is being massaged is exposed.The client is made to feel as comfortable as possible at all times. Communication between the therapist and the client during the session is encouraged; a client should never feel they cannot vocalize any pain or discomfort they may experience.

Stretching is often incorporated into massage as well. When receiving a deeper massage, especially, the muscles get worked in a similar fashion as when one exercises. Thus, it is wise to stretch out those muscles to avoid further tension and/or pain.

Back Massage

The back is the most popular area of the body to massage. It feels great; it has essential muscles we use to walk, move, lift, and do daily activities.

With so many muscles involved, it is possible to spend an entire session (one hour) working on the back, neck, and arms. Many can benefit from this type of focused therapy, including those in manual labor industries, dancers and other movement artists, and countless others.

Neck Massage

The sensitive area of the neck houses the muscles that hold your head up all day long, in addition to the arteries, veins, nerves, and the top of the spine.

This small area does a great deal for the body, and is often one of the sorest areas on a person's body. Though you cannot apply a great deal of pressure to the neck, it doesn't take much to relieve the built-up tension from hours of work (and other activities). One of the benefits of a neck massage is the option to be fully clothed. Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of being unclothed with a stranger. Chair massage includes the neck in a fashion allowing maximum satisfaction with minimal disruption to a person's level of comfort regarding personal contact. If you're looking to receive a massage but are still hesitant, this is a great place to start!

The Lighter Side of Massage

There are countless ways to relax the body without a single stroke of massage. Polarity is a great addition to massage, as well as a therapeutic activity on its own. Polarity (or Energy Work) focuses on the body's energry. This comes from Eastern philosophy Qi(Chi) and the Chakra's in a person's body.

While not everyone believes a body has Chakra's, it is agreed by most that the body is an energy-filled being. With this in mind, Polarity focuses on centering that energy from chaotic and uncontrolled to calm and collected.

Depending on your level of acceptance to this philosophy, a great experience can come of these sessions. Many therapists include it, mostly in the beginning and ending of sessions, as it greatly assists in calming the client.