Chronicles
12 December 2013
The Swedish Massage
The Swedish massage is without doubt the most widely recognized and commonly used technique in massage therapy.
It stimulates many levels: cutaneous, sub-cutaneous, muscular, articular, circulatory, ect., assuming the technique is properly administered. I would also add that the massage therapist must be ready to give and the client must be ready to receive. All conditions respected, this technique has numerous benefits.
To be specific, I am referring to the human body’s increased ability to perform, the accelerated elimination of toxins which in turn will facilitate the skin’s capacity to absorb nutrients and all this is combined with the sensation of deep relaxation. There is an entirely different technique used specifically for the lymphatic system known as lymphatic massage or lymphatic drainage technique which we will elaborate further in an upcoming article.
It is important to add that the Swedish technique is not an invigorating or robust form of massage therapy. Much as with every massage technique, the Swedish massage relies on two specific fundamental conditions. I am referring to the speed or rhythm and the strength of pressure or intensity. One must not forget that any massage should start off slowly and gently, gradually reaching a culminating point before returning to a slower, gentler pace at the end.
A massage therapist should be able to recognize each client’s needs and requirements before administering the appropriate technique. At any given moment, a client may be in need of a relaxing massage, where the rhythm is slow and the pressure is gentle. That same client may require a decongesting technique. This would then require the massage to be of moderate rhythm and deep pressure, providing the client with a deep sense of relaxation as his muscles, nerves and internal organs feel decongested, thus providing a calming sensation.
Perhaps your client requires a stimulating massage, where the rhythm is accelerated or very quick and the pressure is quite deep or strong. The stimulating massage is usually beneficial to athletes or those inclined to physical work.
The final Swedish massage technique is called neurotonic, widely used for treating small children, the elderly and very ill clients. The rhythm in this case is extremely slow and the pressure is extremely light, almost absent in some cases.
For all these reasons, Swedish massage is used and adapted to every circumstance. Many massage therapists claim to be performing a Swedish massage when they are in fact using a completely different technique.