What is all involved with a Swedish Massage?
In Swedish massage, the techniques used are effleurage, petrissage, friction and tapotement. Effleurage (stroking) the use of light and hard rhythmic stroking movements is used to relax muscles and improve blood circulation. It is often preformed at the beginning and end of a massage session. Petrissage (kneading) is the rhythmic squeezing pressing and lifting of a muscle. Friction the fingers, thumb, palm, or heel of hand are pressed into the skin with a small circular movement. The massage therapist’s fingers are sometimes pressed deeply into a joint. Tapotement (tapping) in which the hands strike the skin in rapid succession is used to improve blood circulation. During the session the client covered with sheets lies undressed on a padded table. Oil or lotion is used to smooth the skin. Some massage therapists use aromatherapy adding fragrance essences to the oil to relax the clients and stimulate circulation.
