The soft rainforest sounds, the gentle scent of vanilla or lavender, the deep breath you take as you finally feel like you can relax. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? In this crazy, busy rat race of a world and society we live in, taking the time to relax is so important for our mental and physical health.
When I began studying to become a massage therapist, the first type of massage that I learned was Swedish massage, or relaxation massage. As the name suggests, this type of massage originated in Sweden, accredited to Dutch doctor Johann Mezger, and uses a combination of kneading, stroking, frictioning, tapping, and vibrations.
The most commonly used techniques are the kneading and stroking. The stroking technique is more of a lighter touch and is used to warm the skin and top layers of muscle into the treatment, whereas the kneading uses more pressure to get into the body of the muscle and release any build up of tension or pain. Frictioning is a deeper technique that goes across the muscle fibres, as if against the grain, instead of along them, either up or down. This technique is frequently used to release tension that is deep set in the muscles that the techniques of stroking and kneading don’t reach. Tapping is a gentle form of striking the muscle to invigorate blood flow and movement, which helps the muscle to relax and restore from the additional nutrients in the increased blood flow. Vibration is the shaking of the muscle or appendage gently, partly to help flow from one part of the massage to the next, partly stimulate blood flow and joint movement.
Here I am using a stroking technique as I begin treatment on the calf
Flow and transition is important in Swedish Massage as it affects how the client feels. For example, if the therapist is constantly taking their hands away from and back to the client, it creates a sense of disconnect. However, the therapist maintaining physical contact throughout the whole treatment increases the client’s level of relaxation and calm state of mind.
Swedish massage has many health benefits, ranging from physical to mental and psychological. As a massage therapist, I am acutely aware of the impact that physical touch has on the nervous system, and how calming a confident hand can be. Mentally, this type of touch can be used in conjunction with scent, music, and deep breathing to create a sense of peace and provide the client an opportunity to really relax. This elicits mental health benefits such as
- Stress relief,
- Improved mood,
- Release of anxiety and anxious thoughts,
- Improved focus and concentration,
- And a calm, relaxed demeanour.
I have seen many clients enter my clinic room, tense with anxiety and stress, and leave as if they are floating on a cloud. I myself can attest to the mental benefits of swedish massage from treatments that I’ve received from other therapists.
On top of the mental benefits, swedish massage also provides many physical benefits. There are not many conditions that are incompatible with swedish massage, so these benefits are available to almost everybody. The different techniques in swedish massage can provide significant physical benefits, such as
- Improved blood flow and circulation,
- Reduced muscle tension,
- Increased joint movement,
- Relief from pain after working out (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, or DOMS for short),
- and improved overall musculo-skeletal functioning.
Swedish Massage begins on the clients back.
Swedish massage is usually a full body treatment, with the client on their stomach to begin. The treatment starts with the back, then the legs, before the client is turned onto their back, for the treatment of the stomach, arms, shoulders, neck, face, and head. Any of these areas can be removed from the treatment according to the client’s wants and needs. A session can be anywhere between 30 to 120 minutes, with the average being 60 minutes.
As a therapist, I really enjoy providing these kinds of treatments as I am able to give my clients a place to relax and re-engage mentally, to clear their mind and emotions, as well as impact their level of relaxation on a physical plane.
Now my question to you! Have you ever received a Swedish or relaxation Massage? What is your favourite part of it?