Swedish Massage  was developed by Henrik Ling in Sweden in the 1700s. Swedish massage is believed to allow the body to absorb more oxygen, thereby rejuvenating the body. Swedish massage is also believed to be geared towards detoxification by increasing the speed by which the cells of the body eliminate their waste materials. But more than this, Swedish massage brings to the receiver an immense feeling of satisfaction and relaxation.

At Body and Mind Studio, we use the Swedish Massage techniques on our clients for both relaxation and deep tissue massage.

Swedish Massage Techniques

At Body and Mind Studio we use the following six basis techniques when administering Swedish massage to our clients:

Effleurage. This is the technique most people associate with massage in general and Swedish massage in particular. In doing effleurage, we make use of long and sweeping strokes that cover more than just one area of the body. Though it makes the client feel like his or her muscles are being broken down, the purpose of effleurage is actually to connect one part of the body to the others.

Friction. Heat makes the muscles relax and friction is used to make the area to be treated warm up. We make use of the friction technique by rubbing the palms of the hands vigorously on the surface of the client’s skin. We can also do this by rubbing the palms together and then laying them on the client’s skin.

Petrissage. This is the act of kneading and squeezing the muscles of the body. Petrissage does not target or focus on any particular part of the body, but the process of kneading the body’s muscles allows for deeper and more penetrating effects of massage.

Tapottement. These are strokes that aim to energise the area of the body that is being treating yet at the same time making it loosened and relaxed. This is done by chopping the area with the sides of the hands. It can also be done by hitting the area being treated rhythmically with cupped or fisted hands.

Vibration. The vibration technique is used by the masseuse to shake up the area of the client’s body that she is treating. This is done by moving the heel of the hand, or sometimes the side of the hand, or even the fingertips, forward and backward across the skin to loosen the muscles of that particular area.

Traction. This involves pulling at the arms and legs of the client, and sometimes also the head. The act of pulling stretches the muscles of the client. Traction is always done as part of the last portion of the massage routine because pulling needs to have the muscles relaxed.

Rebecca Hopfensperger (above) uses the Swedish Massage technique on her clients (pictured below).

Your first time massage? Swedish massage is the most commonly offered and best-known type of massage. If it's you're first time, it’s the perfect place to start, and it will be a deeply relaxing experience.

How long does it take? A Swedish massage can take from 30 - 60 minutes depending on your specific requirements which will be discussed in total confidence during the mandatory pre-massage consultation.

Who is it for? At Body and Mind Studio, we believe that regular massage is an essential part of everybody’s personal wellness, whether you are an infant baby or an ageing parent. Below is a beautiful poem by Phyllis K. Davis which sums up the reasons why massage is so important for everybody.