After hours Swedish Massage Strand / Somerset West

In all Swedish massage, the therapist lubricates the skin with massage oil and performs various massage strokes, including the basic techniques for a traditional Swedish massage: effleurage, petrissage, friction and tapotement.

Swedish Massage therapy is the modality that comes to mind when most people think about massage.  As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish Massage technique is to relax the entire body.  This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart.  But Swedish Massage therapy goes beyond relaxation.  It is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.

A study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a 45 minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in the levels of stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin - a hormone that can lead tp increases in cortisol.  Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and flu.

Swedish Massage techniques include circular pressure applied with the hands and palms, firm kneading, percussion-like tapping, bending and stretching.  Before and during your Swedish massage session, communication is encouraged with your professional massage therapist so that your massage is customised to your specific needs.

A full-body massage usually includes your arms, legs, hands and feet, your neck and back, your stomach and buttocks.  Due to my specific technique, I decided to drop the stomach massage from my routine.  You will not be touched on or near your genitals; and not the breasts, although the area around your breasts is usually massaged (pectoral muscles for example).

Stress Relief - read more on how Swedish massage relieves stress here.

Swedish massage encourages relaxation - read more here

I do not do Deep Tissue massage.  It is for sport people like athletes.  Read more on the difference between Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage here.  Deep Tissue massage is definitely NOT for relaxation.

Massage etiquette

Massage during pregnancy.  Having been at the receiving end of a miscarriage with my ex-wife, I'd rather not do a massage during a pregnancy.  That being said, it is perfectly safe to do hands, feet and face with a cream rather than massage oils. So I'll do a hands, feet and face massage, but it is at your own risk!  More on the massage-during-pregnancy-topic here.

Will I massage your breasts?

Although probably highly enjoyable [to us both - LOL!], one simple question needs to be answered: what is the point?  Remember that massage is on MUSCLES - so unless you're SuperGirl or WonderWoman, mixing your milk glands and fat tissue with some muscle, the easy answer is: there is no benefit.

Great article on massages

Read it here