If you attend a Tucson massage school, you will find you will be learning about one form of massage that is taught around the world. This is Swedish massage. It is considered one of the most influential types of massage therapies. It has provided guidance and techniques to many of the modern and contemporary forms. For its contributions to massage alone, it truly deserves its name of classic.
Origins of Swedish Massage
If you take a class in a Tucson massage school, you will learn that the founder of Swedish massage was Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) a Swedish physiologist at the University of Stockholm. This accounts for its current name. Originally, he referred to it as Medical Gymnastics in 1871. It has since also been known as:
- Swedish movements (Europe)
- Swedish Movement Cure (United States)
It arrived in America in 2858 and has since become the most commonly found form of massage under the current name of Swedish massage.
Techniques of Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is a traditional western form of massage. It is a very prevalent method of massage therapy that utilizes the following techniques:
- Efleurage – light, sweeping or gliding strokes
- Petrissage – kneading, rolling or squeezing of skin and flesh
- Friction – circular movements by the hands that go deep into the skin and the muscles and tissue beneath
- Tapotement – these are quick taps that alternate using cupped hands or the edge of the hand. Fingers may also be employed
Swedish also liberally uses oils as well as lotions and creams. This is to help lubricate the skin and reduce friction. The body for all procedures resides nude beneath a carefully draped sheet or cloth.
The Impact of Swedish Massage
Swedish massage has had an immense impact upon the world of massage. Many types of modern or contemporary massage therapy owe their existence and/or their techniques to Swedish massage. Among those who utilize aspects of this classic form of massage are:
- Sports Massage
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Orthopedic Massage
- Neuromuscular Massage
- Lymphatic Drainage
This is not to say that eh above types of massage therapy are clones of Swedish massage. It merely indicates that they have borrowed from the classic type of massage to create a new form of massage therapy.
Influence on a Tucson Massage School
It could well be argued that without the existence of Swedish massage, there would be little reason for the proliferation of massage schools. This is a valid argument. Without Swedish massage the variety and extent of many massage therapy types would be questionable. Spas would have to offer other pleasures to their clients and a Tucson massage school, let alone several schools, would not exist to provide the education that is now required to fully train the massage therapists of tomorrow.
