Swedish. Trigger Point. Deep tissue. Myofascial Release. Therapeutic. Relaxation. There are so many ways to practice the art of healing with human touch! If your massage therapist asks, “What kind of a massage are you looking for today?” how are you supposed to know what to answer?
Two of the most common forms of massage are Swedish and deep tissue. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect if your massage therapist is going to use one of these techniques (or to combine them).
Swedish massage is the form people are usually the most familiar with. You may also hear it called a relaxation massage or a spa massage. It's a head-to-toe experience where your therapist will employ a lot of long, gliding strokes to induce a calm, peaceful state of being. (If I'm working on you and you fall asleep during a Swedish massage, I consider that to be a true compliment.) The deep relaxation of a Swedish massage will not only ease tension in tight muscles; it can also benefit the entire body, lowering stress levels and blood pressure and boosting the immune system.
Deep tissue massage is a more focused technique, and, despite the name, doesn't involve squashing the client into the table. (I promise.) My typical deep tissue massages actually starts with quite light techniques which are designed to loosen the connective tissue between groups of muscle fibers. Then I'll gradually work through layers of muscle and tissue, finally reaching the deepest layers (hence the name) where tension can lurk, causing lingering pain and stiffness and restricting the full range of motion.
Which technique is right for you?
Are you looking for a massage to relax you, enhance your overall well-being, and send you back to your day refreshed? A Swedish massage is the way to go.
Are you dealing with an area of stubborn pain or stiffness or a knot of muscle that doesn't want to let go? A deep tissue massage will allow your therapist to work on that particular area of concern.
And most therapists--including me--are happy to combine these and other massage techniques to bring our clients the most relief possible.
Sarah Thomson, LMT graduated from SpaTech Institute and became a Licensed Massage Therapist, focusing on Swedish and deep tissue techniques to promote relaxation, ease pain, improve mobility, and deepen the awareness we all have of our own bodies.