Whether you’re feeling in need of an energy boost or you’re feeling a bit stressed, Chinese massage could revitalise you. This therapy focuses on boosting the circulation to various pressure points in the body, aiming to balance your life energy, or ‘Qi’. And the techniques may not be quite what you’re used to, but they all have a purpose (even the pinching – trust us).
-
1 Stretching
The therapist will usually do this – to you – at the start of a session, to warm up your muscles and relax you before the massage gets going. We know that this all sounds all a bit 50 Shades – but at the end you'll feel de-stressed and invigorated.
-
2 Friction
Your therapist will be aiming to create heat on the body using rapid movement of the hands. That results in small circular movements on your skin that are oddly soothing. This part's to improve your circulation.
-
3 Vibration
The grand finale. Chinese massage traditionally uses vibration towards the end to release stagnant energy. That should relieve any stubborn traces of tension that somehow managed to stick around through the pinching. With this in mind, don’t be alarmed if your therapist lifts up your leg and shakes it around. At this stage in the session, you probably won't even blink.
-
4 Pinching
Pinching sounds mean, but really, that's not the intention. Working rhythmically, your therapist may squeeze or gently twist your flesh. Techniques like this aim to stimulate you (yang) or calm you (yin) to achieve the coveted yin-yang harmony.
-
5 Pressing
Chinese massage stimulates different parts of the body by working on acupressure points. This can relieve stiffness and pain, balance energy and blood flow, and enhance the body’s repair system. And yep, this requires some pretty firm pressure indeed. Brace yourself for percussive sound effects too – such as tapping, knocking, striking and clapping.