DIFF BETWEEN SWEDISH & AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE

[Eric R]

Hi there everyone!Have just started aromatherapy massage course and am currently being taught basic swedish massage. We will eventually go on to learn aromatherapy massage but just wondered how it differs. Is it the pressure, the techniques or what?

 

[aBluetteSpease44]

High Healthy H and welcome to HP.

Apart from the obvious use of essential oils, pure aromatherapy massage is generally more gentle, concentrating on lymphatic drainage as this is the best way that the body uses the oils.

However, in reality many therapists like to use a mixture of strokes, even for an aromatherapy massage, as most clients, enjoy and benefit from deep tissue massage.

Hope this helps.

Good luck

Lesley

 

[MargieY]

Hi, yes this is true above. I think probably what sums it up best is there is no hacking and cupping![]

It will be taught differently at different colleges, but basically it is more flowing and may involve accupressure points and lymphatic drainage. But therapists tend to evolve their own massage and it doesn't mean you can't use deep techniques when required.

 

[Jokster Migee]

Having had both I much prefer the Swedish Massage, although the effect of the oils for the aromatherapy are probably more of benefit, Swedish tends to be a bit more firmer and aroma is more relaxing ( well to me it is)
I am learing Swedish and being taught Lymph Drainage techniques in that too

Hope this helps you

Jay

 

[agelpgeast36]

Thanks for the replies. So glad I discovered healthy pages. Feel it will be a big help on my course.Cheers! H

 

[Ania B]

See - this is where opinions differ. I give a deep massage with essential oils. A lot of therapists don't and people are disappointed. I think this is a misconception about aromatherapy and it doesn't help to get us clients as a lot of them say that they didn't get benefit from previous treatments.

 

[Dante]

Hi Healthy H

The main differences are that aromatherapy massage as stated is given as a means to apply the aromatherapy treatment, so what you have is an understanding that it is the blend of essential oils which constitutes the treatment not the massage as they could just as easily be applied orally or put in the bath, yes I know the do not teach people to use them orally in the UK but it is a valid technique applied across the world when using essential oils as medicine.

Swedish massage on the other hand is for correcting postural dysfunctions and muscular/skeletal dysfunctions, it is basically remedial massage therapy, though I do appreciate that it is not taught that way on itec courses as they seem to do more of a general body massage technique and call that Swedish massage, Swedish massage is very hard work to the giver where as aromatherapy massage is not.

 

[killabunnyo]

I agree that the teaching seems to differ depending on who is teaching you but......Surely when it comes to giving the massage it depends on what the client wants/needs?

 

[Adri]

Hi Healthy H,

I trainded in Swedish Massage with a friend and then she went on to train in Aromatherapy, she used me as a model so i have experienced both types of Massage. I must say that I personally prefer the Swedish as its a deeper and more invigorating massage. The aroma massage was nice to smell the oils and fairly relaxing but much too light to the touch and afterward I didnt feel like my knotty muscles had been manipulated very much.
If I were paying for a massage then I would choose the swedish over the aroma any day of the week but I suppose its all down to individual preference.

Tracey D.

 

[Muffins]

I think it totally depends on the therapist and to some degree where they trained, as their tutors may be more open minded to incorporating different techniques. Each treatment I do varies, depending on the client and what they want, but generally I use quite a bit of acupressure, neuromuscular and lymphatic drainage, along with deeper tissue work as in Swedish. If I have a client who has sporting injuries or is a competitive athelete, I also take this into account and the massage is usually more invigorating. My aromatherapy tutor also teaches us to use chakras, Indian head and reflexology, so I guess we create our own style.

Personally I find a basic aromatherapy routine quite boring to receive.