Swedish/Circulatory Massage
Swedish/Circulatory Massage is a form of body work that is both relaxing to the muscles and energizing to the circulatory systems of the body. Some of the strokes used in this style of massage are: effleurage (long smooth strokes), friction (chucking, rolling or wringing), petrissage (cross stroking and kneading), tapotement (tapping, hacking, cupping, or slapping) and fanning (small semicircular or back and forth strokes with the thumbs or fingers). The various strokes of Swedish/Circulatory Massage are conceived as having specific therapeutic benefits such as cleansing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid and other metabolic wastes. The lymphatic system (which consists of a series of vessels that transport lymph fluid from the tissues back into the blood) and the venous system (which consists of the veins carrying blood back to the heart) are both stimulated by this type of massage improving the circulation of fluids throughout the body and increasing nutrition to the tissues and cells. The different strokes used in Swedish/Circulatory Massage, while having a stimulating and beneficial effect at the intercellular level, are also relaxing on the physical, mental and emotional levels helping to relieve muscular pain plus release mental and emotional stress. Therefore, Swedish/Circulatory Massage is often recommended as part of a regular program for stress management at all levels.
