Asian Massage Therapy in Chicago
Because Chicago has a large Asian population and is very metropolitan, there are a broad array of Asian massage forms available to you in the city and surrounding suburbs. Asian massage therapy techniques often have their basis in ancient spiritual sciences and healing rituals, such as in the case of tantra massage therapy Chicago. Other Asian massage practices take a more pragmatic approach derived from energetic medicine, in which the flow of chi energy through the body is manipulated. This latter grouping includes shiatsu and tui na massage.
Thai Massage Therapy in Chicago
A form of Asian massage therapy in Chicago which you may have difficulty finding in Chicago is the Thai massage, which is actually based on massage techniques developed in India thousands of years ago. Thai massage involves bending and stretching the massage patient in order to apply pressure to energy meridians around the body. A deep, measured breathing technique called Pranayama breathing is often incorporated into this type of massage therapy in order to enhance the redirection of chi energy. Pranayama breathing has been widely noted for the mind-altering effects that it tends to have all by itself, so a Thai Asian massage incorporating this type of breathing along with Shiatsu-like acupressure chi activation will almost definitely give you a very serious buzz.
Chicago Chinese Massage Therapy - Tui Na in Chicago
The Chinese form of acupressure massage therapy is called Tui Na massage. Tui Na massage has been really catching on in Chicago these last few years, so it is getting easier to get a Tui Na Chinese massage in Chicago, at least if you know where to look. Tui Na Chinese massage began its development over 5000 years ago as another natural extension of the bioenergetic principles being discovered and disseminated during that time. It works by applying pressure to specific points along your body’s natural energy meridians in order to activate automatic rejuvenation tendencies of the body. Many people today are not aware that the adult body can be stimulated to produce and release undifferentiated stem cells to heal damaged or aging tissues, but there are very good arguments to be made that these ancient Chinese and Indian energy medicine practitioners did possess this understanding. Of course, their understandings were couched in the language of philosophy and poetry and did not include modern scientific understandings of microbiology, but nonetheless were conceptually in line with the very latest discoveries of modern science!
Chicago Shiatsu Massage Therapy
Shiatsu, which most people are familiar with based on their experience of sitting in “Shiatsu Massage Chairs” at local Chicago Bed Bath & Beyonds or Sharper Image stores, actually originates in Japan and operates on similar principles. Japanese Shiatsu massage is less about specific redirection of body energy and more about restoring balance to the overall system. Again, the masseur or masseuse applies pressure to specific energy points on the client’s body in order to soothe and balance the various organ systems. Shiatsu is one of the easiest types of massage to find in Chicago and you can easily locate a Shiatsu massage parlor in your own local Chicago neighborhood; probably in the suburbs too.
Chicago Javanese Massage Therapy
Another type of Asian massage, possibly the most scarce variety in Chicago, at least by name, is called Javanese massage. It is a form of massage developed in Indonesia that uses all parts of the massage therapist’s hands to knead the muscles into submission. This is more like some of the deep tissue massage practices that are popular among athletes and other folks with high pain tolerance. As with many other types of therapeutic massage, scented oils are often used, but you are not likely to have a soft and tender experience like you’ll find in a massage therapy Chicago. Indonesian Javanese massage means business.
Find Asian Massage Therapy In Chicago
As I mentioned, we Chicagoans have the benefit of a big beautiful city with a bunch of thriving Asian communities, so we get to enjoy the delicious food, exotic festivals and music, spiritual knowledge, and medicinal practices of a variety of different Asian peoples. It can be challenging to find Asian Massage in Chicago but it is almost always extremely rewarding due to the authenticity and variety of experiences that are available. In the very near future the Chicago Massagerie will be publishing details about the locations and quality of a variety of Asian massage parlors in Chicago neighborhoods, as well as reviews of independent Asian masseurs and masseuses. Please leave a comment to let us know about your favorite Asian massage parlor in Chicago, or one you’ve had a bad experience with, or to request a review of something specific.