Swedish massage is a general massage technique designed to relax the entire body. It can calm your nervous system and promote a sense of relaxation and wellbeing. It reduces anxiety and tension in the body and has been known to help relieve depression. The various Swedish massage techniques are designed to improve your circulation, soothe your muscles and make you feel more relaxed.
Because Swedish massage improves blood circulation, it also helps you feel more energetic by increasing the flow of nutrient-rich oxygen to the muscles in your body. A further benefit is that it stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away the body's waste products, meaning your body can remove toxins much more quickly. If you are experiencing muscle cramps and spasms, Ruben will focus the Swedish massage on those problem areas, and this will relieve the pain. This method of massage therapy can also help with managing the pain from conditions such as arthritis and sciatica.
Effleurage is the main technique employed. The therapist will use his hands, forearms or elbows to rub your muscles in long gliding, firm and gentle movements, pushing blood in the direction of your heart, avoiding pressure on the insides of the legs if blood clots are suspected. An oil or lotion is used to help with movement. Lymphatic drainage involves gentle stroking along the lymphatic system to improve circulation and natural drainage of lymphatic fluid. It helps eliminate waste products from the lymphatic tissue, moving them back towards the heart. The lymphatic system has no pump and relies on intrinsic contractions of the smooth muscle cells in the walls of lymph vessels to return the lymphatic fluid to the cardiovascular system. Manual lymph drainage uses a specific amount of pressure and rhythmic circular movements to stimulate lymph flow.
On the more delicate parts of the body and where there are bony protrusions, Swedish massage uses softer strokes. Where there is thicker muscle coverage, stronger strokes are employed. This continual adjustment and variation of pressure makes it the ideal massage for calming and relaxation.
In addition to all these benefits, Swedish massage:
- Helps the suppleness of ligaments and tendons
- Eases muscular strain
- Encourages the flushing out of toxins
- Improves circulation and increases oxygen flow in the blood
- Reduces emotional and physical stress
Ruben will tailor the Swedish massage session personally for your particular needs based on the conversations he has with you and the feedback that he gets from your body during the session.