Swedish Massage
by Wendy AronSwedish body massage is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissues with specific techniques to promote or restore health. Swedish massage history dates back to the Ancient Chinese, Greeks and Romans, who all practiced forms of this massage. Records show that massage was performed in China as early as 3000 B.C. It was the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who argued that physical touch is the most fundamental of all five senses. The ancient Greeks associated physical well-being with the unfolding of spiritual and intellectual faculties. In the 5th Century B.C., the Greek physician, Heradosis, used herbs and oils. His pupil, Hippocrates, recognized the benefits of stroking movements toward the heart long before circulation of the blood was discovered. Hippocrates was a physician and is generally regarded as the father of medicine. Hippocrates seems to have understood the benefits of Swedish massage; he used friction movements in the treatment of sprains and dislocations and kneading movements to treat constipation. These are both Swedish massage techniques.
Swedish body massage itself originated with Henric Linc, a 19th Century Swedish athlete. Linc adopted Swedish massage therapy as a way to help athletes improve their physiques and advance in their sports. He was a great champion in the benefits of Swedish massage.
Swedish Massage Techniques
Swedish massage techniques encompass many different types of movements. These include:
Effleurage- Generally the beginning and end movement of massage. These are slow, rhythmic movements towards the heart. The pressure should always be firm on the upward stroke and lighten upon the return. In Swedish body massage, this movement relaxes your recipient and prepares for deeper movement.
Petrasage- This movement is normally applied with the fingers and balls of the thumbs. It is generally applied to tissue that has bone directly underneath. It can increase blood flow to that area and help soothe contracted muscles.
Kneading- In this Swedish massage therapy movement, the tissues are picked up from the bone, but rather than being released, they are passed from hand to hand in a wringing movement.. It should involve moving the hand along the length of the muscle and scooping the tissue toward you with one hand, while pushing it away with the thumb of the other hand.
Cupping- In Swedish massage therapy, this involves placing the hands into a cupping position so that the center of the palm does not touch the body when brought down.
Hacking- For this type of Swedish body massage movement, the fingers and the wrists must be loose and the arms relaxed. Only the forearm and the wrists move, keeping the elbows and shoulders still.
Friction- One of the Swedish massage techniques that utilizes fast rubbing to warm the skin. It can help soften and stretch tight tissue.
Nudging- This involves the loosening up the muscle that runs on either side of the spine in a way that can be relaxing or invigorating.
Swedish Massage Therapy in Practice
One or all of the Swedish massage techniques can be used in Swedish massage therapy. In the gluteal massage, for example, you can start with effleurage on the gluteal muscles and go straight into kneading. This is a big muscle and can cope with deep manipulation. Cup, remember not to slap, and keep a rhythmic movement. Then hack the entire gluteal muscle. Ease it out and using the pads of three fingers, make small circular motions down the gluteal muscle. Effleurage to finish, and then repeat on the other side.
Another example of the many different combination of movements used in Swedish body massage is illustrated in the back of the leg massage. In this area, you would effleurage the entire length of the leg. Remember to lighten up pressure over the back of the knee. Massage along the length of the Achilles tendon, then petrasage up the calf muscle. Using the pads of both thumbs, separate the calf muscle. Remember to stop just before the back of the knee and using both hands wring the calf area using pressure on the upward movement and gliding gently down on the downward stroke. Moving up the hamstring area, effleurage to warm the muscles. Knead the inside of the thigh and then move into cupping and hacking on the outside area only. Finish with a long, sweeping effleurage of the entire length of the leg.
Before utilizing any of these Swedish massage techniques, remember that your recipient should always be warm and comfortable. You should therefore encourage him or her to take a warm, aromatic bath prior to treatment. Also, make sure that you have pre-warmed the toweling and the oil. Take the time to oil up the recipient properly, finding any areas of tension that you can relax prior to the Swedish body massage.
The benefits of Swedish massage have been recorded throughout massage history, it’s relaxing and invigorating. More importantly, it can have a positive impact on its recipient’s physical health and well-being.
