FAQ: Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage is the form of massage most commonly practiced in the United States. It has its origins going back thousands of years to China, Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The earliest known massage text was published in China in 3000BCE, which was translated into French in the 1700s. In the late 1700s, Per-Henrik Ling, a Swedish fencing master, developed a system of “medical gymnastics,” considered to be a precursor to what we call Swedish Massage. Brothers Charles and George Taylor brought massage to the United States after having studied in Sweden.
Swedish Massage is a form of bodywork designed to relax tense muscles, improve circulation, assist removal of metabolic wastes, and improve a sense of well-being. It is performed on an unclothed client in a warm room, often with soft lighting and music to enhance the relaxation effect. A client’s modesty is maintained by the use of professional draping techniques. Using oils and lotions, the Massage Therapist uses the five strokes of Swedish Massage to render its healthful effects: Effleurage is the long gliding stroke with open hands, calming the client, aiding circulation and the removal of metabolic wastes. Pettrisage is gentle to vigorous kneading, wringing, compressing or lifting, and it helps restore mobility, break up scar tissue, increases the supply of blood and oxygen to muscles. Friction uses the thumbs, palms or fists to move across the grain of muscle tissue, stimulating the muscles and carrying away wastes. Vibration, a trembling of the Massage Therapist’s hands and body, can either be sedating or stimulating, depending on the vigor of the stroke. Finally Tapotement, percussive stroking with fingertips, cupped hands, sides of hands or soft fists, tones muscle, softens tissue, and increases blood flow.
Used together, the five strokes of Swedish Massage have many benefits: relaxation and healing; can increase the range of motion of neck, shoulders, back, hip, and other joints; can help with injury recovery; improve athletic performance; relieve pain, and massage just feels really good! Swedish Massage is good for people of all ages and body types, men, women and children. Discover the power of Swedish Massage to heal and relax you!
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