Last Seen Blogs
Text
What Is Swedish Massage?
Ahhh... the soothing sounds of gentle music as you blissfully lie beneath a soft sheet, cocooned in relaxing smells and dim light. You find your nerves unblinking and your troubles slipping away as seasoned hands massage your back and shoulders.
If you've ever been to a spa to enjoy the relaxing benefits of a Swedish massage, you're familiar with this pattern. If you haven't, or feel that a massage might not really benefit you, think again.
In particular, Swedish massage incorporates several specific techniques that combine to give you a relaxing and beneficial experience. They include:
Long, sweeping strokes over a muscle that help to break up trigger points
Kneading the muscle to work deeper into the affected area
Rhythmically tapping an area with cupped hands to facilitate relaxation
Friction or rubbing a muscle group rapidly with the palms to stimulate warmth
Vibration or using the fingertips to quickly shake a muscle back and forth to loosen the areHelping to mitigate the symptoms of fibromyalgia
What to Expect at Your Massage
The typical Swedish massage experience begins with the client lying on their stomach with their clothes removed and a towel draped over them to maintain privacy. If you're uncomfortable removing all of your clothes, you can choose to keep some items on, such as a bra or underwear.
The Swedish massage therapist will then slowly progress through the five techniques detailed above as he or she massages your neck, back, arms and legs. When this is complete, they may ask you to turn over so they can focus on the front of these areas.
Be sure to tell your therapist if there are areas you'd like them to focus on or to avoid. In addition, give your therapist feedback on their pressure so that you remain relaxed and comfortable at all times.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
Swedish massage therapy can be helpful with a number of other physical challenges, such as reduction in scar tissue by physically manipulating the fibers of the tissue, allowing the scar tissue to be successfully reabsorbed into the skin. Additionally, it can aid with lymphatic drainage, where the long strokes of the therapist help move fluids successfully out of clogged areas.
Interestingly, many patients and therapists swear by massage as a way to reduce constipation or digestive upset, since the increased circulatory benefits and relaxation of the abdominal and lower back muscles can help relieve symptoms. In fact, a 2014 study from the British journal Nursing Standard highlights a number of the ways abdominal massage encouraging muscle contraction, nudging the gut to move things along. click here if you are looking for more Information.
1 note
·
View note