There’s much more to massage than making you feel good – massage can be a key part of your health and fitness programme.

Research shows that massage is often used by women to help relieve stress or aching muscles.

Those suffering from muscle tension, headaches, neck and back problems will often use massage to find relief.

But there’s more to a good massage than that just that. Massage also has a positive effect on muscle-building capabilities and on levels of fitness.

While a massage won’t build muscle directly, it does improve blood circulation and helps your body rebuild following exercise or a workout.

A good massage also helps reduce muscle fatigue which helps you recover quickly, and more fully, following exercise.

Massage therapists offer a range of different treatments, all designed to do something specific.

Those treatments include:

- Swedish Massage Therapy

Massage therapists use gentle and relaxing long, smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil.

- Aromatherapy Massage

Like Swedish massage therapy but with the addition of scented plant oils (essential oils) to address specific needs.

- Hot Stone Massage

Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centres.

- Deep Tissue Massage

Targets deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. Used for tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems, or recovery from injury.

- Shiatsu

A form of Japanese massage that uses localised finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians.

- Thai Massage

Aligns the body’s energies using gentle pressure on specific points. Thai massage also includes compressions and stretches. The therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures

- Sports Massage

Specifically designed for people who are involved in sport. The focus is on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance.