Swedish Body Massage
What is a Swedish Body Massage?
The most widely recognized and commonly used category of massage is the Swedish massage. The Swedish massage techniques vary from light to vigorous. Swedish massage uses five styles of strokes. The five basic strokes are Effleurage (sliding or gliding), Petrissage (kneading), Tapotement (rhythmic tapping), Friction (cross fibre or with the fibres) and Vibration/Shaking.
You may feel moments of discomfort but this is because deeper tissues are being worked therefore it is very beneficial for a wide variety of aches and pains.
If you have any specific problematic areas, these can be discussed beforehand and can be focused on during treatment for a better result.
(REF – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage#Swedish_massage )
What are the benefits?
A standard Swedish session lasts for 60 minutes, and addresses most major muscle groups of the body. The strokes of the massage relax individual muscles, while the overall experience eliminates mental stress.
Swedish sessions can target specific areas of pain like a sprained ankle, or they can be used to help manage the chronic pain that comes with conditions like arthritis. By using strokes that improve circulation and increase body-wide relaxation, I can help make many painful conditions more bearable.
The strokes of Swedish massage replicate the movements of the circulatory system. By performing the strokes toward the heart, Swedish massage drains metabolic waste from the limbs of the body.
Swedish massage can break up muscle adhesions and help promote the healthy healing of scar tissue. Swedish Massage uses strokes like cross-fibre friction to work out the kinks that can accompany injured muscles. These strokes help get rid of scar tissue and return the muscles to their normal, healthy state.
(REF – http://www.happymassage.com/wiki/Swedish_Massage )
Working the back muscles during a treatment
What happens during a treatment?
A consultation will be carried about before the treatment, where you be asked about your medical health, any medications you are taking and also life style questions, such as diet and stress factors (these questions are asked so I can build up an idea of your lifestyle and therefore treat your body as a whole)
After the consultation and any questions or concerns discussed, you will be asked to get undressed behind a privacy screen and lay in between the towels on the massage table. I will then start the treatment on your back, then back of legs and feet. I will then ask you to turn over. Then I continue, starting with your arms, hands, stomach, front of your legs and finishing with a relaxing face and head massage.
After the treatment, I will ask you to slowly move off the massage table. You may feel a combination of feelings afterwards. You should feel relaxed and mellow, that has to do with the changes in neurochemicals like serotonin and endorphins. While discussing the treatment I will give you an after care leaflet. This leaflet contains advice such as things to do and not do afterwards, as well as a list of possible reactions. The reactions aren’t very common but I want you to feel at ease and not worry.
We will then discuss a treatment plan if necessary and book your next appointment.
Lavender House Holistics 