Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is perhaps one of the most recognisable massage therapies aside from Thai massage. As its name suggests, Swedish massage originated in Sweden. However, unlike maalish and other forms of ayurvedic massages whose roots can be traced back to millennia, Swedish massage is relatively ‘new’.
Swedish massage is the most popular type of massage which is used to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. This massage therapy goes beyond relaxation.
Benefits of Swedish Massage
1. Reduce stress
This massage involves gentle, rhythmic strokes that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. This, in turn, reduces the levels of stress hormones and thereby help you feel less stressed.
2. Reduce muscle tension
While this is true of all types of massages, the techniques employed in this massage massage don’t just release muscle knots but also help improve flexibility and range of motion.
3. Pain management
Certain deep tissue massages can aggravate pain, but Swedish massage involves gentle strokes that actually help reduce inflammation and alleviate chronic pain conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis, and even migraines.
4. Easing of muscle pain
Whether you’ve overdone it in the gym, or you suffer from long-term or chronic muscle or joint pain, Swedish massage can help to alleviate pain. Your massage therapist can target particular pain points, reducing the muscle tension in the area, allowing pain to ease. For many, this natural way of managing pain is welcomed in preference to taking pain medication.
5. Increased blood circulation
The different massage techniques improve blood circulation to the areas being worked on. This has a number of different benefits. The increased warmth is soothing and eases sore muscles. But it also helps your body to drain away the toxins we all store up simply through everyday life.
