Circulatory Massage

Also known as “Swedish Massage”, this form is the most common and most well-known.

This is the massage you get when you get a ‘basic’ massage at a spa.

Because it is so commonplace, and because people don’t typically experience pain during a circulatory massage, it is not considered as therapeutic as deep tissue by clients, but it actually can be MORE therapeutic than deep tissue for certain conditions.

I have frequently had clients want me to use deep tissue when it is not right for the condition, or they ask me to go so deep that I risk damaging their tissue (so I refuse to go as deep as they demand) when what would really be best for them would be a medium pressure Swedish massage.

Could You Go A Little Deeper?

There are even times when I receive massages and think that I would love for the therapist to just stick her elbow in between my shoulder blades (the rhomboid area for those that know their anatomy) but I know that that also probably is not the best idea, especially if the area has not been warmed up by the therapist.

Some people ask for deep tissue when they go to a spa, but they still want the entire body massaged (not just a part, like the shoulders or the knee).

If this is what you want, then it’s better to ask for a firm Swedish massage, rather than deep tissue, because deep tissue is meant to focus on a specific area for the massage and often a therapist will not get to the whole body.

Swedish massage is meant to be a full-body therapeutic massage.

Benefits of Circulatory Massage

Circulatory massage targets the circulatory system, so it is a great way of clearing toxic debris that becomes lodged in the cells and connective tissue of the muscles, impairing muscle health and causing premature aging in the tissue.

As I mentioned before, This is an important distinction to make because, in your typical 50 minute spa massage, it is almost impossible to go fully deep on every single part of the body because there is not enough time to warm up each area to get to the deeper muscle, but it is possible to go firm all over the body and go a little deeper on one area, like the back.

It targets the circulatory system, clearing toxic debris that becomes lodged in the cells and connective tissue of the muscles, impairing muscle health and causing premature aging in the tissue.

This is an important distinction to make because, in your typical 50 minute spa massage, it is almost impossible to go fully deep on every single part of the body because there is not enough time to warm up each area to get to the deeper muscle, but it is possible to go firm all over the body and go a little deeper on one area, like the back.

Swedish Massage is good for:

• Everyday aches and pains
• Poor Circulation (but a doctor should be consulted first)
• Poor Digestion
• Depression
• Post-exercise recovery
• Increase flexibility
• Increase Range of Motion
• Headaches and Migraines
• Spasms and Cramping
• Menstrual cycle discomfort
• Hangover
• Stress
• Compulsive overeating and other eating disorders
• Osteo and Rheumatoid Arthritis (except during inflammation)
• High Blood Pressure (again, check with your doctor first)

In future blog posts I will do a deeper dive into the specifics of how all of these states can be alleviated with circulatory massage, but for now, just know that it can take care of a number of different maladies and discomforts.

While there is a lot going on physiologically during a circulatory massage, in general, a tight and stressed out body often also has inflammation and the combination of one or all of those factors can cause discomfort that would normally not be there.

By experiencing Swedish Circulatory Massage for an hour or so, the body can release that tension and stress, and will then start to release the discomfort as well.

What Is It Like To Get A Circulatory Massage?

There are (or will be) other pages on this site that cover the specifics of going to a professional massage.

But since this post is about circulatory massage, this is more about the distinguishing sensations between this and other forms of massage.

As one might expect, the circulatory massage begins with the receiver on a traditional massage table, often face down with the head supported by a “face cradle”, which is an extension of the table.

Because part of the benefit of circulatory massage is relaxation, the room is often darkened to create a good atmosphere for relaxation.

The massage therapist will work on the client’s body with long, medium-pressure strokes that should emphasize the movement of blood toward the body and toward the heart.

Massage oil or massage cream is usually used so that the therapists’ hands can glide easy over the receiver’s skin. Otherwise, the hands would get stuck and sensation would be unpleasant to the receiver.

(Side Note: Too much massage oil can also be unpleasant as it is too slippery and won’t allow the massage to be applied with medium pressure. This is also true if a junky oil is used, such as mineral oil or baby oil.)

While most circulatory massages start on the torso, like on the back, when working on extremities massage might feel like the therapist starts in the hands or feet and moves toward the middle of the body. Or that there is slightly more pressure applied when a long stroke (called effleurage) when moving toward the torso compared to when they move the hands away from the center of the body.

This massage usually touches the back, arms/hands (front/back), legs/feet (front/back), and neck. Sometimes it also includes the scalp and face, but that is at the discretion of the massage therapist and the person receiving the massage.

Focused work on a particular area might occur, but again, the touch will be lighter than a deep tissue massage.

But even extra time spent on an area of the body that needs it with a medium pressure Swedish massage can have outstanding benefits, sometimes better than deep tissue.

After the massage, the client should feel more relaxed in mind and body.

The mind and emotions will have been given a moment to just lie still and receive healing and quiet.

The pysical body will feel like many of the tensions previously held have been released.

Sometimes not all the tension has been released. If one has an issue in an area of the body, especially if it is chronic, or if one has habitual ways of holding or moving the body (called kinesthesiology) that interfere with the body feeling good and aligned, one circulatory massage is not going to fix it.

The relaxation feeling will be more like an overall physical sensation if the massage was done correctly.

If there are chronic holding patterns that prevent alignment, that is a good thing to discuss with a massage therapist and can often be helped after several sessions of circulatory massage.

Conclusion

If you are new to receiving massage and not sure what type of massage you want, circulatory massage is a good place to start.

Circulatory massage should leave you feeling good on both a physical and emotional/mental level and is a fantastic introduction to the powerful healing effects of massage therapy.