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Swedish massage is the classic massage style in British spas. When you think of a lovely relaxing massage that leaves you feeling like a million dollars with loose muscles and a wonderful peaceful state of mind, it’s a Swedish massage you’re thinking of. Our massage therapists in Hove use firm but gentle techniques to relax muscles and improve blood flow which can help relieve a number of physical and mental issues whilst promoting overall wellbeing and health. Many people come to us for this form of massage to address a particular concern but many also come because it just feels amazing and they want to give themselves a treat that’s actually good for them.
Massage therapists use a number of different strokes to relax the muscles and break down ‘knots’. As the muscles relax, pain caused by tight muscles and restricted movement lessen, blood flow improves and toxins stored up in the muscles are flushed out. The most common stroke is called ‘sliding and gliding’ and is exactly what it sounds like. These are the long gliding rubs along the lengths of the muscles that the massage therapist usually starts with to relax the bigger muscles. Another technique is called petrissage and involves kneading the muscles in a similar way to how people knead bread. This is a good technique for breaking down stubborn ‘knots’. Other techniques include tapping, shaking and friction which involves rubbing the muscles across the muscle fibres rather than along them. Depending on how tight your muscles are or what particular issues you’d like addressing, our massage therapists will choose which of these techniques to use in different areas.
People use Swedish massage to help relieve pain caused by tight muscles and to reduce stress. Lots of chronic pain conditions can be relieved using massage and some sufferers like to use this natural form of pain relief as a break from painkillers. Swedish massage can also help people to recover after injuries as it improves blood flow to the affected areas which promotes healing and can help to break down scar tissue and adhesions in the muscles which can cause pain and limit motion. Because massage releases feel good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin, it not only helps with stress but can actually improve other mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. It also lowers your cortisol levels which is a hormone responsible for most of the ill-effects of stress and reducing these levels can boost your immune system.
Massage therapies at The Float Spa in Hove all begin with a consultation to establish exactly what you’d like to get out of your massage. If you’re looking for relief from a certain condition or would like the therapist to focus on a certain area which is particularly tight or troublesome, they will gladly focus on those issues but, similarly, if you’re just looking for stress relief and a lovely relaxing experience, they can do that too. Once they know what you’re after, they’ll leave you to get undressed and cover yourself with a towel. The massage begins with the longer more gentle strokes to begin to relax the muscles before working more specifically on areas of tightness or areas of concern. By the end, you will feel deeply relaxed with loose muscles, reduced pain and a profound feeling of wellbeing. Most massage therapists recommend that you don’t do any strenuous exercise after your massage and drink plenty of water.
If you’d like to know more about Swedish massage at The Float Spa, call 01273 933680 or you can book an appointment by clicking the button below.
Half way down Third Ave, next to Hotel Langfords and under Oeuf Cafe. Look out for our A-board.
