'How Often Do You Do Plain Old Classic Swedish?'

[SweetasanAngel]

I uzerped this quote from What do you specialize in?, because I thought it might be a nice thread to persue.

... I have some questions for the experienced MT's who have lots of tools in their tool box. How often do you do plain old classic swedish massage? Do you do Swedish and add in deep tissue, energy or myofascial or whatever as you go? or has Swedish gone by the wayside, do you "lose" it as you learn new modalities? does anyone specialize in Swedish?

The reason I ask is that I have gotten massage a few times now from other professionals, MT's who have been working for years with a long list of what they do on their brochure. and so far, the massages have not had much flow to it. I didn't enjoy them. I even asked one MT for Swedish and didn't get what I consider and what I learned is Swedish. I know I have amny more massages to receive to even begin to sample what is available in my area, but I was just curious about this. Are those giving Swedish massage mostly the newly graduated because its the basics one learns?

 

[Jimbo N]

Timedess replied with:

eyesofblue, I haven't been practicing long enough to be able to answer your question with much authority at all. I can say that as my husband and I have worked on putting together our menu of services and price list, we have decided that it does not work for us to "differentiate" various modalities. We, rather, price based on time, and each uses the techniques we see fit to use on a case by case, client by client basis. When folks ask if we do "deep tissue", I point them to him, not because he "does deep tissue", but because to a T, the ones who know about it and WANT it, want it because they have "issues" of the sort that he is most adept at helping with (even if he is not using specific "deep tissue" techniques), while we know that those who "Do. Not. Like. deep tissue" always seem to prefer my lighter touch.

 

[Delilah]

I love doing Swedish massage, it was my first modality and is truly the basis for the other work that I have learned so far. I always incorporate Swedish into other sessions: deep tissue work, NMT, Hot Stone.

The second time through school, I thought the actual Swedish technique class was a little brief (the first time through, Swedish being the only technique taught). By the time we moved on to the Trigger Point classes, most of my classmates had not mastered Swedish and then began piecing together massage routines based on the new specific techniques. So, I noticed as eyesofblue, some of the sessions have no flow. Kind of a Frankenstein session of TrP, with little balance or transcendence.

When I started clinic at the school, I was actually surprised at the amount of comments I got back from clients about enjoying the flow and connectedness of my massage. A lot of the students choose that school because they want to do technical, specific work (deep tissue, NMT, sports or clinical). My experience at the clinic, working there now 18 months after being a student, is that some of the clients want mostly Swedish with some specific spot work. Most of the clients want Swedish, and it is a rare client in the clinic that wants only TrP, or only want focus on one area of the body.

Long answer, but I would say I use Swedish in 100% of my sessions, and about 90% of my sessions are 100% Swedish.

 

[rockability]

I specialize in a theraputic massage, a combination of many modalities including Swedish, TrP, Neuro, Western, and what ever else I have picked up. My sessions really depend on the client. Heck, I can't even massage both halves of the same person the exact same way.

However, when asked I will do a 100% Swedish massage, its about 5-10% of my practice.

 

[Hong Kong Mike]

Heck, I can't even massage both halves of the same person the exact same way.

+1!

I only have a couple clients who ask for just swedish. I love them so much because it gives me a break from the ones who want me to lean my hefty self even harder! The other day a relaxation client emerged from the treatment room looking all dazed and dreamy and said she felt like she just slept 8 hours.

I am grateful for all my clients, whether they want deep work or light. But I'd love a few more who just want to bliss out!

 

[mr_know_it_all]

I am grateful for all my clients, whether they want deep work or light. But I'd love a few more who just want to bliss out!

I think I do "ask the universe" for Swedish clients, I have actually noticed an increase in new (for me) clients with a health history that says they prefer Swedish in the last 6 months.

Maybe that's why I do so many Swedish sessions.

 

[Eugen D]

I work with alot of fibromyalgia and chronic pain patients so I use mostly swedish on them. Everyone else I combine swedish and deep tissue. So far everyone has responded very well to it.

 

[agent4927]

That's an interesting & insightful question, eyesofblue. I've been a massage therapist for 8 years, and my work has transformed over that time, and I imagine it will continue to do so. I definitely did more Swedish massage in my first few years of practice. Now, my style is a blend of techniques. However, I do strive to maintain the relaxing & holistic flow that swedish massage offers. I don't think I've lost that.

Even though I don't specialize in Swedish massage, I believe Swedish massage is wonderful & worthy of specialty in itself. In fact, I was re-awakened to the beauty of relaxation massage recently, which I mentioned in this thread:

http://massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15634

I don't think you have to be a new therapist to still do this well. The woman I received my massage from has been in practice 15 years.

Garnet Dupuis is an instructor at the Massage School of Santa Monica, and its his mission to keep the beauty of Swedish Massage alive. I imagine many of us could use a refresher, after years of learning other specialties. EgoMagickian describes his class on this thread:
http://massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14967

You mentioned that you've been sampling massage from MT's in your area who have long lists of specialties in their brochures. Honestly, I'm wary of those people. I tend to distrust anyone who claims to excel at everything. In my experience, they usually excel at nothing.

One last point: there are styles of bodywork that aren't about relaxation or holistic flow, but can be very powerful. (James Waslaski's techniques, for example). That's the beauty of bodywork -- it's so varied in its many incarnations. I encourage you to be open to that. However, if you ask for a Swedish massage, you have a right to receive just that, and have it be excellent. Keep looking for a great swedish massage in your area. I'm sure it exists. Ask around!

 

[Pompal 09.]

In every massage, I use some swedish moves - I have an integrated massage where I use Trp when needed, MFR when needed, but I enjoy the fluid movements of a swedish massage. It was the primary one we learned in school - and it has been the building block. When I tried to do a Neuro massage w/ TrP work only - it does feel very choppy and no flow. When I did a hot stone massage only, I missed the contact of feeling what is going on with the tissue. So that's why I integrate the movements so they get the treatment they need but also walk away feeling relaxed and reconnected.

 

[Zumaria]

Thanks Pueppi for separating my question out of that long thread. and thanks everyone for the responses. I look forward to hearing more from people and when I have a chance will respond more directly to responses. Thanks!!


Ellie

 

[AjaLee]

How often do you do plain old classic swedish massage?

Unfortunately not enough. I get about 1 straight swedish massage request every 3 weeks or so.

Do you do Swedish and add in deep tissue, energy or myofascial or whatever as you go? or has Swedish gone by the wayside, do you "lose" it as you learn new modalities? does anyone specialize in Swedish?

I do, however, mix swedish in with my deep tissue work, as a brief "feel-good" amidst the not-so-comfortable work. I don't think you ever "loose" Swedish, but I do think in order to keep good flow and content, you have to practice it, or eventually your Swedish work can become poor in content and feel disruptive instead of relaxing.

I don't specialize in Swedish, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that if you prefer to do that type of work.

Are those giving Swedish massage mostly the newly graduated because its the basics one learns?

It could be, or it could be that as we learn more, we incorporate more of our tools into the massage and therefore don't perform a one-style massage as frequently as we did when we just graduated.

PS: Thanks Bliss for the links!

 

[Tyrone C]

I use lots of petrissage in my sessions before doing deep tissue, I think that I use plenty of swedish massage during my sessions, but not many clients come to see me just to relax.
But when someone only wants a relaxing treatment, I use reiki in my sessions too, so I don't think anything I do is 100% swedish.

 

[Cecil]

During school, we were taught the classic Western strokes/etc. but were also taught the basics of TrP, myofascial, body mobilization, and stretching - not to mention Tai, CranioSacral, and more. While I don't 'specialize' in any type of massage, I use whatever is in my toolbox to match the client's needs both verbally and what the body says it needs.

For a new client, if I find a spot that needs specific work, I ask the client if s/he wants it addressed by asking something along the line of 'I'm feeling a little tension here, do you mind if I work in this area a bit longer?'.\

Again, for new clients, I look to see if the client's intake to see s/he prefers light, medium, or deep pressure.

For people who are looking to 'relax and unwind', I incorporate some Cranio work (extremely relaxing), hand, and feet work.

On the whole, I think that 85% of therapists with at least 2 years' experience will end up doing more than what is considered Swedish with nothing added in. I think the more we work with more bodies and the larger our knowledge base becomes, the greater the opportunity to use whatever we have in order to offer the best massage possible.

Lastly, unless you are doing a session comletely non-Swedish, we'll always include some or all of the classic Western strokes in a massage.

 

[vaye]

I love Swedish massage myself and had a lot of trouble shifting from the Swedish portion to the neuromuscular portion of school (was attending part-time, so the two were not blended).

I tend to perform more relaxing Swedish type massages and always get lots of compliments on my "flow" - must be more uncommon than I knew as I just do my best and don't have much experience yet.