Swedish Massage Relaxing Body & Mind
- Cătălin Mihai Curtianu
- Mar 29, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 8
What is a Swedish Massage
Swedish Full Body Massage is the most popular first-time experience massage. It’s the base and the first type of massage used in many cultures for thousands of years to relax the body and mind. The massage stimulates the nervous system moving from a state of stress to a more relaxing sensation. We will explore the history of massage, what are the benefits of massage, techniques, what does a full body Swedish massage include and tips to help you get the most out of this relaxing therapy.
History of Swedish Massage
Massage was first recorded in China when has been found that applying pressure technique was beneficial on specific points on the body. In India, massage has been referred to in ancient books and describes how massage relieves tiredness increases energy levels and improves general health. To the ancient Greek and Romab physicians, massage was one of the main ways of healing and relieving pain. In the early 1800s, Swedish Massage was developed in Sweden when a physiologist combined his knowledge of physiology, gymnastics, and ancient massage techniques. The physiologist devised many of the massage techniques used today as effleurage, petrissage, vibrations and rolling.
What are its benefits?
There are many surprising benefits of Swedish massage, both psychological and physical, that you get after a full-body Swedish massage, you probably ignored until now. Many clients have experienced different positive reactions to Swedish Massage as relief from stress and muscular tension or an increased feeling of awareness, calm and peace. It has an impact on the whole body, influences the good functioning of the body and improves the mental state when we feel the body asks for a break.
Slow and rhythmical massage produces a soothing, sedative effect on the nervous system promoting general relaxation, while a vigorous and brisk massage technique will have a stimulating effect.
Massage improves the the skin condition due to increased blood supply will bring more oxygen and nutrients to the soft tissue, the release of toxins will assist the skin in regenerating healthier. Massage Increases circulation and the metabolism as well, which stimulates the cells in the skin. The effects of massage are to produce dilatation of surface capillaries and result in hyperaemia and erythema, which improves skin colour. Sebaceous glands are stimulated to release sebum which lubricates the skin and keeps it soft. It assists the body with the dispersal of adipose tissue because deep firm massage techniques stimulate the blood flow in the area, increasing the speed of removing the waste products through the circulatory system.
The effects of massage on the body are incredible on muscles produced by the accumulation of waste in the tissue. When treatment is given, the removal of this metabolic waste as lactic acid is speeded up, and normal functioning of the muscles is quickly restored. The increased nutrients and oxygen will also facilitate tissue repair and recovery for athletes allowing them to return to training more quickly and assist them in hard training, sport, and athletic performance.
Massage warms muscles and, as a result, will reduce tension and aid relaxation. Therefore, the elasticity of muscles is improved because of the manipulation of the soft tissue, stretching of the muscle fibres and separating the bundles. Any restricting fibrous adhesions are broken down, and any fascia surrounding the bundles is stretched, allowing muscle fibres to function normally.
Swedish massage increases the blood flow in the area treated, assisting the cardiovascular system. When the hands move along in the direction of venous return, the blood is pushed back towards the heart through the veins. Using a different level and speed of pressure will influence the blood flow. Therefore, a massage session will assist the body's natural process of removing metabolic waste products.
When the metabolic waste products are allowed to accumulate in the muscle tissue, we start to feel pain in that area, stiffness, and restricted circulation. We start to feel restricted in that part of the body, and our ability to move and use the muscles in good condition will be reduced. The effects massage on the circulatory system will increase the delivery of fresh oxygenated blood, nutrients needed so much by the muscle tissue and the deoxygenated blood, which carries the waste product will remove all the toxins from the body.
The nutrients and oxygen nourish the tissues and aid tissue recovery and repair; the tissue's condition will improve. Warmth is produced in the area due to the increased blood flow and friction of the hands on the part being treated will increase the blood flow and produces hyperaemia that appears as red skin, which is a good effect on the skin as is a result of increased blood supply. Relaxed and slow massage techniques may have an influence in reducing high blood pressure as well.
The effects of massage on the lymphatic system, which is often referred to as the secondary circulatory system is assisted in flushing out the toxins from the body during a massage session. As I am applying nice and slow effleurage massage strokes, the hands will move along in the direction of the lymph drainage towards the nearest set of lymph nodes, the speed of lymph flow is increased. As a result, the toxins will be released faster than the natural flow of the body function. Applying the right pressure on the tissue will facilitate the transfer of fluids into the lymph vessels, preventing oedema, a condition that manifests as swelling of the tissue.
The effects of massage on the nervous system and the most important are to decrease stress and increase relaxation. Many of us live demanding lives, are both overscheduled and overworked. Stress can manifest itself in the body through increased muscle tension and sometimes through pain. Stress can also manifest itself on a psychological level through increased worry or anxiety. Swedish massage helps clear the body and mind of unwanted stress responses, calming the nervous system and relaxing muscle tension.
How is Swedish massage done, and what are the techniques used?
Massage techniques
There are many types of massage techniques used for different effects. Let’s talk about the most popular of them and see how massage can affect the body and mind.
The first is effleurage and the first massage therapy technique used at the beginning of a massage session. It allows the muscles to warm up, preparing the tissue for a firmer and deeper massage. It is beneficial to assist circulation - returning the deoxygenated blood through the veins back to the heart aids lymphatic circulation to flush out the toxins and promotes relaxation.
Petrissage is the next technique mostly used it can be described as movements that consist of repeatedly grasping and releasing the tissue in a lifting, rolling, or pressing fashion. The pressure can be intermittent. Petrissage benefits are to aid venous circulation, increases lymphatic flow, loosens adherent tissues, moves the tissue over bine, improves absorption of substances within the tissue, it separates and realigns the muscle fibres and bundles. Petrissage massage techniques are the most effective for removing large particles of waste and, in this particular, assisting the lymphatic system in reducing oedema.
Another popular massage technique is tapotement, sometimes defined as percussion - type movements applied briskly with light pressure. Named different like hacking, cupping or beating massage techniques, it is beneficial because it is very stimulating, causing erythema, producing heat, stimulating muscle fibres, and increasing activity at the cellular level.
What to expect at your first Swedish massage?
Overall, now we know what are the massage benefits and how often it is recommended to get a massage, and yes, the benefits are multiple and incredible - a regular massage will bring and assist any person in the busy daily routine you go through nowadays.
Swedish massage encourages deeper and relaxed breathing, encourages sleep and is excellent for improving your sleep pattern and getting a night of deep and restful sleep. Using different massage techniques creates a feeling of well-being, elevates your mood, and increases energy levels. A massage session can deliver all these great benefits It will increase joint mobility, will relieve pain and elevates mood, relaxes the mind and body, increases blood and lymphatic circulation, relieves stiff joints and relaxes tight muscles and improves the condition of the skin.
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