Eastern-Style Massage vs Western-Style Massage?

There is no denying and debating that in this fast-paced, stressful world, soothing and relaxing therapy is all that you need.

Massage therapy has been a crucial approach to rejuvenating and relieving the tension from the body, both physically and mentally. But do you know that there are different types of massage therapies based on the philosophies and approaches?

Yes, we are talking about Western and Eastern massage therapies and how they are different from each other. Hence, we are here with an interesting piece of information that will provide useful insights into the basic dissimilarities between these approaches.

So sit back, relax, and read this blog to know more about a healthier you using these holistic approaches.

What is an Eastern Massage Therapy?

Eastern massage is a type of therapy that focuses on the root cause of the issue and promotes overall wellness and health. If you wish to address the energy flow and balance, you can certainly opt for the eastern approach. One such way in which this approach works is by diagnosing the issue first by checking the pulse at three major points.

The catch is to use specialized procedures like stimulation to relieve pain and restore the meridians of the body’s energy to bring it to the level of consciousness and feeling. A few examples of Eastern massage therapies are Zhi Ya, Tui Na, Shiatsu, Ayurvedic massage, Balinese Massage, and Thai Massage.

What is a Western Massage Therapy?

If you wish to have a relaxed massage therapy that boosts circulation and relieves muscle tension, go for a Western massage. The famous western massage therapies include Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release Massage, and more.

Furthermore, western massage therapists are inclined towards a mechanistic approach to healing the body. This approach helps in diagnosing the problem in specific areas and addressing it directly thereafter.

Lastly, western massage promotes to soothe tension in symptomatic areas. This style is famous for using the following five strokes:

Kneading
Gliding
Tapping
Friction
Vibration

Which Therapy Will Work Best for Me?

When it comes to choosing the most suitable therapy for you, you ought to consider your personal bodily requirements. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to anything because each body demands different types of attention and care.

In case you wish to focus on specific regions of the body and areas, you can certainly opt for the Western approach. However, if you want to give a spiritual and more holistic swing to your body, focusing on mindfulness, choose Eastern therapy and communicate with your therapist accordingly.
Differentiating Between Eastern Massage Therapy and Western Massage Therapy
While in Western massage, the therapist will straightaway ask for the pain and discomfort, the Eastern massage therapist will hunt down the pulse points and source of origin. That is not all, the eastern massage techniques are prone to be more thorough and careful in contrast to the western massage techniques.

All in all, the Eastern techniques work on the body, labeling it as a unified system, whereas the Western approach will only work on particular areas having pain or disease.

Furthermore, eastern massage techniques work to harmonize the body as a whole to maintain a balanced mind and body, while the western style massage targets the specific parts only.

Final Takeaway

No matter whichever massage therapy you choose, the ultimate goal to achieve is a trouble-free and relaxed mind. We hope that the difference provided above between the Eastern massage and Western massage techniques is sufficient to help you analyze your requirements and the message you need according to your body.

Lastly, never ever ignore your physical and mental pain. Listen to your body and revitalize your mind with massage therapies in this stressful world.