What is a Swedish Massage?

We’ve written quite a bit on this blog about the benefits of a good massage, how it can alleviate back pain, lessen depression and anxiety, and help us recover from our workouts.

But not all massages are the same. There’s deep tissue massage, for example, for people who are experienced massage goers, and things like hot stone massage, where a masseuse uses intense heat to help release tension.

And then there’s Swedish massage, perhaps the most popular member of the massage family.

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How Are the Basalt Stones Used in Stone Massage Sanitized?

CaraMassage_3We perform Stone Massages October through April, or the Fall and Winter months.  We use a clean set of stones for each client. The stones are heated, oiled, and used as an extension of the hands as they are effleuraged up and down the arms and legs, for example. Effleurage is a Swedish massage stroke where an open handed stroke is meant to warm the surface of skin and the muscles beneath. The stones can be turned on their sides and used to friction areas where adhesions have formed. This happens in the lower back due to long periods of sitting and not enough time to rest or stretch. The fascia (or the under-lying tissue) become bunched making certain movements like walking easier to maneuver on one side versus the other. One of the hips may feel tired and stuck; it all has to do with everything being connected.

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