There is nothing quite like a full body massage. The ultimate in luxury and pinnacle of self-care, a full body massage can transform your mental state, physically rejuvenate your body, and wrestle your stress levels down to a dull roar. An hour enjoying a full body massage can feel like a whole day of intense relaxation. And luckily, the opportunities to enjoy it are right around the corner.

Having begun during the ancient practice of medicine, massage still holds its ground as a therapeutic tool, loosening muscles, relieving pain, boosting immunity, and lowering blood pressure. It's no wonder that full body massage is used in hospitals and medical practices throughout the world as a way to work in tandem with traditional medicine and speed recovery.

As a recreational activity, full body massage is offered by private massage therapists and in full-service spas around the world, utilizing a variety of techniques. Swedish massage - the most popular of massage - is a combination of gentle kneading and long strokes meant to relax muscles; deep tissue massage uses a stronger, more focused technique to work deep muscle layers; Thai massage is a combination of reflexology, stretching, and gentle rocking; hot stone massage uses smooth heated rock to warm and relax muscles; and pregnancy massage is meant for mothers-to-be. There are literally hundreds of ways to give and receive a full body massage - what you choose depends solely on what relaxes you and makes you feel the best.

Regardless of the type of full body massage that you choose, be sure to choose a reputable therapist with which to work. Word of mouth is always a great way to find an excellent massage therapist so ask your friends if they've had any good experiences. If you call a reputable spa and decide to give one of their therapists a try, make sure you ask for a specific gender if that makes you more comfortable. A full body massage does require that you remove your clothes. And while you are under a sheet, and massage therapists do their work with the utmost professionalism, the most important thing is that you are comfortable and relaxed. So if you are a woman getting a full body massage and would be uncomfortable with a male therapist, be sure to request accordingly when making your appointment.