Swedish massage

Swedish Massage is one of the popular type of massage therapy. It refers to specially designed techniques to relax and soothe the muscles. It was developed in the year 1700s by a Swedish doctor named Per Henrik Ling, whose target is to increase oxygen flow in the blood and release body toxins and reduce stress.

Swedish massage follows special strokes that all serve with a purpose.

Here are some of the techniques used in Swedish Massage sessions.

1.  Effleurage – this term refers to gliding with the use of thumbs, palms or fingertips.
2. Petrissage – a term used to describe the kneading strokes of the hands, palms and finger tips.
3. Friction – this is usually illustrated with circular motion of the palms, hands, fingertips while at the same time applying pressure to massage areas.
4. Vibration – massage movements involves shaking and other oscillatory movements to vibrate the body.
5. Percussion – this refers to the tapping and hacking usually done at the last part of the massage session.
6. Passive and active movements – therapists do this by bending and stretching the muscle joints or other areas of the body.

Like other massage therapies, Swedish massage provides great health benefits and in fact it is one of the effective program for stress management and tension reduction. It promotes relaxation to nerves, glands, and improves blood circulation that eventually results to healthy well-being.