Why Massage Therapists Should Add Swedish Massage to Their Repertoires
If you’re a massage therapist just starting in the industry, you want to make sure your repertoire offers the services customers are looking for. Swedish massage is an essential massage service to offer, as it’s the most popular type sought by clients.
HICI Go is an online catalog providing instructional courses on beauty and wellness topics, like Swedish massage, for both professionals and novices. Courses are available online on-demand and in live webinars throughout the U.S. and in person through our partner schools in Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Here, we discuss the benefits of learning Swedish massage and adding it to your massage therapy offerings.
What Is Swedish Massage?
Swedish massage is what most people picture when they hear the term massage therapy, although many people refer to it as a classic massage or simply a massage. This technique is the most popular massage— available in spas and salons around the world. Swedish massages manipulate the superficial layers of the muscles to help the client experience relaxation, stress relief, and tension relief.
How Does Swedish Massage Work?
When providing a Swedish massage, the massage therapist will first discuss the goals, preferences, and problem areas with the client to personalize the service to their needs. The client will enter the massage room, get undressed, and lay down on the massage table, generally face down and under a sheet.
A Swedish massage service involves the massage therapist using their hands, elbows, or forearms to perform a variety of motions on the client’s muscles. These include:
- Long, stroking motions
- Circular movements
- Kneading
- Tapping
- Friction
- Vibration
- Stretching
- Bending
Massage therapists will often use oil or lotion to lubricate the skin and make the movements easier. The pressure used is generally light to medium, although it will depend on the client’s preferences and goals.
Benefits of Swedish Massage
If you’re starting your career as a massage therapist and deciding on what services to offer, Swedish massage is a must-have. If you don’t offer it, you’ll have to turn down a lot of clients who request this most popular massage technique. It is also seen as one of the most basic massages, so clients may question why you don’t offer it. Aside from those facts, there are many benefits that your clients can reap from Swedish massages. As a massage therapist, you want to help your clients feel as good as they can, and providing Swedish massages is one way to do so. The benefits of Swedish massage include:
Relaxation and Stress Relief
One of the main reasons people seek out massages, and Swedish massages specifically, is because of the relaxation and stress relief benefits they provide. Getting a massage calms the nervous system and can lower levels of cortisol, the hormone that controls stress. This helps the client feel more relaxed and less anxious. Swedish massage also helps to release muscle tension, relieving some of the physical manifestations of stress.
Improved Mood
Another benefit of Swedish massage for clients is an improved mood. Whenever you do something that feels good or pleasurable, your body releases neurotransmitters known as serotonin and dopamine. Higher levels of these are associated with emotional well-being and improved mood, while lower levels are linked with depression and anxiety. Research has shown that massage therapy increases levels of serotonin and dopamine in clients, which leads to an improved mood.
Improved Circulation
Improved circulation in the body is another benefit of Swedish massage for clients. Swedish massage techniques help to open up the blood vessels, encouraging blood flow and sending oxygen and nutrients toward the muscles. This is not only beneficial for helping the body function properly but also promotes faster healing of injuries.
These are just a few of the several benefits that Swedish massage can offer clients. Other benefits include improved range of motion, reduced tension, increased energy, and pain relief. If you’re interested in helping your clients feel their best, then you should have Swedish massage in your repertoire.
Learn Swedish Massage With HICI Go
Whether you’re already a licensed massage therapist or just beginning in the industry, you can take instructional massage courses through HICI Go to broaden your skills and enhance your offerings. Our beauty, health, and wellness course selection is frequently updated and covers a variety of in-demand topics.
With three convenient formats of taking courses (in-person, live webinars, and online anytime), HICI Go makes access to continuing education easy. In-person courses are available for students at our partner institutions, Cortiva Institute and Hollywood Institute, with instruction offered in Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Contact us today to learn more about learning Swedish massage online or in person at one of our partner schools.