Have you ever wondered what the difference between Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage is? Its hard to know which one you need, if you don't know the difference. Let's break down these two types of massage, and the frequency you should get them!
Swedish Massage is a relaxation based session.
What does it feel like? Swedish Massage is made up of a variety of medium paced rhythmic strokes like effleurage, petrissage, kneading, compressions, and some vibration. Nothing deep. No elbows/thumbs. Just long fluid strokes, or short rhythmic movements. Changing the speed of the massage is also incredibly relaxing.
Does it hurt? No. A Swedish Massage should not hurt. You can get varying pressure during a Swedish, ranging from light to deep, but it should not hurt. (a deep Swedish is not deep tissue.)
Why should I get Swedish massage? Its perfect for relaxation, stress relief, anxiety, possibly better sleep, better moods, and sometimes flexibility for a little while. Obviously, the benefits are temporary.
How long of a session should I book? This is different for everyone. The average Swedish is 60 minutes, but you can always try a 90 minute session and see if you notice a difference. The longer you are on the table, the more relaxed you will be.
How often should I get a Swedish Massage? The short answer is, as often as you'd like. Because its non-invasive you can get them fairly frequently. Some people benefit from once a week and most others get them once a month. Swedish massage can just be something you treat yourself with every so often. You can skip months without much regression.
Deep Tissue Massage is an orthopedic style therapy session, working a specific area.
What does it feel like? Deep Tissue massage feels different to everyone. During a deep tissue massage you will feel very slow, deep pressure, with long sustained friction. This could be applied with elbows, forearms, heel of the hand, and fingertips. You could feel direct pressure to one area, with some passive stretching of the muscles to make the stroke work deeper a. Sometimes your body weight is used as leverage. It really depends on what your individual needs are. Some people find deep tissue to be incredibly relaxing and will often fall asleep.
Does it hurt? Well, yes and no. In my opinion, too much pain will cause you to tense up and creates more areas to work on, and instead of working towards your goal. I don't really believe in "no pain no gain" but, a certain level of pressure must be applied to get results. There are many different techniques to make the pressure feel like less
Why should I get a Deep Tissue Massage? If you have any area of your body that you experience tension, pain, weakness, you might benefit from a deep tissue massage. Some benefit from quicker recovery times during sports training. Some benefit from pain relief. Deep Tissue also helps increase flexibility. Results are temporary.
How long of a session should I book? For a deep tissue I always recommend people start with a 90 minute session. You can determine afterwards if that's perfect(which it usually is) or if you don't need as much time. If you have 1 area to be addressed 30 minutes is acceptable as long as you are just getting that area worked on. If you have 2-3 areas to be addressed, a 60 or 90 is probably what you need. Its best to figure is that for each area you have specified, you'll need 15-20 minutes. A full body deep tissue, plus 2 areas of interest will easily fill 60 minutes. You may find that a 60 minute session feels rushed, and that you'd like more time focusing on the areas. Its ok to request other areas be skipped. I've done a ton of upper body only deep tissue massages in my time.
(example: 60 minutes with focus neck/shoulders would look like this: starting face down, 10 minutes low back(5 each side) 10 minutes shoulder/upper back each side. turn to laying on the back, 10 minutes for each front shoulder/arm, and then 10 minutes for neck stretching and top of shoulders massage. Typically skip the face/scalp.)
How often should I get a Deep Tissue Massage? It depends on how your body responds to deep work, your goals, and your schedule. Some people love to get a deep tissue every couple weeks, generally people get them once a month as "maintenance" and some people alternate Swedish and Deep Tissue for their different benefits. The results are temporary and the only way to know how often you need a deep tissue is to pay attention to how soon the effects of the massage wear off. If you are an athlete or starting a new fitness schedule, you might benefit from more frequent sessions, and that's something you'll have to talk to your massage therapist about while scheduling your appointment. If you have chronic pain/tension from an injury, you can get a specific recommendation for your individual needs.
A 60 minute massage isn't just 60 minutes. You need to make sure you have time for driving, and an additional 15-20 minutes for dressing, using the restroom, and getting settled. Always assume a 60 minute massage is going to take at least 90 minutes when you arrive, so if you drive 15 minutes to the appointment, that's another 30 minutes, and you'll need a 2 hour window in your day for a 60 minute massage.
If massages make you really sleepy, make sure not to schedule a massage at night, if you will need to drive home.
Thanks for reading! I hope this helps!
<3 Cheryl
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