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Per-Henrik Ling (1776-1839), a Swedish medical-gymnastic practitioner, was
born in the south of Sweden in 1776 and is often credited with developing the
techniques of Swedish Massage, or Classical Massage, as it is also known. In
the late 1790s he suffered from rheumatism but discovered that the daily disciplines
of fencing and gymnastics completely restored his bodily health. He wanted
others to benefit from what he had learnt and so developed a system of medical
gymnastics, which became known as the Swedish Movement System. His ambition
was to do everything he could to make the Swedish population strong and healthy
in both body and spirit. After many failed attempts, he finally received co-operation
from the Swedish government in 1813 and the Royal Gymnastic Central Institute
was opened for the training of gymnastic instructors. There have been developments
on Ling’s work and while he used movement to cure ill health, the five
classic techniques of Swedish Massage are said to be credited to a Dutch physician,
Dr. Johan George Mezger, even though Ling is more commonly called the “father
of Swedish Massage”. Apparently, when researching Per-Henrik Ling's techniques
in later years, researchers noticed some similarities between descriptions
of Ling's techniques and the terms already in use as defined by Mezger. These
terms were applied to Ling's methods and, because he practised in the decades
before Mezger, he received credit for developing and naming these techniques.
Whatever the case, to quote from the Axelson’s Gymnastiskas Institut website, “Ling's
idea had a large influence on healthcare during the second half of the 19th
century. A visitor from America wrote in 1901: "A true Swede believes
that exercise cures all. If you visit a Swedish doctor in all probability he
will prescribe an exercise program and send you to a massage facility rather
than a visit to the pharmacy".
However they were evolved, the five classic techniques of Swedish Massage
are used successfully by many therapists to the benefit of countless clients
every day, to this day. They are:
- Effleurage: Long, gliding strokes.
- Petrissage: Lifting and kneading the muscles.
- Friction: Firm, deep, circular rubbing movements.
- Tapotement: Brisk tapping or percussive movements.
- Vibration: Rapidly shaking or vibrating specific muscles.
On a personal note
The largest massage school in Sweden is Axelsons Institute, where I was trained.
They offer the Nordic region’s most comprehensive therapeutic Body Massage
Training and after I had trained there I later developed Swedish Massage Oils
and Lotions for the Institute. Every student at Axelsons still receives a bottle
of my Swedish Massage Lotion when they start their Swedish Massage studies.
"I had a very enjoyable time during my
three days course. Your teachings are profound and
explicit, which was very helpful. Hopefully, I will learn from you again in the
near future."
Tammy Wong
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The 7 Laws for Massage Oils...
1. Choose Vegetable Oils, which offer excellent lubrication, such as
Sweet Almond [Oi]l, Moringa or Jojoba Oils.
2. To add body to, or to thicken, a Massage Oil, you can use Coconut
Oil, Shea Butter and Shea Butter Oil. These are Oils with high quantities
of Saturated Fatty Acids.
3. For people with oily skin and large pores, use very small quantities
of Saturated Fatty Acids to avoid blocking and enlarging the pores.
4. Never use dry Oils, such as Hemp or Thistle Oils, by themselves,
as this will make the skin feel dry after the Swedish Massage.
5. Encourage your clients to use Lotions/Cream, which will add moisture
to their skin.
6. If you use large amounts of Vitamins, you can turn your Recipes into
prescriptions (e.g. more than 1% Vitamin E Oil).
7. Always use at least 0.5% Vitamin E Oil to your Blends to avoid your
Massage Oil going rancid after 8-10 months.
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Recipe for Swedish Massage Oil
(Makes 100ml)
This Oil is used very much in Sweden as a good neutral base for all
skin types, except for oily skin or large pores.
- 10g Coconut Butter – Solid (Melt before adding to the Blend)
- 30ml
Olive Oil
- 30ml Sweet Almond Oil
- 23ml Thistle Oil
- 5ml Castor Oil
- 1ml/g Vitamin E Oil
- 1ml Essential Oils
Method:
- Melt the Coconut Oil in a bain-marie.
- Let it cool down a bit and while it is still liquid, stir the other
Oils in thoroughly.
- Stir in Essential Oils of your own choice.
- Bottle and keep in a cool, dark and dry place.
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