Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

[Glow]

So, this may seem quite obvious to most of you but, for me there seems to be a grey area in my technique.I find that with most men or any client with "beefier" muscles (for lack of a better word) I tend to work more deeply even if I'm doing a swedish massage. Also, I have some clients who book swedish sessions but say that they prefer more pressure. So, am I doing a deep swedish or deep tisue session?  ???I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well enough but I'm hoping that someone else out there may understand.  :-/I charge a Swedish Relaxation rate ($65) and a Deep Tissue Relaxation rate ($75). Generally the Deep Relax session will include deep work on a specific area (deep stripping, MFR, TP or NMT) and include relaxation techniques for the rest of the body. I try to keep the Swedish session just very light and "flowy" with long calming strokes but, like I said before I  sometimes find that I lapse into more of a deep tissue style session for clients when I find spots that are "calling out" to me for concideration.Ex: I have a male client who books once a month and complains of mild sciatic pain but specifically asks for a swedish massage. I inevidably find myself concentraing work in his low back, TFL, hamstrings and IT band. I wonder if I should explain to him that this is really a deep tissue session or just continue to do the same work that I've been doing for him and charge Swedish rate.  ???Ex: I have a male client who books once every two weeks. He's an RN and and initially complained of muscle constriction thru his Thoracic region, LB and some thru the neck. He doesn't have specific areas of tension with every session, but I tend to work deeply through out his back and do some supine neck stretches. His sessions are very calming and relaxing. He's into Yoga and meditaion and has a very calming energy about him and his sessions feel much more like Swedish rather than Deep. So, am I really doing a deep swedish session with him or a deep tissue session?I guess I'm realy just not sure how to keep my swedish session from being a deep swedish/deep tissue session. :-/Any suggestions?

 

[smills0205]

I solve this by charging the same rate for everything.  As a client I really don't like being charged more for "deep" or "specialty" work, and as a practitioner I actually think it looks weird to imply to the client that Swedish is easier or less serious than other forms of work.  When I was pregnant, one of the offices I went to continually had trouble deciding whether my sessions were "relaxation" or "treatment" (more expensive) because when the therapists asked what I wanted to work on each time, I named body parts!  If it were me I'd just make all sessions $70 and do whatever you and the client want using whatever techniques work that day.

 

[MzConception]

If it were me I'd just make all sessions $70 and do whatever you and the client want using whatever techniques work that day.

I agree with this.  I also charge the same regardless.  Most of the time I am doing a mix of swedish and deep tissue.IMO,  Deep tissue is when you are using the corrective techniques (ex. muscle stripping, tp, ect.).  Deep swedish is efflurage, petressage, ect. done at a medium to deep pressure.  Regular swedish is light to medium in pressure.  I rarely do a full swedish massage.  

 

[renclrk]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

I also charge only one price.I agree that Deep Tissue is using corrective techniques, the aim being to rebalance the body and/or relieve pain and increase ease of movement. It often results in treating one side of the body quite differently from the other side.Deep Swedish is mostly Swedish with deep pressure, treating both sides more or less equally. The strokes are longer, smoother and more flowing. It's aim is relaxation.

 

[Little Glenn]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

i guess i'm in the minority.i charge differently for each. i believe i have to give more effort to achieve deeper work. i also would be skeptical if i wanted a deep (or blend)and saw only one price. i'd think that i'd never get the pressure i'd need, particularly if i was being worked on by an employee rather than an independent therapist.

 

[stargazer (lost in space)]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

I'm another that charges by the time, not by the treatment. I use a range of techniques, ranging from basic relaxation (swedish) and incorporating deep tissue, sports, myofascial release, trigger point, acupressure/shiatsu, lymphatic work, mobilisiation, and so on, as I feel would suit the client's particular needs for that session or that the client requests. I tend to use energy work, such as reiki, but usually I sneak that in. It also helps to "ground" me, somewhat. (Is Guerrilla Reiki ethical? I do hope so.)Especially as one keeps adding training in various modalities, I think it would get far too complicated (for both clients & practitioners) to keep track of different pricing tiers.

 

[Genesis]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

i believe i have to give more effort to achieve deeper work.

i also would be skeptical if i wanted a deep (or blend)and saw only one price. i'd think that i'd never get the pressure i'd need.

I see the difference then.  I didn't realize people might think they have to pay me more to get appropriate pressure out of me.  Does that really happen?  (I guess it must or Mush wouldn't have mentioned it!)  The DT techniques I was taught are less effort than Swedish actually, and I use both DT and Swedish for both relaxation and treatment (Swedish strokes having been originally developed for a sort of sports-massage and "treatment" purpose anyway) . . . I hope my lazy pricing structure isn't driving away the customer used to paying more for pressure.  Maybe I need to clarify "mix of techniques" on my menu . . .  Thanks mush!

 

[GATORADE]

Bahaha!  Guerilla Reiki - I love it!Aren't we supposed to massage each client according to their personal needs?  How often do you have a client that doesn't know what their needs are, or what each modality really encompasses?  That leaves a lot of grey area...  It's much easier to charge for time instead.  My clients go into the massage knowing exactly what they'll be paying and confident that their needs will be assessed and addressed regardless of what techniques I utilize.I had a therapist ask me while I was on the table whether I liked deep pressure or light.  She adjusted her pressure and said, "like this?"  I told her it was great.  When I came out of the massage, she charged me $10 extra for deep tissue.  She didn't even do any compressions!  Just some moderately deep swedish!  I won't be going back there even though her massage was good.  I didn't realize she charged different prices - only one price was advertized.  I felt deceived.  Did I speak up and tell her that then?  No.  Should I have?  Yes.Katykangaroo

 

[Pompal 09.]

I also believe that we should charge for the time. Our expertise in whatever they request is what they are paying for and every method we use requires the best we have to offer.I use to regard Swedish as something "not" as important for a better lack of words until I took a class in Santa Monica given by an instructor who is been in the business a very long time and quite well known. This was not the regular Swedish Massage course but a one day specialty class that went way beyond anything I learned in the full course.  By the way, this instructor came from Canada and his Swedish Massage course was 2000 hours long at least 20 or more years ago. I learned more about Swedish or "circulatory massage" that I every thought possible. When done correctly   the system respondsand releases muscles and tension more deeply than you can imagine. I was lucky to have been the model in one of these classes (given only 2 times per year) and saw for myself what happened. Again there is a specific technique which allows the body to do this with very valid reasons behind it utilizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. I have very shallow breath and my diaphragm is very tight. During this session I starting  having deep breaths that I had never experienced before It just released as my body needed it.  It all came from the nervous system response.This instructor also teaches structural bodywork classes that people wait in line for yet he gives  as much credit to the "circulatory massage" as he does the "structural" bodywork.  He also does not combine the two as he uses the table high for that and low for deep work as the body is used differently. When he give the "swedish" massage you don't know what hit you. You feel relaxed and amazing at the same time. I am still working on this and will travel from Las Vegas back to California to take the class again in June when it comes around. I have taken it twice and learn more each time.I experimented with this after I took the class when visiting friends in New Jersey for a wedding and there were at least 8 people there waiting for me to arrive from California and massage them for the wedding. I just sensed which of them needed one and which ones need the other. One of them who got the "circulatory" was a frequent weightlifter and always in pain. He felt wonderful after. I gave his mom mostly deep work and she must weigh 95 lbs and is very tiny yet I sensed she needed that. Everyone there said the massage was the best they ever had yet I don't think any two of them got the same thing. By the way everyone there asked for the usual "deep tissue".I hope this helps as I am very thankful that this insight was given to me.  Also teaches you not to use thumbs in the "circulatory massage" and the pressure can be light = medium- or deep as needed by the client.

 

[Ryan-HxC]

thank heavens for this thread!  Clients always ask me if I do "deep tissue", and our training didn't clarify what exactly that was!  We were taught SWedish, alternative modalities and Neuromuscular therapy.  Swedish was for whole body effects (light or deep work depending on the client) and NMT was structural deep work intended for specific muscle groups that needed attention.  Nice to hear how others define what they do!  I now charge by the amount of time ---- not the modality.  WATSU, NMT, Swedish, deep tissue,  reflexology, hot stone ---- all the same price......I agree that some clients don't know what type of massage they want or need.  I am still getting about 60-70 percent of my clients who have NEVER had a professional massage!  Even those who have had massage often have only had one (years ago) ----- and if they went in asking for a relaxation massage, many of them say they left feeling like they'd been hit by a truck due to the depth of work.  YIKES.  How to communicate so clients understand???  I like to vary the pressure and ask ---- how about this depth? ---- but to then charge more ---- no way, egads! Sorry that happened to you, katykangaroo!Blessings of this full moon weekend to all!Linda in NC

 

[Sweet]

Graci, It is not uncommon for people to choose the lower priced offering but want more work and hope the practitioner will just provide it without charging for it.  A good way to counter this, rather than trying to divide sessions and charge according to depth, you might find it more helpful to charge according to time -- then there isn't any question about payment for what you have provided. I charge one price regardless of the technique used.  Clients all present differently and I want to be able to use my full range of skills without being "locked" into a specific technique.  While the basis of all my work is Swedish, as I do the session I mix other techniques in and out.  I don't think I could do a straight Swedish massage to save my life. 8)hands4health, Would you mind posting contact information about the instructor from Canada?  Where is he from and how often does he come to the states?  TIA!

 

[filosfer]

By the way, this instructor came from Canada and his Swedish Massage course was 2000 hours long at least 20 or more years ago. آ ...I learned more about Swedish or "circulatory massage" that I every thought possible. When done correctly آ  the system respondsand releases muscles and tension more deeply than you can imagine. I was lucky to have been the model in one of these classes (given only 2 times per year) and saw for myself what happened. Again there is a specific technique which allows the body to do this with very valid reasons behind it utilizing the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

I ditto Intuitouch in the post above mine...  Please let us know who this is, so that we too can possibly take the course work. آ This sounds spectacular! آ 

 

[ta-dah!!]

Oh, BTW, I charge the same for the massage I offer.I like it best that way for the books and my own peace of mind.  I must say, I have been toying with eventually charging more for the length of time.  Ex. 60 mins. = $60.  And, 90  mins. = $100.   And then, 120 mins. = $140.  The longer I work, especially when it is very deep, I do have a tendency to get tired easier. However, for now I am $60/$90/$120.I consider deep swedish to be more of a deep relaxation massage with more of the long strokes.I consider deep tissue to be working to affect the specific problems areas, preferrable with the goal to "try and solve" the problem.To be explanatory in what I do though, it is mainly deep tissue with a good amount of deep swedish mixed in.  When I am working deep on someone, I really like to break it up with some nice feel-good stuff.  It seems to really help the flow of the massage and keep the client more receptive.Hope this helps!  

 

[x_babygurl_x]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

I charge for the treatment rather than the time. With my deep tissue sessions, often times I will incorporate hot stone, use specific products, etc. I also have them mark before the massage on their sign-in sheet whether they want relaxation or deep tissue. Helps me know what to expect before they go into my room. On the same not, I also charge more for hot stone massage and for facial treatments, rather than charging for the time it takes. My deep tissue work is getting popular in my area, and the clients don't seem to mind paying a little extra for more specific work on certain areas. A lot of times when I do deep tissue, I will only work specific areas of interest, such as back/neck pain. One of my new clients yesterday had low-back pain going into his sacrum. I spent the entire hour on back, legs, and glutes. The clients who come to me for deep tissue are looking for a certain pain to be releaved, and for the quality of work, rather than a regular relaxation massage, I feel it's worth my while to charge more, and my clients seem to agree.

 

[wyldfyr]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

His name is Garnet Dupuis and he lives in the Santa Monica Area. He used to teach full time and now gives the school 2 days of his "No Thumbs Circulatory" one day class concentrating on the back and head/neck and twice a year he give a class (50 hours each) on Structural Integration (upper and lower body respectively). I have even seen instructors with 15 years experience in his classes.

Bodywork emporium even has one of their massage lotions that I use named after him. It is called Garnet's Aloe Vera Moisturizer.

You can go online and see what the school offers at

http://massageschoolsantamonica.com/

Here is a blurb on Garnet:

Garnet Dupuis, B.A., graduate of Canadian College of Massage & Hydrotherapy and University of Windsor, Canada; professional & teaching experience Middle East, India, Japan, Korea, Ecuador, Canada, USA; past Director Int’l Sportsmedicine Inst. and Chinese Life Force Inst.; co-founder Burke William Spa.

I just found out that his next "No Thumbs" class is the weekend of my husband's birthday on June 5th so I will be staying in Las Vegas. I was planning to attend the class. Luckily my daughter still lives in Santa Monica so I can travel easily by car and attend classes there when needed.

He is a great instructor, fun and full of information, I could listen and watch him all day long.

Thanks,
Barbara

 

[taken by the best..]

There is no such thing as full-body deep tissue. Deep tissue means specific work. Many terms for the same thing (NMT, trigger point, sports massage, blah, blah)I charge for my time.  Besides Deep tissue is easier on my body than Swedish/circulatory.

 

[Diego]

I am not sure if you were referring to when I said light-medium or deep. I was referring to the pressure used when doing circulatory massage. It could be as much or as little as needed for that particular client.  I probably should have used the proper terminology. I thought of that after I hit submit. . . .too late.When I do deep tissue it is on a specific area only and any surrounding area that would affect the area most needing the treatment. I always start with the further area and work towards the troubled area. Thanks,Barbara

 

[Leon B]

Deep Tissue vs. Deep Swedish

There is no such thing as full-body deep tissue. Deep tissue means specific work.

i disagree. achieving deep work on all major muscle groups in a single session is possible, imho.

 

[coconut]

Thank you all for responding to my question ;DI think that most of you have it right, charging just one rate regardless of DT or Sw. I can't beleive that I didn't just think of that on my own. Duuuhhh... :-/But...I just started at this new space in Feb. Some of you may remember my original hesitation in renting (the tanning space?). Anyway, the other MT and I had a difference of $5 in our rates. After about a month I raised my rate to match hers, to cut down on confusion with the desk staff when quoting rates. I don't know, another change so soon might make people question my rate integrity. I've maintained the origianl rate with clients who booked with me before I increased the rate. They were actually clients that I had before the new space anyway, so I wanted them to feel apreciated by not charging them more.Currently I'm at Sw. $35,65,95  and   DT $40, 75, 100I guess it's just a difference of $5 in either direction. I could change to one rate $40, 70, 100 ?It's true,  I would never do a full body DT session any way. The one hour DT isn't any more exhausting for me than the SW one hour. But, I have to say the 30min DT is a lot more work. People looking for 30min DT usually have very specific areas of tension and require a decent amount of concentration and energy on my part. I usually feel pretty drained after a 30min DT massage. That doesn't necessarily have to dictate the higher rate of course. I would never say that to a client.  :-X I would hate for them to feel like they were "puttting me out" by requesting the DT session.  :-/I guess there really is no good reason for the rate differential. I'm giving the same quality massage whether its deep tissue or swedish. They are both very relaxing, since I always include the long, flowing, calming strokes anyway. The DT session doesn't take any longer than the requested amount of time anyway. Thanks again to all :-*I'll think about the rate change.

 

[AVALON]

Hi Graci,

Currently I'm at Sw. $35,65,95  and   DT $40, 75, 100 I guess it's just a difference of $5 in either direction.

Since it's at the "tanning salon", and you've already done the rate change recently, I'd probably just stay like you are and keep the confusion down.  If I were going to implement a single rate at this point, it would probably be the "lower" rate schedule as opposed to the higher one.  Just to make it a little sweeter on the clients pocket-books.  Then maybe go up in another year or two to the higher one you have mentioned. (see below)

I could change to one rate $40, 70, 100 ?

How's all going at the tanning salon, BTW?Have a nice day!