Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage?

A common question we hear is, “What’s the difference between a Swedish massage and a Deep Tissue massage?” Both massages are popular and have different functions and purposes.

Swedish massage is primarily used to induce relaxation and uses slow, long, circular strokes with light to medium pressure. Swedish massage increases blood circulation, moving metabolic waste out of the body, and kicks your nervous system into gear, which helps relieve pain, improve mood, decrease nervous tension, improve sleep, and promote sharper thinking.

If you are looking for overall relaxation and stress relief, Swedish massage is the modality for you.

Deep Tissue massage is primarily used to relieve specific stressed muscles, usually in the back, neck, arms, and legs. The therapist focuses on the inner layers of muscle tissue to change the muscle fibers, by unknotting and lengthening them. As the name implies, pressure is usually more intense to reach the fascia muscles. Deep Tissue is popular with athletes maintaining prolonged, hard workouts; for chronic pain, such as tension headaches and back pain; for fluid retention; and for carpal tunnel syndrome. Deep Tissue massage should not be painful, as the therapist works with the client's tolerance level.
Because both forms of massage flush the system and toxins out of the body, it’s important to remember to drink lots of water following a massage treatment. The increased fluid helps continue to flush waste from the body. Some muscle stiffness or soreness after a massage is common.