Swedish Massage is probably the best known massage therapy in the West and the most
commonly used. A Swedish Massage can be very calming and soothing or vigorous and
bracing, depending on the desired outcome of the treatment.
Swedish Massage is the foundation on which many other therapies are based; Aromatherapy
Massage, Physiotherapy, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage and Pregnancy Massage all use
techniques from Swedish Massage.
Swedish Massage is used in many different ways, including for general relaxation,
relieving stress and anxiety, muscle injuries and improving flexibility and joint
mobility. It can also be used to work deeper to help with certain conditions - for
example, using deeper pressures while working on the abdomen can be very beneficial
for digestive and postural purposes.
The techniques, or strokes, used in Swedish Massage include long gliding strokes
(effleurage), lifting and kneading the muscles, (petrissage), deep, firm movements
(friction), brisk tapping or percussive movements (tapotement) and vibrating or shaking
of specific muscles (vibration).