[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most people know that massage therapy can help alleviate stress and enhance your overall well-being. Besides the usual Swedish, hot stone, and shiatsu massages, therapists around the world are specializing in what you might call “weird” techniques. Let’s take a look at some of your not-so-typical massage therapies done across the globe: 1. Massages Done By The Blind Massages performed by blind people are common in Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and China. The key to massages done by the blind is the sensitivity of their touch — the holy grail is in the person actually performing the therapy. 2. Knife Massage This type of massage is popular in Taiwan. It involves using the art of knife to gently strike the shoulders and the back. It helps to release the body’s energy and improve blood circulation. 3. Elephant Massage Certain elephant camps in Thailand allow you to experience massages by being stepped on by these beautiful creatures. Don’t worry! These elephants are trained to do the job properly. You won’t be crushed — we promise! 4. Gua Sha In this type of therapy, a coin, spoon, or other massage tools are used in order to scrape problematic areas of the body. This leads to pain relief and tightness. Gua Sha is used by practitioners to address chi (stagnant energy) located within the body that many believe to cause inflammation. In turn, inflammation also results to some conditions connected to chronic pain. Rubbing the surface of the skin is believed to break up stagnant energy, diminish inflammation, and assist healing. 5. Fire Treatment This is an ancient medical treatment originating in China. A towel is soaked with a certain elixir including alcohol. It is then placed in problematic areas (even the face). After which, the towel is lit up with fire for a few seconds. 6. Venik Massage There are various venik rub techniques used within this type of massage. These include waggling, lashing, rubbing, and stroking. However, the main foundation of venik massage is the use of a bundle of birch, eucalyptus, or oak twigs. This results in the exfoliation of the client’s skin. 7. Tickling Massage This type of massage therapy obviously utilizes intricate tickling techniques to help relieve stress. The therapist uses gentle feathers and finger strokes to elicit a tickling sensation on their clients. According to people who have experienced it, a tickling massage is very stress-relieving and relaxing. 8. Baby Egg Massage This type of massage is performed in China. A baby undergoes through a haircut during the 2nd day of the 2nd Chinese lunar month. After the said haircut, the baby is massaged on the head with a boiled egg. Must be delicious! 9. Snail Massage Can you image placing snails above your face? Well, it’s quite popular in the UK, Russia, and Japan. This type of therapy is usually called African Snail Massage and involves putting about three of these lovely creatures on a person’s face. Snails leave their slime on the face and is believed to be able to help you recover and rejuvenate damaged skin. 10. Gondola Massage Want a seriously relaxing experience? Well, you can’t actually have it in a spa located at a hotel in Venice. In a Gondola massage, the therapy is performed outdoors on one of the most stunning lagoons of Venice. Isn’t it nice to have a massage over water? 11. Snake Massage Popular in Israel, this type of massage therapy involves the use of at least 6 non-venomous snakes. These hissing serpents might frighten you but they actually massage your body and help alleviate soreness and muscle pain. According to the practitioners, the bigger the snakes you use, the more intense the massage you get.[/vc_column_text][ultimate_heading main_heading=”A Weird Ending!” alignment=”left” main_heading_margin=”margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;”][/ultimate_heading][vc_column_text]Well. That was a weird experience you’ve got from reading the articles. From elephants and snakes to fires and spoons, every culture around the world has its own way of providing a relaxing massage experience to its clients. We hope you can try out one of the not-so-typical massage techniques outlined here. How about you? What was your one-of-a-kind massage experience?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]