The modern day term Swedish massage is accredited to the work of one man called Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839). Ling a teacher of modern languages and elected member of the Swedish General Medical Association developed a form of Gymnastics and fencing to aid his own recovery from rheumatism and asthma.
Ling travelled extensively around Europe and Asia and it is thought that he learned massage from the Chinese before returning to Stockholm and opening the Royal Gymnastic Central Institute where he combined his knowledge of exercise and movement with massage and received considerable acclaim for his pioneering work.
Today, Swedish massage is accepted as a generic term Worldwide and refers to the most commonly accepted and well-known form of massage treatment available.
Massage treatments have evolved into many sub-divisions one such example being the relatively modern addition of fragranced oils combined with Ling’s massage techniques, which became aromatherapy.
Most massage therapists of the western world will all have trained in Ling’s techniques as it forms the modern basis from which nearly all other massage therapies have evolved.
Initial treatment time required is one hour
Subsequent treatment times 30 minutes for back, neck and shoulders
One hour for full body.
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