HONG KONG THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

Types & Techniques

Hong Kong Massage wonderful universe offer all massage techniques of all massage types schools from all parts of the world, Therefore we begin with this page an anthology of all the following types of massage schools and their techniques that can be found in Hong Kong S.A.R. :

Chinese Traditional Massage Tui Na, An Mo, Acupressure and Reflexology, Aromatherapy Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Lymphatic drainage, Japanese Anma Massage, Japanese Shiatsu Massage, Watsu Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, Ayurvedic Massage, Lomi Lomi Massage, and Therapeutic Medical Sexual organs Massage, this last, including medical techniques like Karsai Nei Tsang, it is to be very carefully distinguished and separated from the popular Happy Ending Sensual Tantric Massages which, these last ones, they are a completely different type of art that we will not address.

Hong Kong Massage: Traditional Chinese Massage, Tui Na , An Mo

Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Massage is a therapeutic massage of very ancient origin and with an amazing academical and technical history, it evolved steadily across centuries getting today to a very high level of sophistication, effectiveness and refinement.

 Hong Kong Traditional Chinese Massage foundation principles are the same of the Chinese acupuncture, which take root in the very ancient Taoist Philosophy and its cosmological view.

Taoist philosophy deems the universal energy called in Chinese Chi (or QI) as the central pivotal concept for every aspect of life including the human body functions. In this Taoist view, the Yin and yang laws and the five elements energies are applied to the human body energy channels network (called meridians) and they are the essential rules that every Hong Kong Massage therapist apply adamantly.

The body acupuncture and tendons meridians connect the internal organs to the full human body, mind, and spirit system and allow the circulation and growth of this body vital energy Chi (Qi). The Chi distribute the blood everywhere in the body supporting all life functions like digestive, immune, hormonal and so on, and furthermore shape our feelings and emotions. In this Taoist Traditional Chinese medicine, the human body, mind and spirit “health” is strongly linked to the concept of balance between yin and yang and between the meridians and five elements frequencies, thus through this point of view any energy unbalance can cause disease in the body, mind and spirit. Indeed, a good Hong Kong Chinese Therapeutic massage should aim at restoring balance and harmony in the body of the patient and hopefully also in the mind and heart.

Hong Kong Massage Therapist will try to increase the tone where energy is weak, and to disperse the excess of energy in the body areas where the energy is too strong.   In China and in Hong Kong there is active medical research on the massage field particularly about two areas:

first is the recovery of all ancient techniques enhancing their precision and value, second area of research is to develop new methods thanks to modern science applied to ancient knowledge.

The highest level of Hong Kong Traditional Massage is defined by two locutions: the first is Tui Na, this term originate in the time before Ming dynasty thus is pretty ancient, it means “push and grab”. The second locution is “An Mo” and it originate in the time after the Ming dynasty and it somehow translates as “light touch & friction”. Currently in Chinese the two locutions may be used indifferently but in the practice there is a difference, An Mo label the set of lighter and softer manipulations while Tui Na refer to the more intense and strong hands maneuvers.  

Hong Kong Chinese Traditional massage has different level of professionalism and integration with the medical profession. The higher levels of An Mo & Tui Na massage require massage therapists with good medical training and qualifications. The lower levels of TuiNa/An Mo, including basic acupressure and reflexology, allow also for health & fitness level massage therapists.

Hong Kong Massage: Aromatherapy In Hong Kong

The Aromatherapy massage is widely practiced both in Hong Kong SPAs and as well as in Outcall Massage operations. The aromatherapy Oil massage practice is historically rooted in the most ancient civilizations (Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, and all Mediterranean ancient people) which, since millennia, used essential oils for health and cosmetic purposes. We prefer not to go here through all the details and intricacies of the more or less documented health promoting properties of today Hong Kong aromatherapy massage essential oils. It is enough to say that for a top quality SPA massage operator (both Incall & Outcall massage activity) it is imperative to select high end essential massage oils with certified standard content of components and tested hypoallergenic quality. The aromatherapy oil will affect the massage patient body both through the brain reaction to the aroma by the olfactory system and as well, the specific chemical effects of the oil after absorption in the body tissues. These good quality aromatherapy massage oils composition encompass mainly plants extracts, they are obtained through distillation, solvent, infusion. Claimed benefits of aromatherapy massage mostly cover body pain reduction, emotional relaxation improvement, energy recovery. As massage experts, we recommend not to take the aromatherapy massage as a medical treatment but more as a fitness booster. In Serenity SPA Hong Kong, we source only high quality certified hypoallergenic Aromatherapy Oils to be used in our Therapeutic and Sensual Massage sessions.

Hong Kong Massage: Swedish massage

Some claims the Swedish massage to be the most practiced massage technique in the world nowadays (outside of Hong Kong of course), it is for this reason probably that it is also simply known as “classic massage”. Swedish massage uses five main kinds of body touch strokes, which take French terms, as names. The Swedish massage therapists will go through protocols based on body muscle, bones and joints anatomy. The general benefit of Swedish massage it is widely recognized for improving pain conditions, for relaxation and physical performance improvement. The body energy flow (Qi for Chinese, prana for Indians, Ki for Japanese) is not important in general Swedish massage theory and is not the central driving idea during its sole standalone massage therapy sessions.

Hong Kong Massage: Deep Tissue Massage

 Human body is sustained, wrapped, hold together and structured by aggregate of cells identified as connective tissue and muscle tissue, big part of it is ligaments, tendons, cartilage and those muscle fasciae that wrap and supports the internal organs. Any deep tissue massage approach implies very knowledgeable therapist professionally qualified and with very experienced hands and fingers.

While ancient traditional massage techniques like Hong Kong Chinese and Indians included very advanced and refined ways to manipulate body connective and muscle tissues since many centuries, only recently the western civilization developed quite few modern approaches. Some of these approaches are included in comprehensive disciplines like Osteopathy, Myofascial release, cranial-sacral techniques, neuro muscular therapy and Bindegewebs Connective tissue massage.

Hong Kong Massage: Lymphatic Drainage

 Very popular everywhere in the world so we assume all readers know about the lymph and its important vital function in the human body as part of the circulatory and immune system. The lymph fluid circulation covers all the body and it is strongly relying on peristaltic contraction of the lymph vessels. It often happens to many people to get the lymphatic system a bit lazy and sometimes blocked. Moreover, even healthy lymphatic systems benefit from some external hands work to reboot and flow stronger and smoother again. So here come to play famous manual lymphatic drainage massage that started in the western culture just in the 1930 but it is part of Chinese and other Asiatic traditional massage since much earlier than that.  Lymphatic drainage massage is very popular in Hong Kong too.

Hong Kong Massage: Anma

 Anma Massage as you can imagine from the name is the result of the evolution of Chinese An Mo/Tui Na in Japan starting somewhere in the 8th century, it took the name and it became in the modern times a standardized massage school. In Japan Anma practitioners need a formal certificate from their administration. Receiving treatment from a good level Anma massage certified therapist is a blessing, believe us ;-) but it is for those who like very powerful strong intense massage as Anma massage techniques are usually applied with a significant amount of force.

Hong Kong Massage: Shiatsu, Massage or energy Therapy?

Now dear Hong Kong massage lovers beware that Shiatsu professionals “generally” do not like at all to be called ‘massage therapists’ so we beg them to forgive us if we inserted the Shiatsu in our Hong Kong Massage anthology. Shiatsu practice include application of hands and fingers on the human body acupressure meridians. Shiatsu protocols follow rigorously the five elements and yin yang theory so it culturally connect somehow to the Chinese Tui Na and acupressure massage. Shiatsu does origin in Japan as part of the above-described Anma before taking its own separated path in the modern times. It is possible to encounter in Hong Kong many massage therapists who insert some elements of Shiatsu in their otherwise simple Chinese massage therapy session. Shiatsu it is today known everywhere in the world as an effective health promoting therapy.