swedish massage Archives - Soothe https://www.soothe.com/articles/tag/swedish-massage/ Soothe: On-Demand Massage & Personal Care Services Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:33:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://www.soothe.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-cropped-soothe-logo-hands-blue-32x32.png swedish massage Archives - Soothe https://www.soothe.com/articles/tag/swedish-massage/ 32 32 How Can a Massage Reduce Blood Pressure https://www.soothe.com/articles/how-can-a-massage-reduce-blood-pressure/ Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:13:00 +0000 https://www.soothe.com/?p=80303 Stress is something all humans have to deal with, but too much of it over time can be a factor that leads to high blood pressure (hypertension). While one who experiences high blood pressure is likely to pursue medical options to treat the condition and keep it under control, reducing stressors is an option outside […]

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Stress is something all humans have to deal with, but too much of it over time can be a factor that leads to high blood pressure (hypertension). While one who experiences high blood pressure is likely to pursue medical options to treat the condition and keep it under control, reducing stressors is an option outside of a clinical setting that one may look to control.

With that, can a massage lower blood pressure? In short, it can help. Natural wellness methods such as massage therapy have shown benefits in studies for managing high blood pressure. We break down how that works if you’re experiencing high blood pressure or low blood pressure, and what to look out for in a massage session to make it effective for you.

What is High Blood Pressure and Why Does it Matter?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when your blood pressure remains consistently higher than normal. While your blood pressure typically fluctuates throughout the day based on your activities, this designation is applied when your blood pressure measures consistently above what is normal and proportional to your daily activities.

Having blood pressure measured consistently above that normal baseline may result in a diagnosis of this condition, as the higher your blood pressure levels are, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

The Science Behind Massage and Blood Pressure

There are a multitude of studies that exist currently confirming that massage therapy can decrease your heart rate, reduce cortisol levels, and lower your blood pressure. Where the criticisms lay, however, is in the quantity of time that one may experience the positive effects of massage therapy when it comes to lowering blood pressure. It should be noted that stress and high blood pressure go beyond stress, and include a multitude of other factors, such as white coat hypertension, job stress, social environment, race, and emotional distress. Research shows that massage therapy can help reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. 

There are two blood pressure numbers in a blood pressure reading, referring to the systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels respectively. Systolic blood pressure measures the force of blood being pushed out of the heart during contraction and is the first number you see in a blood pressure level reading. Diastolic blood pressure, on the other hand, reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest and filling with blood, which represents the second number. A common “normal” reading would look like 120/80 mm Hg, with 120 being the systolic pressure and 80 representing the diastolic pressure.

So, how can a massage lower blood pressure? A massage can reduce cortisol, which is a stress hormone, and boost your endorphins, promoting relaxation. Massages can improve your blood’s circulation, aiding the cardiovascular system in its work of moving your blood throughout your body. It also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing heart rate and inducing calm.

Types of Massages for Managing Blood Pressure

1. Swedish Massage

A Swedish massage is an excellent choice for those who are looking to manage or lower their blood pressure. It offers a gentle yet effective way to reduce stress and promote relaxation. By improving blood circulation and encouraging the body’s relaxation response, Swedish massages help ease tension that can contribute to hypertension.

For a deeper relaxing experience, consider incorporating aromatherapy into your Swedish massage session. Aromatherapy uses essential oil scents to deepen your relaxation by creating a multi-sensory experience that supports your overall physiological well-being. Whether it’s your essential oil scents that you are providing or going with an enhancement option such as what Soothe offers with massage packages, you have additional options to deepen your relaxation. 

2. Reflexology Massage

Reflexology massage is another powerful wellness option for individuals looking to manage or lower their blood pressure. This specialized technique targets specific pressure points in your feet, hands, or ears to promote overall well-being. It aims to alleviate stress and improve circulation, leaving the recipient feeling balanced and revitalized​.

For a deeper relaxing experience, consider incorporating aromatherapy into your Reflexology massage. The calming properties of aromatherapy help you create a multi-sensory experience that supports your physiological well-being. With Soothe, you can experience the transformative effects of reflexology wherever you are, whenever you want, to meet your needs for relaxation and health.

Precautions of Low Blood Pressure Massages

While massage therapy offers many benefits to those with hypertension, individuals with low blood pressure should take certain precautions. Consulting your medical team before booking a wellness experience such as a massage is necessary to understand your options, as different types of massage can have different effects on the body. It’s common for massage recipients to feel a bit lightheaded after a massage, as most methods of massage can lower your blood pressure in the immediate term. 

To ensure a safe and comfortable experience, communication is key, and you should communicate any pertinent information to your massage therapist before the session. Therapists may adjust techniques to be gentler and avoid prolonged exposure that could cause your blood pressure to drop further. Staying hydrated before, during, and after your session may also help mitigate any potential side effects.

Find Your Relaxation With Soothe

With Soothe, our licensed therapists tailor each session to your unique needs to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. Whether you’re managing a massage with high blood pressure or low blood pressure, our Swedish and Reflexology massage options offer a relaxing and restorative approach to support your overall health goals.

Book a massage appointment easily in any way, anywhere, anytime, to suit your needs with Soothe.

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Everything You Need To Know About Massage Therapy https://www.soothe.com/articles/massage-therapy/ Fri, 04 Nov 2022 19:44:54 +0000 https://www.soothe.com/?p=78886 If you’re stressed and sore, you may think there’s nothing you can do but take some over-the-counter pain relievers and plow through your day. According to the CDC, 20 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain, that’s 1 out of every 5 people. For those of you that continue to look for relief, massage therapy may be […]

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If you’re stressed and sore, you may think there’s nothing you can do but take some over-the-counter pain relievers and plow through your day. According to the CDC, 20 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain, that’s 1 out of every 5 people. For those of you that continue to look for relief, massage therapy may be a solution worth trying.

Massage is a great tool for relaxation, pain relief, easing muscle tension and more. Learn more about the common types of massage and their benefits.

What is massage therapy?

Performed by a licensed massage therapist, massage therapy involves using different pressures, movements and techniques to manipulate muscles and other soft tissues in the body. With a goal of slowing down your nervous system, massage therapy can be used to release stress and tension, provide relief from symptoms, heal injuries and support overall wellness.

Types of massage therapy

There’s a wide variety of different types of massage therapy, massages come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are some of the offerings you might find on a massage therapy menu.

Swedish massage

If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed with life, this massage may be able to bring relief. A Swedish massage is the classic go-to for major relaxation. Swedish massage is typically a full-body massage that uses a soft, gentle touch. It’s a great choice for men and women that are brand new to massages. It can help calm your nervous system. Swedish massage is also a good avenue for encouraging a relaxed emotional state of mind which can directly impact your muscles. One of the best massages for both mental and physical rejuvenation.

Deep tissue massage

Repeated activity can make your muscles get tight, you’ll see this a lot with athletes and any person that is active. However, you can get tight muscles from less active activities, this can include driving, sitting, or working on the computer. Deep tissue massage gets into your muscles and tendons to release that tightness, which then can provide pain relief. This massage is a good fit for people with general muscle tightness and chronic muscle pain.

Sports massage

While sports massages and deep tissue massages are similar in many ways, they also differ. A sports massage will often focus on the muscles that take a beating when you play sports or do another repetitive physical activity. Athletes and dancers use their bodies differently than the average person. A massage therapist with experience in sports massage can get in there to break up muscle tightness and address sports injuries.

Prenatal massage

Pregnancy causes a lot of changes to a woman’s body, the added weight alone can cause foot pain, leg pain, hip pain, and lower back pain. Prenatal massages are great for helping moms-to-be relax and can help address the aches and pains of growing a baby. Prenatal massages are wonderful for taking pressure off the hips and can help with swelling in the feet and legs. And when mom is relaxed and feeling well, the baby benefits.

Trigger point massage

Trigger points, or knots in your neck and back, are caused by tiny muscle spasms or tight spots in the tissue. In a trigger-point massage, the therapist uses direct pressure to target those spots and improve blood flow to the areas so they can release. This type of massage can be helpful for people with chronic pain.

Lymphatic massage

Lymphatic fluid has a number of important functions, two important ones include maintaining fluid levels and removing waste products from the body. Lymphatic massage uses a soft touch that’ll help your lymphatic fluid move through the body easier. Lymphatic massage is a great option for people with inflammation and arthritis. It can also be beneficial to people who have had mastectomies, which usually involves the removal of lymph nodes.

Myofascial release

The fascia refers to a web of connective tissue under the skin, it supports the muscles and allows a person to move freely. With a myofascial release, your massage therapist will knead and stretch the muscles and fascia, this is done to work out tightness and tension. This specific massage type is considered to be a form of deep stretching and is often used together with other therapeutic massage techniques. Myofascial release are good for reducing tightness in your back, neck, and shoulders.

Hot stone massage

A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy. It’s used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. If a person is experiencing muscle tightness and pain, insomnia, soreness, or stress, you may want to consider trying a hot stone massage. During a hot stone massage, smooth, flat, heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains heat.

Health benefits of massage

As we learn more about massage therapy and continue to run studies, we’re learning that massage has many benefits. Massage therapy may be beneficial for anyone but it has been noted to help people that suffer from conditions that include cancer, heart disease, stomach problems, inflammation, and fibromyalgia. Before you get your massage, be sure you talk to your massage therapist about any medical issues prior to your first session. You should also consult with your doctor to ensure a massage will be safe for you.

Here are some of the benefits of massage therapy.

Reduces stress and anxiety

That feeling of calm after a massage can aid in reducing stress and anxiety, a study found. Your body has two nervous systems: a sympathetic nervous system that drives your “fight or flight” response in stressful situations and a parasympathetic nervous system that focuses on routine and day-to-day operations that lead to relaxation and rest. A massage is thought to increase your parasympathetic response, which can decrease feelings of anxiety and stress.

Reduce pain, muscle tension and tightness

Many studies have been published that show massage may help reduce pain that includes acute back pain, neck painheadaches and knee pain. While those results will favor that the relief is short-term, other cases receiving multiple 60-minute massage sessions a few times a week showed longer-term relief.

Improves sleep

Massage has the ability to decrease cortisol (a stress hormone) in the body, it can also increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, these are known neurotransmitters that can stabilize your mood. Studies have shown that massage therapy is beneficial for those who have insomnia related to menopause and congestive heart failure.

Improved blood circulation

Does massage help improve your blood circulation? A 2020 study found that a five minute manual leg massage could significantly increase circulation not only in the affected limb, but in the surrounding areas as well. A 2010 study came to a similar conclusion. Researchers measured the mean skin temperature of 17 healthy volunteers who underwent a 20 minute neck and shoulder massage session. In most cases, the increase in blood flow in the treated and adjacent areas has persisted long after the treatment was finished. 

Improves immune function

Is it possible to boost your immune system with massage? This study suggested that regular massages increase your body’s level of white blood cells, this specific type of blood cells is what attacks bad viruses in your body so you can heal and get better.

Improve energy

Studies have proven that massage therapy is good for you – we do know that it can reduce our fatigue. While massage does not directly increase energy, it helps reduce fatigue and may decrease symptoms that take our energy away, this can result in you feeling better. Studies have taught us that massage therapy can increase circulation, reduce pain and stress, improve our sleep quality and help with our immunity – all of these make us feel better, more energized and less fatigued.

Constipation relief

For anyone that has been dealing with constipation after surgery, this study showed that an abdominal massage may help you with bowel movements. Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in the United States. Approximately 16 out of every 100 American adults experience symptoms caused by constipation.

Regular massages can relieve constipation by helping you release gas and waste products. They may also help treat any underlying or accompanying conditions. For example, regular massage can reduce stress and in turn reduce pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

Reduce fibromyalgia symptoms

When it comes to improving mood, sleep, and memory, these studies have shown that using massage regularly for over 5 weeks may improve symptoms of fibromyalgia, this is a chronic illness that causes muscle pain, joint pain, and fatigue. This study saw similar results – it shown massage therapy can be effective in easing pain for people who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Relieving cancer pain

For men and women that are taking cancer treatments, the physical, mental, and emotional toll is unprecedented. No words can describe what they’re feeling. Many have turned to massage to help lessen cancer pain, increase relaxation and improve quality of life.

There’s been a fair amount of studies that have been performed to see if massage can help reduce cancer pain. While some of these studies have suggested that massage therapy doesn’t improve cancer pain – others have shown a positive impact.

Who should try massage therapy?

A lot of you reading this article can benefit from massage — it’s a great way to improve wellness, help with pain, ease stress, and much more. If you do have a medical issue, please make sure you check with your doctor and have a conversation with your massage therapist.

For any of you that are pregnant, prenatal massages are safe. In fact, they can be healthy for you and the baby. We still recommend consulting with your treating doctor to ensure massage will be safe for you prior to booking a prenatal massage.

If you do have any questions about massage therapy that weren’t answered here, please be sure to check out our Help Center.

Not sure what type of massage is right for you? No worries, you don’t need find the perfect massage prior to booking an appointment. Many massage therapists specialize in using multiple massage techniques to address your unique concerns. This is why it’s important to tell your massage therapist exactly how you feel, that way they can treat your specific conditions and you can experience a great beneficial massage therapy session.

The different types of massage aren’t exclusive from one another. A massage therapist uses a combination of techniques to help you relax, get rid of tight muscles and address other concerns.

Try a massage with Soothe

Did you know that the Soothe Network of massage therapists are professionally licensed? It’s true, all Soothe massage therapists are required to have a license prior to joining. This ensures you’re going to get a certified therapists for your massage therapy.

And since you can book your massage right at home, you’re just a few clicks away from a professional massage at home! Here’s the link to book your massage.

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In Office Massage Therapy: Thinking About Offering “Massage” To Employees? https://www.soothe.com/articles/office-massage/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 02:55:19 +0000 https://www.soothe.com/?p=78808 If you’ve been thinking about offering office massage therapy to your employees, you’re not alone. Over the last few years, we’ve seen some of the biggest brands in the world offering corporate messages to employees and we love it! Office massage therapy has a lot of benefits and perks, we understand how important employee wellness […]

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If you’ve been thinking about offering office massage therapy to your employees, you’re not alone. Over the last few years, we’ve seen some of the biggest brands in the world offering corporate messages to employees and we love it!

Office massage therapy has a lot of benefits and perks, we understand how important employee wellness is. We’ve seen this trend playing out over the last few years. While the pandemic halted employee wellness programs across the world, we’re now starting to see companies once again focus on employee wellness.

In this study, HR.com reported that mental and emotional well-being have surpassed physical well-being as a critical focus for employer wellness programs. In fact, several respondents weighted the most important well-being initiatives as follows:

  • Mental and emotional (78%)
  • Work environment (70%)
  • Physical (66%)
  • Financial (56%)
  • Social (48%)

In a similar vein, over 64% of companies listed employee mental health as one of their top five HR priorities in WellRight’s survey.

As you can see from the survey, mental health, emotional health, and work environment top the list. Thanks to research and studies, we know that massage can help reduce stress and anxiety. A one-hour massage lowers cortisol in your body while also releasing serotonin. This hormone neurotransmitter is sometimes called the “happy chemical” because it reduces feelings of depression and carries signals between nerves and your body. By lowering cortisol and increasing serotonin, you’re boosting your body’s ability to fight off pain, anxiety and feelings of sadness.

A massage does more than just feel good. It can lower the amount of cortisol in your body. This hormone is produced when your body is stressed. It increases glucose in your bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and curbs functions that are nonessential in a fight-or-flight situation.

If you’re thinking about adding massage to your employee wellness program or considering launching a new program, it can be very beneficial.

What Is Office Massage?

Office massage generally refers to massage services that are provided for employees at their place of work. This can include both chair massage or table massage. Depending on the massage company you use, a wide variety of different massages may be offered, such as;

In some scenarios, office massage events are a one-time occurrence, employers will scheduled them with a spring or summer employee event. Over the last few years, we’ve seen trends moving toward hosting multiple massage events per year. Corporate massage events can occur on a regular basis, they’re usually part of a corporate massage program or some type of wellness initiative offered to employees.

When it comes to hosting corporate massage programs for your employees, these events can occur as many times necessary, or what ever frequency that makes sense for the size of your company. You could have anywhere from one massage therapist once a month, to several massage therapists daily. Or you could fall somewhere in between: a few massage therapists in your office once or twice a week.

Massage programs allow participants to receive regular massage services, which helps them experience the cumulative benefits of massage. Typically, a massage program will be set up with a schedule so employees know when they’ll be getting their massage.

Companies will start a massage program because they want to see an improvement in employee wellness, lowered stress levels, increased concentration at work, and reduced injuries or muscle strain at work.

Why Employers Should Offer Massage To Employees

Companies don’t invest in massage without wanting to achieve specific goals, there’s a reason employers want to offer massage to employees.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons why companies use corporate massage programs.

Massage Shows Your Employees You Care: While companies can offer a number of different amenities and perks to employees, massage is one of those that stand out. Massage therapy has many benefits and a large percentage of employees don’t recognize at first because they’ve never had a professional massage before.

When Employees Feel Appreciated, They Work Harder: Appreciation can go a long way, all of us want to feel appreciated for the work we do. 

A study by online career site Glassdoor revealed that more than 80 percent of employees say they’re motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation for their work, compared to less than 40 percent who are inspired to work harder when their boss is demanding or because they fear losing their job.

Positive ROI: Investment in perks like massage, reflexology or yoga does have return on investment – if it succeeds in making workers feel supported. At Google, employee satisfaction rose 37% as a result of investing in non-financial employee support initiatives.

Employee Retention: Employees are the heart and soul of your company. In 2022, it’s a lot tougher to keep talent. 57% of workers are open to looking for a new job. That’s nearly 6 out of 10 workers. Employee initiatives can play a role here, massage may help your employees feel more appreciated and less stressed.

Reduce Stress At Work: Another recent study shows that 60 percent of Americans say work is a significant source of stress, a service like onsite massage is an effective way to lower employee stress. You can see the study here.

Is An Office Massage Program Right For Your Company?

Some of the biggest companies in the world that offer employee massage events have something in common – they felt massage was a great initiative and well worth the investment. These are some of the most successful companies of the past century, why would they invest in corporate massage programs and events?

While we’ll never fully understand why, we do know a major majority of employees love working for them. These companies are highly regarded as some of the top companies to work for according to employees. Is it because employees feel that the company has their best interest at heart? Is it because they feel less stress due to massage and health initiatives being offered? Is it because they feel appreciated?

Your employees are your greatest assets and countless studies prove that when employees are happy, they’re more productive. When employees are more productive, more work gets done. Corporate wellness programs can help reduce healthcare costs, you can see what the CDC had to say about this here.

If you’re considering adding additional wellness initiatives to your wellness program, massage can be a great addition. In fact, some companies are implementing corporate massage programs to offer to employees. Either way, Soothe is here to help. We’ve worked with some of the biggest companies in the world, helping them bring massage programs to employees.

Reach out today to learn more about how we can help your company – here’s the link.

If you’re interested in hosting a massage event for a birthday, wedding, bachelorette party, or for the holiday, you can book your private massage event here.

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Swedish Massage: What It Is, Benefits, And What To Expect https://www.soothe.com/articles/what-is-swedish-massage/ Tue, 10 May 2022 03:12:17 +0000 https://www.soothe.com/?p=78413 There are many different techniques used throughout the world for massage therapy. If you’ve had a massage before, chances are you’ve already experienced techniques used in Swedish massage. One of the things we love about Swedish massage is the ultra-relaxing effect this technique produces. The Swedish massage is designed to relax the entire body and […]

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There are many different techniques used throughout the world for massage therapy. If you’ve had a massage before, chances are you’ve already experienced techniques used in Swedish massage. One of the things we love about Swedish massage is the ultra-relaxing effect this technique produces. The Swedish massage is designed to relax the entire body and has many benefits for the body and mind. When you book a massage through Soothe, you can select this type of massage and also chat with your provider about its many benefits. 

What Is Swedish Massage?

The Swedish massage is one of the most common and widely used massage types in the world. If you’re planning your first massage, a Swedish massage is a great place to start. The Swedish body massage uses a combination of different massage techniques implemented into a single session to relax and soothe away stress. 

During your Swedish massage therapy session, the therapist will use their hands to work with your soft tissues and muscles – usually using long, gliding strokes and circular motions. This may help relax your muscles, releasing pain and discomfort from the built-up tension you’ve been experiencing.

If you feel overworked, stressed, or have tense muscles, a Swedish massage may be a great way to begin reviving your body and mind. Since this massage is well known for relieving muscle tension, Swedish therapy can be both relaxing and rejuvenating. 

Swedish Massage Techniques

Effleurage: Effleurage is used to start your massage, it helps the muscles warm-up. It’s also used to soothe your muscles at the end of your massage. This technique includes gentle gliding and circular strokes. The massage therapist applies different pressure levels on the body, which loosens knots in your muscles and relieves tension. In total, there are three classes of effleurage – each one is based on the amount of pressure that is used during the massage. These classes include feather stroking, superficial effleurage, and deeper effleurage. The degree of pressure applied depends on your specific needs and wants.

Petrissage: This technique includes a kneading movement. It involves deep penetration into the muscles. The massage therapist will usually compress your soft tissues in a rhythmic fashion. The most common ways of performing petrissage include kneading, wringing, rolling, and lifting. This will help the muscles stretch and loosen. This also may help improve blood circulation in those areas, which can relieve pain and help you feel renewed. Petrissage is a massage technique that can take time. While anyone can benefit from this technique, It’s often recommended for people with injured muscles since it provides therapeutic benefits.

Friction: This technique involves rubbing on the massage area using the thumbs or fingers. The massage therapist may apply pressure in a circular area or linear, and this rubbing can soften and realign your muscles. This technique is great for those of you who may have joint pain or struggle to move your joints.

Vibration: This technique involves rhythmic shaking of the area being massaged. This will loosen up your body and help your muscles relax. It’s possible your massage therapist may use their palms to shake the skin and muscles on your back. They may use their fingers if the massage area is small or sensitive, like your face. Vibration works best for soothing nerves in areas with large scars or knots.

Tapotement: Drumming or tapping is what tapotement refers to. The massage therapist will use rhythmic tapping to stimulate blood flow across the body. Tapotement involves actions like hammering, slapping, cupping, hacking, and tapping. Tapotement promotes the production of endorphins, which help the body relax. This technique relaxes tight muscles and helps in lymphatic drainage. 

What Happens During The Swedish Massage?

While all massage therapists have their own personal ways of giving a massage, there are a few general processes that you’ll experience during a Swedish massage. First, the therapist will lubricate your skin with massage oil or lotion to create a smoother, more comfortable experience as they apply pressure. Your therapist will perform various massage strokes. In a Swedish massage, the strokes are generally long, gliding motions, with some circular movements, generally in the direction of blood flow towards your heart. These movements allow muscle tissue to warm up. This helps release tension and breaks up muscle “knots,” also known as adhesions. 

To get the best massage experience, Soothe always encourages good client-therapist communication. Before the massage is performed, the therapist will likely ask you about any injuries or other conditions that he or she should know about. Be sure to speak up and tell the massage therapist exactly how you feel. For example, you want to be sure to tell them what areas are hurting, painful, or tense. If you have allergies or are pregnant, be sure to inform them.

You should also tell the massage therapist your preference for pressure, which may be light, moderate, or firm. The therapist will likely ask a series of questions to ensure you have the best experience possible. That’s why communication is so important. Soothe wants to make sure to meet all of your expectations. If you let your massage therapist know exactly what you want, he or she can make sure they deliver on that promise.

Origins Of The Swedish Massage

The Swedish massage has an interesting history. In fact, Swedish massage and physical therapy were pioneered by a Swedish physiologist at the University of Stockholm in the early 1800s. His name was Per Henrik Ling.

In the early 19th century, he developed a system called “Medical Gymnastics,” which included movements performed by a therapist. These later became known as “Swedish movements” in Europe and “The Swedish Movement Cure” when they eventually came to the U.S. in 1858. Today, it’s widely known as the Swedish massage.

Another interesting fact: Swedish massage is often used as a foundation massage for other types of Western massage, including sports massage, deep tissue massage, aromatherapy massage, and full body massage.

Health Benefits

Countless studies and research explain the health benefits of a Swedish massage. One benefit of receiving a Swedish massage is that the technique can help stimulate your lymph system. The function of your lymph system is to circulate nutrient-filled fluids and waste around your body. When your muscles relax, these fluids can move freely around the body. This process also helps increase blood flow and circulation throughout the body.

If you have problems with muscular strain, you may benefit from the Swedish massage. As the therapist works on relaxing your muscles, this can allow your lymph system to flush out the metabolic waste from the muscles, promoting faster healing.

The Swedish massage may also be used as therapy for people who suffer from types of debilitating joint disorders that are painful. This type of massage can help increase the elasticity in the tissues, improve flexibility, and can help reduce pain. A study conducted by Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., Theakston, H., Hossain, Z., and Burman, I. reported in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies in the year 2000, explains that hypertension and its associated symptoms were reduced through massage therapy

Swedish Massage is the best-known massage type for relaxation, one of the main reasons many men and women use it for stress relief. The massage therapist may use oil or lotion and combine long, gliding, and kneading strokes over the topmost layers of muscles. Pressure varies from light moderate, and firm. Often combined with manipulation and stretching of your arms and legs, Swedish massage relieves muscle tension, improves circulation, increases energy, and can help you heal after an injury.

One study found that a single session of Swedish massage resulted in a significant decrease in the hormone arginine-vasopressin, which plays a role in regulating blood pressure and water retention and may positively affect the immune system.

Personal Benefits

While a Swedish massage works great to help people suffering from health conditions, it also benefits people experiencing everyday stresses. It’s no secret that stress can harm your body. We’re human; we stress relationships, work, kids, parents, taxes, politics, and everything else. The more we stress, the more our muscles become tense, making it difficult to relax them.

The pressure used during Swedish massage therapy can help relax the muscles and relieve all the tension that has built up. The touch of the skin can also help to relax you and some have reported it helps clear their mind. If you enjoy firm pressure during a massage, you may also want to consider a deep-tissue massage

One more possible benefit we want to touch on is sleep. Sleep is very important to your health; it’s what renews the body and mind. Making sure you get good quality sleep is healthy for your overall well-being. The massage techniques used in Swedish massage are specifically designed to relax your body. This relaxation can help promote better sleep; when performed in the evening, it may also help you fall asleep faster. 

How to Book a Swedish Massage Near You

If you’re interested in booking a Swedish massage, Soothe makes it easy to find a certified massage therapist in your area. If you have questions about this type of massage and other massage services, check out our massage page. Visit our booking page, and we’ll bring the massage to you! 

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