Massage

Massage is a relaxing, therapeutic treatment that has been around for thousands of years. Many people consider massage a pampering experience, but it has important health benefits. In fact, you get the greatest benefit when it is part of your regular wellness routine.

There are many different types of massage, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Chair, Hot Stone, and Relaxation - all of which are offered at Spa Villa! Choose from 10, 20, 30, 60, or 90 minute sessions with or without Aromatherapy.

Spa Villa is one of the only locations in Decatur, Illinois that offers couples massage!

Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of relaxation and well being.
• Reduces tension and anxiety.
• Improves blood circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
• Stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away the body’s waste products.
• Helps to prevent and relieve muscles, cramps, and spasms.
• Helps with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, muscle spasms

Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy massage, essential oils are usually mixed with a carrier oil like sweet almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed. The therapist use up to five oils in a mixture, and chooses the oils based on what you need. A relaxing aromatherapy massage, for instance, might have lavender or bergamot, while a massage for sore muscles might include eucalyptus.

Spa Villa offers the following Aromatherapies

• Tea Tree
• Lavender
• Eucalyptus
• Chamomile
• Bergamot
• Geranium

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the most commonly offered and best known type of massage. It uses a firm but gentle pressure to improve the circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and create relaxation.

Swedish massage employs five different movements

• long, gliding strokes
• kneading of individual muscles
• friction
• hacking or tapping
• vibration

The therapist generally uses massage oil to facilitate making long, smooth strokes over the body. Swedish massage is done with the person covered by a sheet, a technique called "draping". One part of the body uncovered, massaged, and then covered up before moving on to another part of the body.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue. Deep tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage, as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. It is a deeply soothing, relaxing form of massage. The therapist uses many stones of various shapes and sizes and the therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, or in the palms of your hand, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body.

The heat of the stones helps muscles release more quickly than in traditional massage. The therapist uses traditional strokes of Swedish massage while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another.

Relaxation Massage

A relaxation massage is exactly what the name implies: a massage strictly for the purposes of rest and relaxation. This massage technique is not designed for therapeutic effects or for dealing with chronic pain or discomfort.

Relaxation massage is a smooth, gentle style of massage designed to improve circulation, range of movement, relief minor muscle pain, and promote overall relaxation.

Chair Massage

Chair massage, which is also referred to as seated or “on-site” massage, is a brief body massage session during which the patient lays face down on a specially designed massage chair. While in the chair, the patient’s neck, back, shoulders, arms and hips are all accessible to the therapist.

There are some benefits of chair massages as opposed to regular table massage. Firstly, the massage is done through the clothing. This saves people the time of undressing and any embarrassment they might feel. Because the massage is completed through the clothing, it involves no messy massage oils or creams. It’s simply a direct massage of the muscle tissues to relieve stress and pain.

Couples Massage

Couples massage is one of the hottest services at the spa right now. Two people are massaged in the same room, at the same time, by two different therapists.

As for couples massage etiquette, it's fine to talk to each other through the massage if you want, or be quiet the whole time. It's really up to you.

What Are the Benefits of Couples Massage?

Couples massage is a great way to introduce a partner who has never gotten a massage before in a way that makes them feel more comfortable the first time. Some men are apprehensive about getting a massage because of the nudity involved, and to have their wife or girlfriend there is reassuring.

Men usually discover that therapeutic touch is very relaxing and restorative. Once they experience a couples massage, they are more willing to book a massage on their own.

It can also be a good choice if you're traveling with someone you don't get to see often enough -- a sister, girlfriend, mom or best friends -- and you want to spend as much time together as possible.