There are many types of massage with two main categories of Traditional or Indigenous Types of Massage as well as many that are Evidence Based Massage Therapies. This chart and links to different types of massage helps to explain various therapies. It is not so much the type of therapy you learn or receive but the outcome of the massage session that matters most.
Some of the most popular types of massage are:
- Swedish Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Reflexology (not the same as foot massage)
- Sports Massage
- Myofascial Massage
- Pregnancy Massage – not a type of massage but applying whatever type of massage to pregnant women.
| A Acupressure Alexander Technique Anma AMMA Therapy Applied Kinesiology Aromatherapy Aston-Patterning Ayurvedic Massage | B Berrywork BindgewebsMassage Bioenergetics Bowen Therapy Breast Massage Breema | C Chi Nei Tsang Connective Tissue Massage Continuum Craniosacral |
| D/E/F Deep Tissue Do In EmbodimentTraining Equine Therapy Esalen Massage Feldenkrais Full Body Massage | G/H/I Geriatric Massage Hakomi Hawaiian Massage Hellerwork Homeopathy Hot Stone Massage Infant Massage Iridiology | J/K/L Jin Shin do Jin Shin Jyustsu Kahuna Healing Kinesiology Lomi-Lomi Looyenwork Lymphatic Drainage |
| M/N Medical Massage Myofascial release Myotherapy Naprapathy Neuromuscular Therapy | O On Site/Chair massage Otho-bionomy Orthopedic Massage | P Pfrimmer Pilates Polarity Postural Integration Pregnancy Massage PNF |
| R Radiance Breathwork Radiance Technique Reflexology Reiki Rolfing Rosen Method Rubenfield Synergy | S SHEN Shiatsu Somatics Soft Tissue Release Soma Sports Massage Strain Counterstrain Structural Integration Swedish Massage | T-Z Tui NA Thai Massage Therapeutic Touch Touch For Health Trager® Visceral Manipulation Watsu Zentherapy® Zero Balancing |