How To Give A Swedish Body Massage

A Swedish body massage is one of the most common types of massage therapy and learning how to give a Swedish massage will endear you to your friends and partners. This type of massage is characterized by the use of long, smooth strokes. You will need massage oil or lotion to give a Swedish massage.

Things you'll need:

• Massage lotions/oils
• Massage table
• Towels
• Pillows

1. Prepare the room. Lighting should be dim for a massage. Soft music is also a nice touch. If you have a massage table, put clean sheets on it, if you're using a bed or the floor, make sure to put sheets or towels over the area you don't mind getting oil on. The person getting the massage should take off any jewelry and tie long hair in a ponytail or braid to keep it out of the way. The massage recipient should undress down to his/her underwear and begin by lying on his/her back underneath a towel.
2. Begin the massage with the face. This is done without oil so that grease doesn't get transferred from the rest of the body. Use your fingertips to gently rub the forehead and cheeks in a circular motion. The scalp comes next. Rub the scalp, concentrating on the hairline and being careful not to pull any hair. The arms and hands come next, followed by the fronts of the legs and the feet. Use long, flowing strokes with the palms of your hands on the arms and legs. For the hands and feet use your fingertips to rub and stretch out sore areas. You should squeeze the massage oil onto your hands before massaging of the person's arms. Rub your hands together to warm oil before using it for the massage
3. Ask the massage recipient to roll over and massage the backs of his/her legs, followed by the back. The back is usually massaged last and takes the greatest amount of time. People usually like back massages the best, so take your time and do a thorough job. Start at the neck and work down the back, using your hands and forearms to press down. For small areas, such as around shoulder blades or on the neck, use your fingers to rub and squeeze tense areas. You can also use the heels or palm of your hands to lightly and rhythmically tap on the large muscles in the back. Avoid hitting or pressing on the spine, as this can be painful and dangerous. Check in frequently to make sure the pressure isn't too much.
4. When the Swedish massage is over let the person lie still for a moment before sitting up slowly. He/she may feel tired or a bit woozy after the massage, so it's important to avoid getting up too fast if she's unsteady. Now it's time to bask in the compliments.

Being able to give a Swedish massage is a good skill to have. The key is to take your time and give extra attention to sore areas such as the neck, back or feet.