What is Massage ?
Massage is a combination of various movements used to manipulate tissues for both local and overall effects and benefits. The movements range from gentle stroking to invigorating friction, depending on the desired effect. Massage is generally based on the Swedish system and several types of massage have developed which incorporate these techniques for different therapeutic effects.

What is Swedish Massage ?The Swedish system of massage is named after the man who developed it, Per Henrik Ling. He was a physiologist and fencing master and developed a system of movements which he found helpful for improving his health and maintaining his physical condition. Classical massage is still based on the techniques he used, i.e. effleurage, petrissage and percussion.

These tutorials will look at these three fundamental movements to give you a basic understanding of what is involved in massage. For a more detailed understanding we recommend you purchase the book on which these tutorials are based - (Holistic Therapy Books, Cambridge, UK). You can buy this and other books by Louise Tucker.

Effleurage
The name effleurage derives from effleurer, a French word meaning 'to touch lightly'. It is generally a gentle, sweeping, relaxing stroke, with varying levels of pressure, used at the beginning and end of a massage.

It can also be used over large areas once the muscles are relaxed.

Unlike petrissage and percussion, effleurage does not aim to move or manipulate tissues or muscles, only to soothe and relax them and improve circulation.

How to do it ?
With fingers and thumbs together, keep the hands relaxed and stroke the skin slowly and rhythmically with a confident pressure. When massaging the limbs, the emphasis of the pressure is towards the heart.

The hands may be used one after the other or at the same time. The whole palm of the hand and the fingers should be used to prevent tickling the client. Hands must mould to the contours of the area being treated.

Once a gentle rhythm has been established the therapist can increase the pressure gradually to prepare the body for the deeper work that follows.

When to use it ?
Effleurage is used at the start and finish of the massage session and at the start and finish of each body part, e.g. at the beginning and the end of work on the back or the legs.

It is also used as a connection stroke between different parts of the massage. When carrying out a massage the therapist must not break contact with the client because when the client's body senses this, believes the massage is over and begins to rouse itself from it's relaxed state.

What does it do ?
As the first contact between therapist and client, effleurage helps to prepare the body for massage, introducing the client to the therapist's touch, warming the skin, spreading the massage medium such as oil or cream (if used) and relaxing the client.

It is also used after more invigorating strokes to help the elimination of toxins from the areas that have been worked. It can also help desquamation, especially when used deeply, and thus help the skin to regenerate.

The effleurage of limbs with the pressure working towards the heart assists the return of blood to the heart and also lymph drainage. Deep effleurage also pushes blood into superficial capillaries.

View Massage tutorial 2