We look at how Eastern and Western massage types differ and the benefits they provide.

With so many massage types, it can be hard to decide which is best. There are various benefits for the mind and body, whether the massage originates from the Eastern or the Western world.

Eastern massage tends to involve healing based on energy flow and balance, viewing the body, mind and spirit as one, known as a holistic approach. In Chinese medicine, for example, stimulating and soothing particular pressure points will improve the energy flow (qi) outwards in the body, along pathways called meridians.

In Western massage types, such as sports massage, typically separate the body by its different functions, focusing on healing the area where pain is felt. ‘Western styles are more physical, manipulating tissues and assisting circulation,’ says Christopher, a professional massage therapist.

Different diagnosis

The technique in the East is different to the West when diagnosing problems such as pain and injury. ‘If you have a persistent knee pain, a Chinese medicine practitioner would examine your tongue or points on your wrist to examine the state of your immune system, rather than looking at your knee directly,’ says Christopher.

‘Western-style massage therapists look at where the injury is, the type of injury ie a tear in the muscle or a sprain, and which surrounding tissues are affected,’ he adds. ‘In the East, it’s more about the bigger picture, whereas in the West it’s getting down to the nitty gritty.’

We may view Eastern massage as being more vigorous than Western massage, but this isn’t always the case, as Christopher points out. ‘Eastern techniques like Thai massage can be very deep with lots of pressure, but so can Swedish or sports massage,’ he says. ‘Some forms of Eastern massage such as Ayurveda, using oils, are relaxing; while oils can also be used in a more gentle form of Swedish massage. It depends on the therapist and the aim of the massage.’

Choose your perfect massage

Your massage therapist can advise you on the different techniques and can tailor your massage to your needs. ‘If you have an ankle injury, you may want a more direct method to help, such as sports massage. But if you’re stressed and you carry a lot of tension in your upper back, a more holistic Eastern approach may be best,’ adds Christopher.