Swedish Massage

Swedish Holistic Massage is a relaxing yet energizing massage, which benefits the body on both a physical and emotional level. It is a mix of light to firm strokes, which are not only extremely enjoyable to receive but also very therapeutic. A Swedish Holistic Massage generally covers the whole body although each massage is uniquely tailored to the needs of the client. The sequence of strokes includes light gliding strokes (effleurage) to warm the body and prepare it for massage followed by medium depth (petrissage) and deeper strokes (friction). A combination of kneading, rolling, vibration, percussive and tapping movements, will be applied, with the application of oil, to reduce friction on the skin. These strokes target specific problem areas in order to relax tense muscles and mobilise stiff joints. The deeper strokes reach deep down into the tissue where tensions may be stored and while they are very effective in reducing tension they are not designed to be painful.

A Swedish Holistic Massage may also use a series of stimulating movements (percussion) such as cupping and pummelling, which wake up the whole body improving circulation and skin tone and gives you a real buzz. The variety of strokes effectively relaxes the body and stimulates the mind leaving you feeling calm and with a real sense of well-being. Holistic Swedish Massage is a bodywork that is specifically designed to relax muscles. By applying deep pressure to muscles and bones, by rubbing concurrently with the circulation towards the heart, Swedish Massage purposefully enhances oxygen flow in blood and helps to rid toxins in the muscles.Curtailing recovery time from injuries like muscle sprains, Swedish Massage helps to flush body tissues of lactic and uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. Aside from increasing circulation to the heart, Swedish Massage stretches ligaments and tendon making them more flexible. Through particular techniques, Swedish massage is also known to stimulate the skin and nervous system to reduce emotional and physical stress.An effective therapy which helps in overall wellbeing, Holistic Swedish Massage is not only relaxing but invigorating as well.

What are the Benefits?

Swedish Holistic Massage has a huge number of benefits for the mind and the body. The chief ones being that it:

• Relaxes tight muscles and is particularly helpful for those suffering back, shoulder, and neck stiffness and discomfort relieves stress.
• Mobilises joints with the aim of easing painful joints and increasing movement.
• Stimulates the Lymph system and speeds up the movement of toxins and other wastes through the body. Stimulating recuperates energy.
• Improves circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the muscles to help them function better.
• Improves flexibility and posture (we spend so much of our lives stooped over computers, steering wheels etc –sometimes we just need to be stretched out in the shoulders and chest to counteract this).
• Reduces stress and calms the nervous system. Anxiety is a major cause of illness in Western society and massage can help reverse the ‘fight or flight’ response. It slows down the breathing and heart rate and brings the blood pressure down making us feel calmer and more able to cope.
• Induces a feeling of well-being and serenity Your Sports Massage Therapist.
• Relieves tired, aching muscles.
• Relieves muscle tension.
• Improves circulation.
• Improves muscle and skin tone

Psychological benefits:

• Reduces mental stress and promotes better sleep.
• Induces mental relaxation and calms temper.
• Fosters peace of mind.
• Provides a relaxed state of mental alertness.
• Improves concentration.
• Enhance capacity for calm thinking and creativity.
• Improves ability to monitor stress and respond appropriately.
• Enables a person to make peace between their ambitions and limitations.

Emotional benefits:

• Reduces anxiety
• Provides a soothing and comforting alternative to verbal therapeutic techniques, such as counseling.
• Generates confidence and feeling of well-being.
• Enhances self-image and self-worth.
• Reduces the sense of isolation.
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection.

Consultation and Treatment

The first session will be a 1 hour 15m session to include an initial consultation, the massage, relaxation following the massage, and a debrief and aftercare advice. The therapist will ask some questions regarding medical history and lifestyle issues in order for her to put together the best massage program for you. Once this is agreed you will be asked to undress while the therapist is out of the room and to lie under a towel on the massage table. Although the client is either fully or partly undressed – according to what they prefer the body is always completely covered with towels other than the specific area being worked on. The focus is always on the client feeling safe and confident with the practitioner. Following the massage which will take between 1 hour – 1¼ hours the client will be left to relax for a few minutes, get dressed, and have some water while the therapist is out of the room. The therapist will then discuss how the client feels following the treatment and if appropriate, may provide aftercare advice for the client.

Why Add Aromatherapy to Your Treatment:

Unlike some other therapists, I always create a blend of oils unique to your requirements. No ready-made blends are used. The benefits to you are:

• Targets any system and emotion within the body e.g. aching muscles, headaches, digestive system, circulation, stress, anxiety, depression.
• Improves both physical and emotional well being
• Enhances your treatment with the combination of aroma and touch
• A holistic approach considers health, diet, exercise, as well as work and home environments
• Aromatherapy Incorporating Lymph Drainage Techniques:
• Good for cellulite, headaches, fluid retention, oedema
• Aids detoxification, clearing congested waste
• Boosts the immune system, helping the body to fight infection
• Reduces stress
• Reduces tired, sluggish feelings
• Invigorates and energizes
• Improves skin tone and texture

Treatments:

During your treatment You are of the utmost importance! It’s your happiness and wellbeing that counts! I will always explain what I’m going to do, why I’m going to do it and what you can expect. Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me. Although you’ll be asked to undress to your underwear, your modesty will be preserved at all times.

On arrival you will be friendly greeted . To benefit further from your treatment I recommend that comfortable clothing is worn, only a light meal is eaten beforehand and that you arrive in plenty of time.

Massage is a safe treatment, however, there are occasions where treatment cannot go ahead, certain areas may be excluded from your treatment or advice from another practitioner will be souht. Each will be assessed individually.

Please check whether any of the following applies to you before booking your treatment: This is to avoid delay to your treatment and any disappointment, should your treatment not be able to go ahead.

If any of the following apply to you, please call me for further advice:

• Angina
• Pacemaker
• High/Low blood pressure
• Thrombosis, Varicose veins
• Acute rheumatism and arthritis
• Slipped discs, torn ligaments or muscles
• Epileptics, the paralysed
• Diabetic
• Bells palsy, trapped or pinched nerves
• Acute asthma/bronchitis
• Kidney infections
• Gynaecological infections
• Cancer
• Pregnancy, Start of Menstruation
• Anyone receiving medical treatment for a condition
• Anyone taking drugs or medication
• Anyone recovering from an operation
• Anyone recently vaccinated
• Anyone with serious heart conditions
• Anyone with an infectious or contagious disease
• Anyone with a fever or a high temperature

Other Benefits

On a mental level, massage not only relieves stress and anxiety, it also helps you to become more conscious of your body as a whole, of the parts that you are in touch with and of those that feel ‘cut off’. Once you are aware of where your energy blocks lie, you can begin to try and integrate your body and, in developing a more positive self-image, take responsibility for your own happiness and health. A caring massage creates feelings of well-being, trust and joy. It can also release a great deal of energy hitherto wasted in tension and, by transforming chronic habits of acting and reacting, effect profound changes on both posture and facial expression. The emotional aspect of massage is extremely important. On a spiritual level, the benefits of massage are hard to describe, for we are talking of something that is intrinsically indefinable the essence, the ‘life force’, the whole that is more than the sum of its parts. But it is not uncommon during a massage for both giver and receiver to attain a state of heightened awareness, of ‘presence in the moment’, that is akin to the experience of meditation.

Post Treatment Advice

In order to get the most out of your treatment and to aid the healing process, it is advisable to:

• Drink plenty of water. This helps flush out the toxins that have been released from your cells into your system.
• Eat a light diet. This is to prevent energy needed for healing from going to your stomach to digest a heavy meal! Eat raw foods such as fruit and vegetables if possible for vitality and cleansing effects.
• Avoid tea and coffee. These are stimulants and should be avoided after a treatment. Drink herbal teas or fresh fruit/vegetable juice instead.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Rest and relax as much as possible. This allows the body to commence healing.

Read more...