Learning Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is very popular massage therapy that many people love to undergo. It involved many muscle relaxation techniques, which help to revitalize your body in a number of ways. It basically implies applying pressure against muscles and bones, which helps to relax the body and relieve the pain. Swedish massage was introduced by a Swedish gymnastics teacher Pehr Henrik Ling. The basic techniques of Swedish massage include effleurage, friction, vibration and compression. All these movements help in muscle relaxation, release pain from problem parts, develop muscle strength, and unwind your body.

If you wish to learn Swedish massage, it can be a lot of fun. You can give this massage to your family members or friends. Learning Swedish massage can also help you to develop your career as a Swedish massage therapist. If you wish to learn this massage, you need to follow certain guidelines. Let us start with all the movements one by one.

Passive movements

Passive movements imply clasping the toes with the help of one hand and supporting the ankles with the other. Then you have to slowly rotate the foot for a few times. Then move the toes backward and forward in a gentle manner. Hold the ankle with one hand, lift the leg, and bend the knee onward, while you hold up the thigh with the help of your other hand. Then, make the leg straight and repeat these movements a number of times.

Chest

For massage on the chest, place your hands side by side below the collarbone, and give firm strokes downwards. Move your hands towards the sides towards the shoulders. Knock over and behind the shoulders, coming to the back of the neck moving to the base of the skull. Move your hands smoothly down the sides of the neck and repeat the steps again. You should repeat this step at least six times.

With the help of your thumbs and fingers, knead the chest in a rhythmic manner. You should observe these moves carefully making sure you do not pinch the skin.Then, using your thumb, make circular pressures on the muscles between the ribs.

Abdomen

to massage the abdomen, you should set a little cushion under the knees in order to relax the abdomen. Put one hand on the lower ribs while the below the navel. In a clockwise direction, give strokes with your hand slowly around the navel. With your fingers apply circular pressures around the navel.

Back

to start massage the back, you should give gentle fan stroking. Put your hands on the lower back, on both sides of the spine, and give firm strokes upward. When you get near the lower ribs, move your hands outwards and down the sides. Repeat for a few times.

Facing the one you give massage, knead, grasp, press, and let go as much flesh as you can with the help of both hands. You can start on the hip, moving to the side of the back and landing to the shoulders.

These are some basic movements of Swedish massage. You can learn them with the help of little practice and give enjoyable massage to your friends.