Massages are good for everyone. If you’ve never had one, you’re missing out on a great health benefit. Men and women alike can enjoy and reap the benefits in the body that come from a proper massage. One of the best massage techniques to start off with is the Swedish massage which is considered one of the basic and more tame massages.

In Swedish Massage, the muscles are gently stroked using various techniques like cupping, side chops and fingertip pressure. For the first massage, it is considered a good choice unless you have a real problem with knotted muscles.

Here is how it works. You will be asked to strip naked or down to your underwear and wrap up in a towel.  You are then fully covered with the sheet and only the parts of your body that are being massaged should ever be uncovered.  The massage takes place on a massage table lying on your stomach with your head in an open-cushioned frame to avoid pressure on your eyes and cheeks.

The massage therapist will uncover each part of your body one at a time to perform the massage.  You don’t have to worry about ever having your entire body uncovered.

The point of the massage is to relieve tension in the body. For some reason,  a lot of tension is carried in the neck and shoulders. Your massage therapist may start there and work her way down the body. It is important to relax while the massage is going on so that you can get maximum benefit.

If at any time something hurts or bothers you, let your massage therapist know immediately.  She or he can adjust the pressure they are using as they are kneading your muscles to avoid pain issues. Sometimes, they will have to go a bit more firm when the knot will not work itself out.

Massage oils or aromatherapy oils can be used to enhance the outcome of your massage. For instance, using a lavender essential oil can help you to sleep better and enjoy an overall positive wellbeing of your mind and body.

One benefit of the Swedish massage is tissue detoxification.  A lot of toxins are carried in the body just from the environment, the foods we eat and whatever else we ingest. Caffeine, for instance, speeds up the heart rate, acting as a stimulant to the body.

Through smooth strokes up and down, the toxins can be released from the muscles and cleared from the body through excretion.  After a massage such as this, drinking plenty of water will rehydrate your body.

Some of the health benefits of Swedish massage include:

  • Reduced tension in your life
  • Improved circulation
  • Pain management for nerve disorders like sciatica
  • Relief from cramps and spasms

There are many benefits to getting a massage. With a Swedish massage you get them all, plus the gentle stroking and kneading of the muscles to get them working in proper order again. There is also a reduction in many aches and pains, including arthritis.