Most people book just a massage based on mood: stressed, sore, or simply due for a treat. The problem is that different techniques do different jobs, so the wrong pick can leave pain untouched or make you feel bruised. This type of massage explained in the guide helps you match what you feel to what you need.
You will learn the difference between Swedish, deep tissue, remedial, sports, Thai, lymphatic drainage, trigger point, and relaxation massages, plus what to write in your booking notes so the therapist can focus fast. Think of it as a practical massage therapy guide for real bodies and real schedules.
With Blys, that match-up happens at home or in a hotel. The best massage for pain is not the strongest one; it is the one that fits your goal today
The 60-Second Picker
When you use this massage therapy guide, the choice gets simple. Start with the problem, then match the style.
- Step 1: Name what you want to solve today: pain, stiffness, stress, swelling, heavy legs, or training recovery.
- Step 2: Choose your pressure lane (light, medium, or firm) and whether you want stretching and movement (Thai) or a table-based session.
- Step 3: Pick the result you want afterwards: sleep better, move easier, calm pain, or feel lighter.
That is the types of massage explained shortcut. Once you know your goal, your therapist can tailor the session faster, and you are more likely to walk away feeling the difference.
| Problem | Best Match | Note To Therapist |
| Stress overload | Relaxation / Swedish | Light–medium, slow pace |
| Stiff and locked up | Thai / Swedish | Add stretching, hips/back |
| Best massage for pain with a pattern | Remedial | Triggers and restricted moves |
| One knot with referral | Trigger point | Start spot and referral area |
| Heavy, puffy feeling | Lymphatic drainage | Very light, area affected |
| Training recovery | Sports | Your sport and sore zones |
| Deep knots | Deep tissue | Firm only if tolerated |
With Blys, you can book a mobile therapist to your home, hotel, or workplace 7 days a week, from 6am to midnight, and choose the massage type in the booking flow. Set-up is simple: clear a small space, keep the room warm, and have towels and water ready. If you can, leave 10–15 minutes after to reset.
Ready to stop guessing? Book via the massage near me page, choose your style, and add clear notes for better results.
1. Swedish Vs Relaxation Massage
Both styles feel calming and flowing, with long strokes that help your body switch out of fight-or-flight mode. If you want a quick way to choose, think muscle reset vs full switch-off. Clinical trials have studied Swedish massage for anxiety symptoms and relaxation massage before bed for sleep efficiency, so these are not just “nice to have” options when stress is the main driver.
| Choose This | What It Feels Like | Pressure | Best For |
| Swedish | Relaxing, but more structured muscle work | Light to medium (can go firmer) | Desk and phone neck, general tightness, light soreness, first-time full-body reset. |
| Relaxation | Slower, lighter, more soothing | Light to medium | Stress tension, sleep support, burnout weeks, first-timers who dislike firm pressure. |
Neither is the best pick for stubborn knots that need targeted work. If you want the best massage for pain that repeats, limits movement, or feels injury-like, start with remedial, then adjust from there.
2. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue is slow, firm work aimed at deeper muscle tension, with controlled intensity, not sharp pain.
- What it solves: Long-term tight shoulders and hips, recurring knots, and the locked-up feeling from sitting all day.
- What it feels like: Slower pace, focused pressure, and “good discomfort” that stays manageable.
- When to skip: Sharp pain, acute injury-like pain, or when your body feels inflamed and reactive.
- Watch-outs: Mild next-day soreness is normal; flare-ups that last days usually mean the pressure was too much or the style was wrong.
- Booking notes script: Firm pressure OK (or medium-firm), exact spots to target, what movements feel restricted, and what to avoid.
If you are new to deep tissue, start slightly lighter than you think, then build pressure once your body settles into the session. Blys also recommends speaking up early so the therapist can adjust before it turns into post-massage soreness you did not sign up for.
3. Remedial Massage
Remedial massage is the goal-led option for pain, not a generic relax. Blys describes it as a targeted technique that uses deeper strokes and pressure points to help relieve pain and tension in muscles and soft tissues.
Choose remedial when the issue repeats in a pattern. The pain shows up in the same spot, flares after the same activity, feels one-sided, or limits how you move. Think neck pain after laptop days, a shoulder that tightens after lifting, or a hip that always feels restricted.
What to expect is practical. Your therapist will ask a few questions, may check your range of motion, and then spend more time on the areas that drive the issue instead of doing a full-body routine. The session can include deeper pressure, trigger point work, and release work around tight muscle groups, based on what your body needs that day.
Want longer-lasting pain relief? Our guide on regular remedial massage for pain relief explains why consistent, targeted sessions work best when pain repeats.
4. Sports Massage
Sports massage is for training load and recovery, not just general tightness. Blys positions it as a mobile treatment that supports muscle recovery, mobility, and performance.
Booking notes script:
- Sport or training week: Tell them what you did in the last 3–5 days (legs, upper body, long run, long drive) and what is coming next, so they can pace the session.
- Event date (if any): Share the date and start time. Pre-event usually suits lighter work that helps you feel loose without leaving you sore.
- What feels overworked: Name the exact zones and the “type” of fatigue, like heavy calves, tight hip flexors, stiff lower back, or shoulder tightness from rowing.
- Pressure: Pick a lane and say what you tolerate. Medium is often enough when you are already tender, and medium-firm suits recovery work when it stays comfortable.
If you want a simple rule, book a sports massage when your goal is moving better tomorrow and recovering faster this week, rather than chasing the deepest pressure.
5. Thai Massage
Thai massage is a smart choice when your body feels stiff and restricted, and you want movement built into the session, not just pressure on tight spots. It works well for desk-body days, long drives, and that locked-up hips and back feeling that stretching alone does not seem to shift.
- Thai massage uses compression and assisted stretching, with guided movement through positions.
- Choose it for low mobility, desk-body stiffness, tight hips, and a stiff lower back.
- It suits you if you want stretching included and you are fine being repositioned.
- Skip it for acute injuries, sharp pain, or if movement tends to flare your symptoms.
- Booking notes script: state your mobility goal, list areas to protect, and note stretch tolerance and any ranges to avoid.
Treat it like a loosen-up session. When you give clear notes and protect sensitive joints, Thai massage can help you stand up straighter, move easier, and feel less stuck afterwards.
Feeling stiff and stressed on holiday? Our guide on why Thai massage helps with holiday stress explains why stretching-based sessions suit travel tension and tight bodies.
6. Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Lymphatic drainage massage feels very different from most styles. It uses very light, rhythmic strokes to support fluid movement, so it should not feel like deep pressure. Blys describes it as a gentle technique, and the key is that a light touch is the point, not a sign it is doing nothing.
| What It Feels Like | Best For | Not Best For | What To Tell Your Therapist |
| Light, rhythmic, soothing strokes | Heavy or puffy feeling, swelling support goals, post-travel water retention feel (within sensible limits) | Knots, deep muscle tightness, or “I want it harder” sessions | Where you feel heaviness or swelling, how sensitive the area is, and any clinician guidance if relevant |
If your main complaint is tight knots, this will not “fix” them the way deep tissue can. Lymphatic work is about feeling lighter and less puffy, not chasing soreness out of muscles. If you are unsure, this is a simple test. If you want pressure on a specific spot to release tension, pick deep tissue, trigger point, or remedial. If you want gentle work for heaviness and comfort, lymphatic drainage is the better match.
Please inform them of the specific area that feels heavy or swollen, your sensitivity level, and any medical guidance you have received.
7. Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy targets one tight point that can refer pain elsewhere. In plain English, it is the knot that triggers a headache, the shoulder spot that sends pain up your neck, or the glute point that makes your hip feel off. Blys describes trigger point therapy as a specialised technique used within remedial massage that focuses on finding and releasing specific points of muscle tension.
It is best when you can describe a clear pattern, such as one knot causing a headache, neck and shoulder referral pain from desk posture, or glute and hip referral after sitting or training. The goal is targeted relief, not a full-body relax.
What to expect is shorter, focused work on fewer areas. Your therapist will locate the trigger point, apply steady pressure, then release it so the referral calms down. It can feel strong, but it should stay tolerable and never sharp. If you brace, hold your breath, or feel a nerve-like zing, the pressure needs to drop.
Your 2-Minute Decision Rule and Booking Script
Here is the simplest way to use this type of massage explained guide. First, name the problem. Next, choose the massage type that matches it. Then write clear booking notes, and judge the result after. If you only felt better for a day and the same issue came back, your next session should be more targeted.
If you felt bruised or flared up for days, the pressure was likely too strong for that day, or the style was not the right fit. That is how this massage therapy guide helps you book smarter each time, instead of guessing.
If you are unsure, start with this quick match. Stress and sleep usually suit relaxation or Swedish. A specific pain pattern usually responds well to remedial treatment. Stubborn knots usually suit deep tissue or trigger points. Training recovery suits sports. Stiffness that needs movement suits Thai. A heavy or puffy feeling suits lymphatic drainage.
