Frequently Asked Questions
About massage.co.za
Why should I use massage.co.za when I am looking for a massage?
Massage.co.za is the only health website that keeps information on massage providers at a therapist level, and is structured to encourage users to evaluate these therapists. Massage.co.za recognizes that the massage consumer knows that when it comes to a massage that even at the same salon, the different therapists all give different massages. Massage.co.za was developed to make your searching for the best experience as easy as possible.
What is the difference between an Unregistered user, Free Member and Massage Addict Subscriber?
Massage Addict Subscribers:
- Get a 1 hour full body massage for each 6 months of subscription.
- 20% discount from participating therapists (indicated as 'Addict Discount' in the last column of all therapist listings)
- Get to see massage prices. Prices will be shown in all therapist profiles and an additional column will be added to therapist listings to display the price of a 1 hour full body massage - this allows for easier comparison of therapists offerings by price.
- Able to sort therapist listings by massage price.
- Access to an additional 211 massage therapists.
- Receive a FREE 1 hour full body massage for every 10 evaluations done.
- Plus all the benefits that Free Members receive.
Free Members see the following information for free:
- See more information on therapists (e.g. website address).
- Can do online booking via SMS for free.
- Ability to rate your favourite therapists.
- Receive a FREE 1 hour full body massage for every 15 evaluations done.
Unregistered Users:
- Can view limited information about therapists.
- None of the abovementioned benefits.
How can I earn free massages?
By receiving a non-promotional full body massage from any of the therapists at massage.co.za, paying them for it and then evaluating them using our evaluation facility brings you one step closer to a free massage. If you are a Massage Addict Subscriber, you only have to do this 10 times to qualify for a free massage. A Free Member needs to evaluate the therapists 15 times to qualify for a free massage. Please note that your evaluation is totally confidential, and that the evaluation ratings are only updated after 3 evaluations are received to keep it so. We do send an email to the therapist to confirm the date that the massage was actually done, to ensure the integrity of the evaluations.
Why should therapists advertise on massage.co.za's website?
Massage.co.za has been developed with the massage consumer in mind. Massage.co.za is also the prime domain name on the South African internet. We therefore are destined to become the number one massage portal in South Africa. That having said, we are a start-up, we will not make broken promises as to how many consumers we will bring through your door. What we ask is that you look at the quality of our site and ask yourself the question “If I was looking for a massage, would this not be the site that I would visit to see whom I can go to?”
As all your therapists are rated, you are able to determine whom your clients value. This allows you to take protective steps to ensure that you keep your valuable human resources.
Massage.co.za allows you to pay most of your subscription in kind, thereby doing our bit to assist your cash flow.
What do you do with the free massages that are awarded to massage.co.za?
Free massages are utilised in one of the following ways:
- Massage.co.za uses the initial upfront massage to do the first rating on the massage.co.za as soon as possible. This we do to ensure that all therapists listed in our database are rated. Once clients input their own ratings this initial rating is adjusted to the average of these ratings.
- All Massage Addict Subscribers get one free massage for every 6 months of paid up membership.
- Awarded to prize winners in the “Year of Massage” monthly draw.
- Awarded as prizes in various ways that the company will be promoting the business of massage.co.za.
About Massage Therapy Types
What is Reflexology?
Reflexology is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health. It is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas within zone related areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes without the use of tools, crèmes or lotions, the feet being the primary area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body. [1][2]
What is a Swedish Massage?
Swedish massage uses five styles of long, flowing strokes to massage. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Swedish massage has shown to be helpful in reducing pain, joint stiffness, and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee over a period of eight weeks. It has also been shown to be helpful in individuals with poor circulation. [3][4]
What is a Sports Massage?
Sports massage is a clinical approach utilizing skilled, specific hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures for the purpose of modulating pain; increasing range of motion (ROM); reducing or eliminating soft tissue inflammation; inducing relaxation; improving contractile and non-contractile tissue repair, extensibility, and/or stability; facilitating movement; and improving function. [5]
What is a Hot Stone Massage?
A stone massage uses stones, sometimes heated, to massage the body. The hardness of the stones allows the therapist to address specific problem areas with more detailed work or deeper pressure. Basalt stones of various sizes, shapes and weights are used throughout and heated in water.
The stones are used in two ways during the massage. One is to impart heat onto the body by laying stones under the client with a layer of fabric between the client and stone (a sheet or towel) and/or on top of the client, again upon a towel. Stone layout typically will be along both sides of the spine, or along the chakra centers on top and baseball sized stones would be placed in the hands. While these layout stones are delivering concentrated centers of heat, the therapist is simultaneously massaging the client with oiled, heated stones held in the palm of the hand with firm strokes along the muscles of the legs, arms, and torso areas.
An authentic hot stone massage is not simply the "gliding" of heated stones lightly upon the surface of the skin, but rather the stones are used as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level comfortable to the client. The client can request light, medium or deep pressure, which is the beauty of the hot stone massage technique. It can be customized in an instant to the request of the client. The hardness of the stones makes for a deep tissue massage and is easy on the joints of the therapist's hands.
The heat from the stones relaxes muscles and increases the blood flow to the area being worked on which is said to further accelerates the healing process. This increase in circulation and the relaxation of the muscles is also claimed to aid in mental relaxation. [6]
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person's mood, cognitive function or health. Two basic mechanisms are offered to explain the purported effects. One is the influence of aroma on the brain, especially the limbic system. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the essential oils. [7]
What is a Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and the connective tissue or fascia. This type of massage focuses on the muscles located below the surface of the top muscles. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for individuals who experience consistent pain, are involved in heavy physical activity, such as athletes, and patients who have sustained physical injury. It is also not uncommon for receivers of Deep Tissue Massage to have their pain replaced with a new muscle ache for a day or two. Deep tissue work varies greatly. What one calls deep tissue another will call light. When receiving deep tissue work it is important to communicate what you are feeling. [8]
What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a traditional hands-on therapy originating in Japan. There are two main Shiatsu schools; one based on western anatomical and physiological theory and the other based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shiatsu technique refers to the use of fingers and palm of one's hand to apply pressure to particular sections on the surface of the body for the purpose of correcting the imbalances of the body, and for maintaining and promoting health. [9][10]
What is a Thai massage?
Thai massage is a type of massage in Thai style that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage. It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so patients in the same large room. The receiver is put into many yoga like positions during the course of the massage.
The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body — somewhat analogous to meridians or Channel (Chinese medicine) and Indian nadis. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more, and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient's into bhujangasana or (cobra position). There is a standard procedure and rhythm to this massage. [11]
What is a Kahuna massage?
The Kahuna massage originates from the Hawaiian islands where it has been practiced for over 5000 years. It is a full body massage using long rhythmical strokes, breath, and movement, which assists the person to relax, rejuvenate and heal. [12]
What is an Ayurvedic massage?
Ayurvedic massage is a natural health care system originating in India that incorporates massage, yoga, meditation and herbal remedies. Ayurvedic massage, also known as Abhyanga is usually performed by one or two therapists using a heated blend of herbal oils based on the ayurvedic system of humors. [13]
Email any questions that are not answered by this section to Question@massage.co.za.
Sources
- ^ Reflexology on Wikipedia
- ^ "Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct" (doc). Reflexology Association of Canada. 2005.. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Swedish Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Robertshawe P. (June 2007). "Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee". Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society 13 (2): 87.
- ^ Sports Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Hot Stone Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Aromatherapy Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Deep Tissue Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Definition of Shiatsu Massage
- ^ Shiatsu Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Thai Massage on Wikipedia
- ^ Kahuna Massage Description
- ^ Ayurvedic Massage on Wikipedia