The R Reflexology & Massage Mobile Service

What's the proper massage etiquette? If you're not used to getting a massage, then the idea of taking off your clothes and having someone knead into your muscles probably sounds a little awkward. And while getting a massage is definitely your time to relax and focus on you, following a few key etiquette tips will help make the experience that much better: Dress to your comfort level. Don't feel like taking off your underwear? Then don't! Go with whatever makes you feel comfortable. Make sure you've showered that day. Nobody really enjoys touching someone who is sweaty or dirty, even if it's their job. Your massage therapist will thank you. Talk to your practitioner. Namely, let them know if you have any injuries or conditions they should know about before starting the treatment. Don't talk to your practitioner. Only if you don't want to, though there's no need to fill idle time with small talk if that's not your thing.

Swedish massage is the Western-world standard for a reason: it's gentle, relaxing, and it can be tailored to anyone. But what exactly is a Swedish massage? Is it even Swedish? And what can you expect during massage? What happens during a treatment? Swedish massage is rooted in Western practices of anatomy and physiology. To perform this type of massage, licensed therapists apply an arsenal of pressure styles that include stroking, kneading, striking, rubbing, and vibrations. Using massage oil to help their strokes glide, they focus the pressure along the muscles that run the length of the body. What are the benefits of Swedish massage? The pressure from Swedish massage is ideal for relieving muscle tension, like the kind that builds up from hunching over a computer all day. This tension can sometimes result in knots: trigger points of extremely tense muscle fibers that form tiny nodules. Massage therapists are trained to feel for these knots, and Swedish-massage techniquesare ideal for gently coaxing them away. Is it actually from Sweden? There is some disagreement in academic circles about the origins of Swedish massage. Many sources trace the connection to Swedish physiologist Pehr Henrik Ling, who pioneered a series of gymnastic stretches known as the Swedish Movement System. Beyond that, the history gets murky. According to Robert Noah Calvert, author of The History of Massage, what we now call Swedish massage was never part of Ling's movement system. Swedish massage, as Calvert asserts, is defined by its system of stroking, kneading, and other bodily manipulations. These he credits to a Dutch practitioner, Johann Georg Mezger, who lived and worked in the late 19th century. As a result, what Americans know as Swedish massage is called classic massage throughout most of Europe. Are there any other benefits besides looser muscles? The whole Swedish experience is also a potential stress reliever, which is a benefit unto itself. Plus, it can improve blood flow, delivering more oxygen to cells. A lesser-known benefit is moisturized, glowing skin which results from the application of massage oils. Many therapists prefer to use sweet almond oil because it absorbs slowly into the skin, yet doesn't leave clients feeling like they're covered in grease. Other favorite oils include grapeseed (non-greasy, no smell) and jojoba oil (easily absorbed, mixes well with aromatherapy oils). How long should it last? Therapists commonly offer 30-minute, 50-minute, 60-minute, and 90-minute versions. A longer massage, though, gives the therapist more time to work on each muscle group or to focus on a particularly tense area. Will it hurt? No, because most therapists will customize the pressure of their strokes to suit your requests. Communication is key. & I would rather my clients leave happy and satisfied than not, so if [the therapist] is doing something that is not enjoyable, that's good, that's a little too much pressure or that area is too sensitive to be worked on, should get you satisfying results.