SWEDISH MASSAGE

What is Swedish Massage? 

Swedish massage is the most traditional form of Western massage, and for many in the United States, it’s the image associated with massage. Among the areas of research: the potential of massage to improve blood pressure and other vital signs. 

Swedish massage may loosen up tight muscles caused by daily activities such as sitting at the computer or exercising. It can be very helpful for people who hold a lot of tension in their:

• lower back
• shoulders
• neck

What happens during a Swedish massage?

During a Swedish massage, therapists use:

• kneading
• long strokes
• deep circular movements
• passive joint movements

These techniques are meant to:

• relax you
• stimulate nerve endings
• increase blood flow and lymph drainage

A traditional Swedish massage involves the whole body. You will begin on either your back or your stomach and flip over at the halfway point.

If you have an area of particular concern, such as a tight neck, you can ask your therapist to spend more time in this area. Depending on your preferences, you can ask your massage therapist to use light, medium, or firm pressure.