Pure Swedish
Swedish massage consists of a specific set of massage movements: effleurage, or sliding movements; petrissage, or kneading movements; friction, or rubbing; vibration and percussion. It traditionally also includes passive and active joint movements, stretching and bending joints with the assistance of the massage therapist.
Swedish massage increases the circulation of blood and lymph, which has the result of cleaning and nourishing soft tissues–the skin and muscle. It lengthens and relaxes the superficial muscles and stimulates peristalsis in the intestines.
What is the difference between a Swedish and regular massage?
Swedish massage involves long strokes using light-to-firm pressure. This style generally provides a more relaxing experience, but the pressure may not be enough for some people. In contrast, deep tissue massage applies much more pressure to release tension deep within the muscles and fascia.
