Swedish Massage Movements

First and foremost, and you will learn this in massage school if you have not yet started, move the skin slowly. When I first started massage school, my instructor would constantly make me slow down during the practical portion of every class. I would race through the massages. The slower you work, the deeper your fingers go into the client's soft tissue.

When you begin the effleurage, let the weight of your fingers sink down into the client's tissue as you move slowly down the back. Go through finger effleurage, knuckle effleurage, palm effleurage, and fist effleurage as slowly as you can. Sometimes, a good, slow session of effleurage is all it takes for pain to go away.

Petrissage is great for alleviating pain and discomfort. Grasp the tissue firmly, but move your hands very slowly, allowing the weight of your hands to sink in deep and squeeze and release slowly as well. The client will love this, especially when it is performed on the back, neck, and shoulders. This is my favorite portion of table massage.

When petrissage is performed by warm and firm hands who take command, the client is put at ease, knowing that the massage therapist is in control. This allows the client to relax and enjoy the massage, forgetting all about his/her troubles outside of the massage room. Aaaaahhh!

Swedish massage movements should be performed with warm hands in which the massage lubricant has been warmed. Never squirt some massage lotion or oil on the patient's skin. Always squeeze some into your hands and rub them together to warm it up. A container of massage lubricant can be placed in hot water for a few moments to warm it up prior to using it on your client as well.

Slow and warm are the keys to this type of table massage. So S-L-O-W D-O-W-N!

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