More About Massage and Facials

Here at Ally Massage Therapy all our massage treatment are bespoke. This means your therapist will use a range of techniques and styles tailored to suit you. We have found that with massage there is no such thing as one treatment fits all. Most people often need a combination of things, our bodies are all unique and so are we. For example, if you are craving a deep tissue massage for you painful shoulders, but you may also really need to rest and relax with an indian head massage a bespoke treatment is ideal. The most important thing is to communicate clearly with your therapist and use the client consultation to express your needs. You may not really know what massage you want or need and that's ok too, our team are brilliant at work intuitively with clients. Below there is some more information about the many different types of massage. If you have any questions about your treatment please get in touch.

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Holistic Facial

A holistic facial has many benefits that are more than skin deep. It combines the techniques of a traditional facial with the therapeutic effects of holistic massage, and most importantly, takes the whole person into consideration in a treatment.

Instead of using invasive procedures, chemicals and machines, a holistic facial focuses on a variety of massage techniques to increase circulation, remove toxins and stimulate the production of collagen - keeping the skin looking young and healthy. It’s also great for releasing tension, headaches, sinus congestion and anxiety.

Your skin is a reflection of everything that’s going on inside your body and as your largest organ, the skin needs to maintain correct balance to function optimally. From emotional stress and hormonal imbalances to diet, lifestyle and pollution - your skin is constantly trying to balance itself against internal and external factors - which is why a holistic approach to skin care is so important.

Swedish Massage

When you think of a classic massage, you’re actually thinking of a Swedish massage. It is the most commonly practised massage therapy and offers you a wonderful relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

The goal of Swedish massage is to improve your circulation and promote relaxation through soothing your muscles. The techniques involve soft strokes over areas which are more prone to pain, or without much muscle coverage. Where the muscles are thicker, the pressure is changed and the massage is deeper.

Deep Tissue

Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish, however a deeper pressure is applied by the Massage Therapist, which helps to relieve muscles of chronic tension. The focus of this pressure is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).

There are a number of things that might cause adhesions and chronic tension; from stress, insomnia, posture and lack of stretching down after exercise to name but a few. Adhesions not only disrupt circulation but can also cause pain, inflammation and limited movement.

Getting a deep tissue massage allows your body to release additional stress and toxins that contribute to conditions that produce headaches and migraines.

Pregnancy Massage

A pregnancy massage is a specially adapted gentle and soothing massage tailored specifically for the mother-to-be. As a term, ‘pregnancy massage’ applies to any hands-on massage treatment for a woman during her pregnancy. It can therefore vary enormously in terms of what it consists of. However, for many women, pregnancy massage benefits include easing aches and pains, as well as facilitating relaxation and preparation for labour.

As with other body massages, you’ll lie on a massage table and you may be given additional cushions or specially shaped bolsters, to make lying more comfortable. Usually you’ll lie on your side, particularly later in pregnancy, when this is more comfortable.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a non-invasive complementary health therapy that can be effective in promoting deep relaxation and wellbeing; by reducing stress in people’s lives can be key in optimising good health and building resilience. It is a touch therapy that is based on the theory that different points on the feet, lower leg, hands, face or ears correspond with different areas of the body and reflexologists work these points and areas.

The reflexologist simply works those reflected areas with their sensitive fingers, aiming to bring those areas back to balance and therefore aiding the body to work as well as it can. Reflexology very much works on an individual basis, the reflexologist provides professional facilitation of your body’s own potential for well-being.

Head Massage

Despite the relatively immobile cranium, small muscles around the head respond well to touch. And this part of the body is the closest to the brain, which processes sensations. The parts of the body that typically receive massage are the back and legs.

Massage helps ease muscle spasms and knots in parts of the body prone to tightness and tension. Obviously, the scalp and back of the head contain only small muscles that play no part in moving your body around or resisting heavy loads. But tension can build up in this area. And new studies have found that the body’s response to touch near the head is more complex than we once thought.