Discover the Swedish Massage
It’s probably the most commonly used massage technique used today, but how much do you really know about Swedish Massage?
There are a lot of great things that hail from Sweden. ABBA, H&M, IKEA (not forgetting, of course, Swedish meatballs), and the list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Alexander Skarsgård! We have a lot to be thankful for.
However, perhaps the most important thing to come from Sweden – at least as far as the Devonshire Spa is concerned – is Swedish Massage.
Developed in the 18th century by Per Henrik Ling, Swedish Massage was created using a combination of techniques from Chinese, Greek, Roman and Egyptian massage therapy.
Using a mixture of techniques including long smooth strokes, deep kneading motions, gentle stretching, friction and tapping, Swedish Massage is a great way to introduce beginners to massage therapy and carries a range of benefits. The long gliding strokes boost circulation and improve flexibility, whilst increasing the level of oxygen in the blood and decreasing the number of toxins within the body. Because Swedish Massage stimulates the lymphatic system (which disposes of the body’s waste), a Swedish Massage can help get rid of all the bad stuff – especially if you’re detoxing.
In fact, Swedish Massage is recommended to help people regulate their blood pressure. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that volunteers who experienced a 45-minute Swedish Massage session “had a significant decrease in the hormone arginine-vasopressin, which plays a role in regulating blood pressure.”
Swedish Massage is also said to help relieve muscle pain and cramps so can be beneficial to those suffering from chronic pain or arthritis.
When experiencing a Swedish Massage, your therapist will use a high-quality massage oil and will execute a variety of different massage strokes to warm up the muscle tissue, release any tension, and break up any ‘knots’ or adhesions to leave you feeling completely calm and relaxed at the end.
Your therapist should ask you what kind of pressure you would prefer, and if you find once it’s started that the pressure is too weak or too firm, don’t be afraid to speak up.