I’ve had my fair share of massages, from Swedish to deep tissue; each having its own special touch on soothing the body. As part of my mission to beat the heat, I decided to tour the valley’s offering of massages. I explored everything from hot stone to cranial sacral to reflexology.
I began my massage mission at Massage Envy in phoenix. Specializing in massage, Massage Envy offers almost every type of massage out there including trigger point, Swedish, deep tissue, sports, reflexology, cranial sacral, hot stone, chair, prenatal and geriatric.
As an avid suffer of neck and joint pain, I opted to try Massage Envy’s cranial sacral massage, as cranial therapy is designed to realign bones and eliminate the effects of stress. Cranial sacral therapy is also said to relieve migraine headaches as well as joint pain and inflammation.
According to Massage Envy, “cranial sacral therapy (also known as craniosacral therapy) is a gentle, noninvasive form of alternative medicine that deals with the movement of the fluid surrounding the skull and spine.”
For about $80 with tip, I enjoyed a massage that was both relaxing and beneficial to relieving my neck and back pain. I’d highly recommend cranial sacral for anyone with neck, back and head problems.
My next massage venture took me Queen Creek Reflexology in Gilbert. A newbie to the world of reflexology, I was a little nervous. However, I felt a little relief having heard great things about reflexology including that it can ease discomfort associated with arthritis, chronic pain, diabetes, fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), headaches, heel pain (Planter Fasciitis), insomnia and lymphedema, according to azreflexologycare.com.
My session combined relaxation with the work of reflexology. The reflexologist worked on my hands and feet using soft touch and pushing certain areas, which I later learned correspond to other part of the body. According to Queen Creek Reflexology, “the physical act of applying specific pressures using thumb, finger and hand techniques result in stress reduction, which causes a physiological change in the body.”
For $45, I received a unique experience that helped ease some of my pain. I would recommend reflexology for suffers of the above conditions. However, if you’re looking for more of a relaxing, feel-good experience, my next massage sampling may be right for you.
Voted "best massage” 2008 & 2009, I decided to get my next massage at Elements Therapeutic Massage in Scottsdale. I opted for pure relaxation with their hot stone massage. Hot stone massage “combines Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage with smooth basalt stones heated to 125 degrees,” according to Elements.
My treatment combined the traditional elements of massage while utilizing hot stones. The therapist used the stones throughout the treatment for both massaging as well as by placing them on specific parts of my body. The stones are said to release energy in the body. In addition, according to Elements, the stones’ heat allows muscles relax quicker, release more toxins and provide “a deeper sense of relaxation.”
For around $90, this 55-minute treatment is well-worth it. I’d recommend hot stone massage for anyone looking for the ultimate relaxing massage.
My massage sampling proved successful as I found treatments that provided both relaxation as well as stress and pain relief. Each massage was unique in its own way. For massage enthusiast, determine what you’re looking for in a massage and then do your homework to decide what type of massage is right for you.
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