Holistic Swedish Massage - more information

The word ‘massage’ comes from the arabic word ‘masah’, meaning ‘to press softly’. There is direct evidence of massage dating back as far as 5000 BCE but it is likely that it goes back much further than that. Touch itself is a natural form of therapy – rubbing wounds, for example is an automatic response to injury. The ancient Egyptians used massage techniques, and the Greeks first documented a systematic application. Hippocrates insisted that massage should always be used prior to any prescribed medication, and the great 1st century Roman physician and scientist Galen included it in his systems of treatment.

Swedish massage was devised by Per Henrik Ling in the early 19th century. He developed it from Indian, Egyptian and Chinese sources in order to treat the acrobats and performers in his gymnasiums. It was originally a deep, aggressive therapy bearing some resemblance to modern deep tissues/sports massage. In the mid 1850’s a Dr Pare first introduced it into hospitals in Northern France, modifying it to treat his patients. His expressions to describe the different types of massage strokes are the ones still used today.

Swedish massage as originally evolved by Ling is rarely used now, but his techniques form the basis for what is now referred to as Holistic Swedish, or just Holistic, massage. Ling’s original treatment used talcum powder for lubrication, avoided the head completely and only addressed the muscles, as well as being extremely vigorous in application. Holistic massage on the other hand, addresses the whole person both physiologically and psychologically, and instead of talc uses vegetable oils with less aggressive strokes.

The holistic approach to massage takes into account its effects on all the different body systems – skeletal, muscular, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, digestive, skin and so on. All these systems are of course interconnected, and work on one naturally affects the others, and therefore the massage works to treat the body as a whole.

The mental and emotional wellbeing of the client is included, for example one of the effects of massage is to calm down and soothe the client, aiding relaxation and the release of stress and tension, both physical and emotional. Other effects of the massage can include increased and improved circulation of the blood and lymphatic flow, thus aiding the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all body tissues whilst helping to relieve fluid retention and removal of wastes. It can help to stretch shortened muscles, release contracted and tight muscles, relieve muscle fatigue and fibrous thickenings and adhesions. It also stimulates sensory nerves and clears neural pathways, and has a general toning effect on the body. Depression, stress, anxiety, tiredness, insomnia and nervous tension can also be helped.

Our masseur is Garava