~The different styles of massage~

I had my first massage the first day of massage school, so I had NO idea what massage was truly about and how many different kinds of massage that were available. Most people don't have an idea about what kind of massage they want or are getting which is not beneficial for the client or the therapist. The client can get upset because they had the wrong expectations and the therapist can give a perfect massage, but if it is not what the client expected, then they can still lose the client. Or the client may enjoy their massage and continue to get the same massage, but there may be another style massage that they might enjoy more. We will start with the very "basic" or foundational massage, Swedish.



*Swedish massage-uses five strokes to massage, effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Most people think of the light relaxation aspect of it, but in 1812 the "Father of Swedish Massage" Per Henrik Ling actually used a lot of joint movement and stretching. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1858 as "The Swedish Movement Cure."

There are numerous physical benefits associated with the use of Swedish massage:

• loosening tight muscles and stretching connective tissues
• relieving cramps and muscle spasms and decreasing muscle fatigue
• loosening joints and improving range of motion
• increasing muscle strength
• sedating the nervous system
• stimulating blood circulation
• firming up muscle and skin tone
• relieving symptoms of such disorders as asthma, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome , chronic and acute pain syndromes, myofacial pain, headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and athletic injuries
• speeding up healing from injury and illness
• improving lymphatic drainage of metabolic wastes

Mental benefits associated with massage therapy include the following:

• Mental relaxation
• Improvement in length and quality of sleep
• Relief of stress, depression, anxiety and irritation
• Increased ability to concentrate
• Improved sense of well-being

Most of my massages start off with Swedish techniques as a way to warm up the tissues and prepare the muscles for deep tissue or just complete relaxation. I think it's very beneficial to add stretching/joint movement to a routine, but I have had feedback in the past that some people just don't enjoy it or maybe that they just didn't expect it.
I had an decent Swedish massage at Ponte Vedre Inn in Jacksonville thanks to my awesome in-laws, but what I think made it so special was all the amenities that they offered. We spent all day enjoy the sauna, hot tub and pool with the massage as just the "cherry on top." I normally receive deep tissue or therapeutic massages, so I kind of felt like it was just missing something. In the therapist defense, she probably had 7 or 8 clients that day and your hands just wear out or you get into a "cookie cutter" routine. So my question to you is have you had a great Swedish massage? what made it great? what do you think of when someone says "Swedish massage"?