Deep Tissue Massage | Aromatherapy for Stress Reduction

In addition to being a photographer, I am also a Licensed Massage Practitioner, or LMP.

Just about everyone I know loves a massage. Wouldn't we all get one at least once a week if it didn't cost so much? 

Even after a hectic day at work, once I get onto my massage therapist's table, I know I'll be able to let it all go and forget it for awhile. My love of massage led me to attend massage school four years ago.

Benefits of Massage 

Massage is not a new trend in alternative medicine. It has been used for various purposes since ancient history all around the world 1. It is used not only to affect muscles, but tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, lymphatic vessels, and connective tissue as well. 


The benefits of massage include pain relief from injuries, reduction of anxiety and depression, and increased attention. Massage also timulates the immune system and temporarily reduces blood pressure and heart rate. The benefits of massage can be experienced after a single session and may be derived from the blocking of nociception, the perception of physical pain. 

Other physiological responses that benefit the body are the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulation of the production of endorphins and serotonin, increased flow of lymphatic fluids, and improved sleep.

Massage Specialties

Among the methods that I studied were Swedish massage, deep tissue, sports massage, pregnancy massage, trigger point therapy, and aromatherapy. I'll give a brief introduction to each modality here. 


Swedish is a relaxing technique that uses flowing strokes to increase circulation and decrease pain in the body. It is also useful in reducing joint stiffness, however there is no substitute for daily stretching! 


Deep tissue massage is incorporated with Swedish strokes once the area is warmed up and can tolerate slower, deeper strokes. These therapeutic techniques help relax chronically tensed muscles. Sometimes after an area has been worked deeply, it will feel sore the day after like you had worked out the previous day. Commonly sore muscles are shown in the diagram below. 

Muscles of the Back

Sports massage can help every athlete improve their performance, whether you like to run marathons, mountain bike, swim, or build strength and endurance at the gym.  Sports massage incorporates stretching and deep tissue strokes targeted at different muscle groups worked harder in your sport. 

Pre- and post-event massages help warm up muscles before the event and rid them of toxins after the event that increase muscle soreness during those painful recovery days. Cramp release techniques are a necessity for tired and twitching muscles after a long marathon or triathalon. 

Note: Deep tissue methods should not be used on the day of your sporting event. Be sure to choose a sports massage therapist who knows this, otherwise your performance might be hindered. 

The picture below shows me volunteering with my sports massage classmates at the Long Beach Marathon in Los Angeles, California.

Candice Betty Sports Massage Volunteer Long Beach Marathon

Another massage modality that I enjoy is massage for back pain reduction during pregnancy. Pregnancy massage helps promote the well-being of you and your baby. Common symptoms during pregnancy are back, shoulder and hip pain, swelling in the limbs, headaches, and foot pain. Massage can help alleviate the muscle aches and pains associated with bearing extra weight in the abdomen and moving differently during pregnancy.

Keep in mind that therapists must be trained in pregnancy massage techniques to avoid certain areas on the body during pregnancy. 

Trigger point therapy is an awesome method to incorporate with massage, which is used to treat dysfunction in the neuromuscular junction. This causes local and referred pain, which can be difficult to pinpoint because the source of the problem is not always where the pain is. 

Headaches can be caused by untreated trigger points. Trigger point therapy is different than reflexology, acupressure, and pressure point massage. Ask your massage therapist if they have studied trigger point therapy - only the best ones have!

Other massage methods incorporate aromatherapy, which can be used to balance the body and mind, whether you need relaxation, rejuvenation, clarifying, or uplifting.  Aromatherapy is commonly used with Swedish massage, but it can be incorporated into any style. It is used to facilitate the body's systems used for the removal of toxins, relieve tension, and promote well-being.

Lavender Essential oil

If you're interested in aromatherapy, the following is a table that you can use as a reference guide. Mix these essential oils into a carrier oil, such as almond oil, and massage into clean skin. 

Oil	Uses
Lavender	relaxation, calming, balancing antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant, sedative, detoxifier use on burns
Rosemary	stimulant for mental and physical body antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, adrenal stimulant  muscular strains and sprains, headaches, fatigue, congestion, prevents scar tissue formation
Bergamot	refreshing, uplifting,  antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, analgesic, sedative, expectorant, deodorizer can be slightly irritating to skin
Peppermint	digestive aid, headaches, fatigue anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, expectorant, stimulant, vasoconstrictor cooling
Tea Tree	antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic treatment of infections, ringworm, sunburn, acne, athlete's foot, gum disease caution when applying full strength
Lemon	antiseptic, antibacterial, heart tonic use for insect bites, tension headaches uplifting stimulates immune system
Tangerine	soothing, calming, for insomnia promotes digestion
Juniper	purifies blood protection when doing treatments
Geranium	eases stress antidepressant, adrenal and hormone balancer, detoxifier, sedative, antiseptic good for PMS and female disorders
Clary Sage	antidepressant, antiseptic, astringent, aphrodisiac, sedative, tonic relieves PMS, soothing, relaxing
Clove	antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, disinfectant relieves toothache pain, asthma, sinusitis do not use directly on skin
Eucalyptus	antiviral, antiseptic, stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic cools the body in summer and warms in winter effective treatment for candida, diabetes, sunburn, congestion, cough, neuralgia

Reference: 
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage