Swedish massage therapy is the most common sort of massage given in Europe and America, so if you have ever had a massage, it was probably a Swedish massage.
Swedish massage therapy is the most gentle of the full-body massages, which makes it ideal as a general massage therapy. It is normally performed with oil, which gives it its other name of oil massage.
It is such a mild massage that you could have one several times a week, but it will revitalize and stimulate you. The massage therapist rubs oil into the skin with a definite, but fairly light pressure in the direction of the blood flowing back to the heart. This takes some of the work load off the heart as well.
The Swedish massage was deliberately made up in the 18th Century and so is sometimes called the 'classic massage'. It was designed to relax the body by stimulating the flow of blood, but what they did not know then, was that this process assists remove lactic acid, uric acid and other natural waste substances from everyday living that build up in the joints each day.
Because of the manner in which the massage is carried out, the body gets all the benefits of an increased circulation without the body having to work more for it. This is like compound interest for the body - something for nothing and it simulates mild exercise like walking.
Similar to walking, Swedish massage stretches the ligaments, tendons and muscles to keep them pliant and supple. This makes this kind of massage ideal for people who are bed-ridden or in a wheelchair.
The therapist may use the flats of the hands, the heals of the hands, the finger tips or the knuckles to get the correct effect. There is frequently a little bending and stretching of the joints too. Oil is rubbed into small fields of the body at a time as they are being massaged. This oil may ruin clothing, so a lot of individuals undergo their massage in the nude.
If you or the masseur are not at ease with this, you may wear a baggy t-shirt and shorts, your bathing costume or a towel. However, you can choose to have a masseur (male) or masseuse (female) therapist if you want.
A session is usually booked in half-hour blocks. Most people will have a one hour session (two blocks), but 90 minutes and two hours are common too. The massage is usually carried out in a private booth or room for absolute privacy. Once you are in that room, you may call the shots with regard to the severity of the massage. If it is too rough or not rough enough, merely say.
Similarly, if you do not like the music or would prefer not have any music at all, merely say so. In the same vein, therapists are merely normal individuals, some are chatty, some tell jokes and some are quiet. If you would like to talk, simply talk and if the therapist is talking too much, simply request a little peace and quiet.
Swedish massage therapy is the most gentle of the full-body massages, which makes it ideal as a general massage therapy. It is normally performed with oil, which gives it its other name of oil massage.
It is such a mild massage that you could have one several times a week, but it will revitalize and stimulate you. The massage therapist rubs oil into the skin with a definite, but fairly light pressure in the direction of the blood flowing back to the heart. This takes some of the work load off the heart as well.
The Swedish massage was deliberately made up in the 18th Century and so is sometimes called the 'classic massage'. It was designed to relax the body by stimulating the flow of blood, but what they did not know then, was that this process assists remove lactic acid, uric acid and other natural waste substances from everyday living that build up in the joints each day.
Because of the manner in which the massage is carried out, the body gets all the benefits of an increased circulation without the body having to work more for it. This is like compound interest for the body - something for nothing and it simulates mild exercise like walking.
Similar to walking, Swedish massage stretches the ligaments, tendons and muscles to keep them pliant and supple. This makes this kind of massage ideal for people who are bed-ridden or in a wheelchair.
The therapist may use the flats of the hands, the heals of the hands, the finger tips or the knuckles to get the correct effect. There is frequently a little bending and stretching of the joints too. Oil is rubbed into small fields of the body at a time as they are being massaged. This oil may ruin clothing, so a lot of individuals undergo their massage in the nude.
If you or the masseur are not at ease with this, you may wear a baggy t-shirt and shorts, your bathing costume or a towel. However, you can choose to have a masseur (male) or masseuse (female) therapist if you want.
A session is usually booked in half-hour blocks. Most people will have a one hour session (two blocks), but 90 minutes and two hours are common too. The massage is usually carried out in a private booth or room for absolute privacy. Once you are in that room, you may call the shots with regard to the severity of the massage. If it is too rough or not rough enough, merely say.
Similarly, if you do not like the music or would prefer not have any music at all, merely say so. In the same vein, therapists are merely normal individuals, some are chatty, some tell jokes and some are quiet. If you would like to talk, simply talk and if the therapist is talking too much, simply request a little peace and quiet.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on numerous topics, but is at present involved with the massage therapy school online. If you have an interest in massage, please go over to our website now at Classes For Massage Therapy