What is the difference between a Swedish Massage and a Deep Tissue Massage?
The two most popular massage services we offer are Swedish and Deep Tissue. It is easy to get the two confused if you aren’t familiar with the basic definitions.
Swedish Massage: A treatment designed to energize or relax the body with gentle, flowing massage strokes used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. Benefits include relaxation, daily stress relief, muscle toning, dissolution of scar tissue, improved circulation which may speed healing and reduce swelling from injury.
Deep Tissue Massage: Utilizing a mixture of light to deep pressure helps alleviate muscle tension and pain. Enjoy the reduction of pain and symptoms of back conditions, headaches, and other body constraints.
Swedish massage is a slower and lighter form of massage. It is not meant to target any specific trigger points in the body and is not designed to correct imbalances in the muscle structure. Rather, Swedish massage is more relaxation-focused, meant to help you unwind after a stressful day. Deep tissue massage, on the other hand, employs targeted pressure with the goal of breaking up knots and increasing blood flow to targeted areas. Given that deep tissue massage focuses on working out whatever tension manifesting in your muscles, it tends to be more invigorating and better suited for those looking for a physical release. Swedish massage has its place too, however: if you're looking for something relaxing but also want to get rid of some tension without feeling the intensity of a deep tissue massage, Swedish massage may be just what you're looking for. As always, though, the best way to figure out what works best for you may be by trying both out or talking with your massage therapist to decide.
