Swedish Massage Berkeley: The Perfect Beginner’s Full Body Treatment

Contrary to what its name suggests, Swedish massage was not created in Sweden nor was its creator a Swede. However, it is often incorrectly credited to Peter Ling, the founder of the Royal Central Gymnastic Institute of 1813. In certain European countries, it is referred to simply as, ‘classic massage’, while in America, its original title has remained unchanged, for example, in the case of salons offering Swedish Massage Berkeley.

A Dutch practitioner, Johan Georg Mezger, gave the strokes their French terms and promoted its use for medical reasons, including increased stress release from both physical areas of tension and pain as well as emotional sources of pressure. It is said to be the most basic form of body therapy, from which other, more complex forms originate, as it consists of five main strokes.

A practitioner’s first job is to warm up the muscles in preparation for the rest of the therapy. Usually, this is performed by means of the stroke called, ‘effleurage’, using the soft parts of the hand such as the palms and fingertips. It is done in circular motions, with light strokes, gliding over the skin and promoting both blood and lymphatic circulation.

The stroke usually performed second, or quite early in the therapy session, looks much like the kneading of bread, and is called, ‘petrissage’. Practitioners perform it by gently using the knuckles to deeply stimulate the underlying muscles and then wringing, tucking and rolling the skin, particularly within areas of tension.

Taken from the French word, ‘tapoter’, which means to tap or to drum, the next massage stroke called, ‘tapotement’, is administered in short, fast movements performed by using the outer edge of the hand and fingers, cupped into a ‘C’ shape. This stroke provides extensive relief to the shoulders and upper back area, releasing toxins from the blood and increasing oxygen flow to the muscles. Lymphatic ‘knots’, are broken down in the areas in which this stroke is applied.

To provide invigoration and rejuvenation near the end of the therapy session, practitioners perform the friction/rubbing stroke as well as the vibration/shaking stroke. This literally shakes the client’s targeted areas, and in doing so, soothes the nervous system.

For those going for their first body treatment, it is usually recommended that they go for a Swedish Massage Berkeley as it introduces the body to some of the most basic, yet effective techniques to increase circulation and oxygen flow to the main muscle groups. When performing it, the whole body is draped with warm towels and practitioners uncover the body part they are massaging as the session progresses. Usually, natural oils are applied to ensure that strokes are performed with ease and clients can notify the practitioner of their preferences in terms of the amount of pressure to be applied during the therapy.