According to freelance massage therapist Marline Alten, the definition of a massage is when therapists press, rub and otherwise control and manipulate muscles, body parts and other soft tissue of the body.

“Using long strokes, therapists rub in deep circular movements and use vibration and tapping techniques until satisfaction is achieved. Therapists use their hands and fingers, but may also use their forearms, elbows or feet,” said Alten.

Therapists say that massages can be used for a variety of health-related purposes, including relieving pain, rehabilitating sports injuries, reducing stress, increasing relaxation, addressing anxiety and depression and aiding in general wellness.

“Experts say that 90 percent of diseases are stress related. And, perhaps nothing ages the human being faster, internally and externally, than elevated stress. When you get rid of both anxiety and pressure, it can be idealistic. Massages can, without a doubt, help manage stress, as they can reduce anxiety, improve sleep and rest, provide you with energy, enhance concentration, provide emotional balance bodywork, boost blood circulation and shrink fatigue. All that is beneficial to all people, whether they are sick or healthy,” added Alten.

Clients have to be comfortable around their masseuse, point out their soreness and not be shy of expressing their points of view so that the therapist can work his/her way around the comments, said Alten.

“Many people have difficulty being in a state of semi-nudity even in front of a doctor, let alone a masseuse. Most massage therapist practitioners utilize various methods to make clients feel more comfortable, and less showing during a session to make the experience less awkward,” she added.

According to Alten, a normal massage session can take from 60 minutes up to 90 minutes. “In order to achieve full satisfaction, we ask our clients to empty their schedule for at least two hours and just relax when we give the treatment. You cannot multi task when it comes to massage because you need to be focused on your relaxation and not think about daily life problems. That always help with the heeling process,” she said.

There are different kinds of massage therapies that involve using hands and other objects such as stones to apply pressure on the body; each offers different therapeutic benefits, ranging from pure relaxation to easing muscle tension. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are about 100 different kinds of massage therapies, but the following six are the best:

Swedish Massage. This is a deep-tissue massage where a therapist uses his/her hands to knead the skin using long strokes.

Hot Stone Massage. This massage involves the use of the hands and heated and oiled stones to provide relaxation and ease muscle tension. Basalt or jade stones, when heated, can expand blood vessels, which improves circulation. A stone massage also can involve chilled stones made of marble and jade.

Shiatsu Massage. This massage uses pressure points to stimulate blood flow and balance to the body. Shiatsu is built around the principle that when the body is in balance, a life force known as chi flows freely. When inflammation or stress unbalances the body, chi can be restored by rubbing the body in a certain manner to open any blocked areas.

Sports Massage. This massage blends two types of massage therapies: Swedish and Shiatsu. The therapy was developed to help athletes relieve muscle tension and strain, according to Drew University. During a sports massage, a masseuse applies pressure using the hands at 12 points athletes use to derive movement.

Pregnancy Massage. This massage alleviates the unique aches and pains a woman may experience while expecting. This includes increasing circulation to provide relaxation and relieve back pain. This massage attempts to be calming and relaxing, not strenuous to the body as a Swedish massage can be.

Thai Massage. This massage resembles yoga in that the massage is performed on a mat and involves full-body manipulations. Wearing soft, comfortable clothing, the massage recipient stretches and manipulates the body into a series of poses. While he/she achieves these positions, a masseuse uses his/her hands to apply pressure to the body. This massage involves numerous manipulations of the body, including walking on the recipient's back.

Massage therapy is a growing aspect of private care and abnormal healing art. While it's very calming and comforting, massage therapy does have its downsides. “Every licensed therapeutic masseuse has different training than the other, so one has to make sure that the masseuse has the proper training to insure a safe service,” advised Alten.

“If a massage is not done by a professional, it might cause bruising and muscle soreness that lasts for several days, and in some cases, nerve damage, which can set off nerve-related illnesses,” she added.