What is a Swedish massage?
A Swedish massage is primarily the same as a relaxation massage. The main purpose will be to help promote total mind and body relaxation and increase your sense of wellbeing. Therefore your therapist will probably use a slower place and light to medium pressure.
A Swedish massage will:
- Help alleviate pain
- Aid relaxation
- Enhance circulation to remove waste and toxins from the body
- Help with conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress
What conditions can it treat?
Swedish massage has proven very effective in treating many conditions including: muscle aches and pains, headaches and migraines, depression, low immune system, emotional conditions, poor circulation, IBS and stress.
What should I expect during a Swedish massage?
During a relaxation massage there is less focus on working out serious adhesions or knots in the muscle tissue. Your therapist will use a lighter touch and won’t push your discomfort limits in order to get muscles to release. Often clients may feel so relaxed that they fall asleep during a Swedish massage.
What’s the difference between Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage?
Swedish massage is a light to medium pressured technique applied using the practitioner’s hands. It involves long gliding strokes and it is used to promote relaxation, sooth tension and stimulate circulation in the tissues closest to the skin.
Deep tissue massage targets the deeper structures of soft tissues. Its purpose is to re-position muscles and joints by softening and manipulating the connective fascia tissue. It levers the practitioner’s body weight through forearms, elbows, and fists to slowly melt stubborn holding patterns and reset the body into a more balanced state.
How does Swedish massage work?
Swedish or classical massage works on the principle that touch stimulates our sensory awareness and our body responds by activating our endocrine and parasympathetic nervous systems. The physical touch warms and relaxes the layers below our skin. This has the effect of increasing nutrients supplied by blood flow and boosting lymphatic drainage to remove naturally occurring waste.
The soothing sensation of long flowing strokes calms the nervous system and stimulates the Vagus nerve to slow the heart rate. The production of hormones such as oxytocin and endorphins increase during massage therapy, delivering “feel good” feelings of reduced pain and a sense of euphoria can last up to 48 hours.
What are the benefits of Swedish massage?
- Relaxation
- Reduction in stress
- Increased flexibility
- Improved blood circulation
- Mood positivity from endorphin release
- Removal of metabolic waste products
- Supported health immunity
- Increased nutrient supply to cells
Who can benefit from Swedish massage?
Anyone of any age, activity level or physicality can benefit from receiving Swedish massage. It is the massage technique that is synonymous with having a Spa treatment and will generally quieten the most active minds with relaxation, particularly when experienced with accompanying music.
Although Swedish massage can mildly relieve pain and increase flexibility it would not be recommended for remedying muscle tension, aches or pains. This is because treatment benefits would not last for long if trying to change the physical positioning of an issue. If you are seeking to resolve a painful symptom or enhance physical performance you would be better served using a deep tissue, sports or remedial massage treatment.
To find out more and book a treatment, please call us on 020 8166 8958
