Holistic / Swedish massage is the most commonly offered and best known type of massage. It uses a firm but gentle pressure to improve the circulation, ease muscle aches and tension, improve flexibility and create relaxation.

 

The massage is done with the person covered by towels, a technique called "draping". One part of the body is uncovered, massaged, and then covered up before moving on to another part of the body.

 

There are 4 main techniques used in administering the massage. These techniques are as follows:

 

Effleurage is the technique most people associate with massage in general and Swedish massage in particular. In doing effleurage, the masseuse makes use of long  sweeping strokes that cover more than just one area of the body.

 

Friction is used to make the area to be treated warm up, by rubbing vigorously on the surface of the client’s skin.

 

Petrissage is the act of kneading and squeezing the muscles of the body. Petrissage does not target or focus on any particular part of the body, but the process of kneading the body’s muscles allows for deeper and more penetrating effects of massage.

 

Tapottement are strokes that aim to energise the area of the body being treated, yet at the same time making it loosened and relaxed. This is done by chopping the area with the sides of the hands. It can also be done by hitting the area rhythmically with cupped or fisted hands.