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Posted on: August 30, 2013

In today's stressful world of pressures and demands at work and at home, more and more people are turning to massage therapy as a form of stress relief. There are different types of massage, depending on what kind of massage you want and for how long of a session.

Swedish massage is the most common type of massage in the western hemisphere. This type of massage focuses on actual muscles and physical points in the body. Its concept is based on direct interaction with anatomy and physiology, whereas eastern hemisphere massages tend to focus more on the abstract mind, energy, and the inner sense of calm. It is known as Swedish massage because over 200 years ago a Swedish physiologist working the University of Stockholm developed a system of movements for physical therapists that, over time, came to be known as Swedish movements, and then in the United States as Swedish massage.

Swedish massage is composed of various lubricated strokes of the muscles to warm and relax the muscle tissue, thus relieving tension. Swedish massage encourages relaxation and helps to release small, sometimes imperceptible knots in the muscles, thus allowing the massage to be more effective. If the client has time for a longer session, a deep tissue massage may be beneficial for muscle pain. Deep tissue massage is a more intense form of Swedish massage, administering firmer pressure and more intensive massages.

It is important for the massage therapist to communicate with the client before the massage regarding whether the client prefers firm or gentle pressure, if the client has any injuries, or if there are certain conditions that the therapist should know about.

A true Swedish massage should only be administered by a trained, licensed massage therapist to get the full benefits of a relaxing session.

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