Swedish massage therapy is the most common type of massage. It’s the preferred type of massage for a relaxation massage. Whether you’re getting a full body swedish massage or just specific areas – most commonly back, neck and shoulders.
Swedish massage therapy involves using long, broad, gliding strokes affecting the more superficial layers of muscles, increasing relaxation, circulation and bringing blood to the heart (with the exception of people with high blood pressure – bring blood away from the heart)
Some Swedish massage techniques include: circular pressure, scooping of tissues, kneading, squeezing, light percussion – tapping, long gliding movements, keeping contact with client, stretches.
The biggest difference between Deep Tissue Massage and Swedish Massage is the amount of pressure. Deep Tissue Massage use a deeper, firmer pressure to reach the deeper muscles. Before getting to those muscles, the therapist still needs to use lighter techniques to warm up the more superficial layers of muscles and tissues in order to reach the deeper layers.
There are some more aggressive techniques that are used during a deep tissue massage. Also since everybody’s pain tolerance is different, more pressure can be used during a Swedish massage if the client finds that pressure relaxing.
