Swedish massage, at the studio in NW6 or your door

What it is

Swedish massage is the full body treatment most people picture when they think of massage. It uses long, flowing strokes, kneading and gentle stretching, working at a steady pace from the back and shoulders through to the legs, arms, hands and neck. The intention is to slow the body down rather than to break up deep tissue, so the pressure stays medium and even throughout.

It is the treatment to book when you want an hour of calm and general release rather than firm work on one problem area.

What it helps with

People book Swedish massage after a long working week, before or after travel, or when sleep has been poor. It suits tension that is spread across the whole body rather than concentrated in one place, and it is a good choice if you find firmer massage too intense. Most people are noticeably calmer within the first fifteen minutes.

It is a treatment for general wellbeing and comfort. It does not treat medical conditions and is not a substitute for care from a doctor or physiotherapist.

What happens during the treatment

Setup takes about ten minutes. You lie face down to begin, properly draped, with only the area being worked uncovered.

The first few minutes spread oil and warm the back with broad, slow strokes. From there the treatment moves in an unhurried sequence: ten to fifteen minutes across the back and shoulders, then the backs of the legs, then a turn onto your back for the fronts of the legs, the arms and hands, and finally the neck, shoulders and scalp. The pressure stays consistent, and the rhythm is steady rather than varied. In 60 minutes the whole body is covered once. In 120 minutes the pace slows further, with longer on the back and neck and time for a second pass over anywhere that is still holding.

Who it suits, and who it does not

It suits you if you want to feel calmer and looser overall, if firm pressure is not what you are after, and if the tension you carry is general rather than stuck in one spot. It works well as a regular monthly treatment for winding down.

It is not the right choice if you have a specific, stubborn area that needs firm attention. For that, book deep tissue massage or, if you train, sports and recovery massage. Tell him in advance about allergies, skin conditions, recent injury or surgery, so the oil and technique can be adjusted.

How it differs from the other treatments

Deep tissue is firmer, slower and focused on problem areas. Sports and recovery is built around training and includes more stretching. The back, neck and shoulders treatment is a shorter, upper-body-only option. The two-hour massage can be booked as Swedish throughout when you simply want more time.

How often to book it

There is no tenderness afterwards to recover from, so it can be booked as often as suits you. Once a month is a common rhythm for keeping general tension down. Some clients book it weekly during a demanding period, or the evening before a flight.

What to expect afterwards

Most people feel relaxed and a little heavy straight after, and clear-headed once they have had some water and a short rest. There is usually no soreness the next day. Sleep is often easier on the night of the treatment. If you have had a large amount of oil used, leave washing your hair until the morning so the scalp work lasts.

Price and duration

Swedish massage is available at the studio in NW6 and as a mobile visit. At the studio it is £70 for 60 minutes or £120 for 120 minutes. As a visit it is £85 and £145, including table, linens and hypoallergenic oil, with travel included within five miles of the studio. See the treatments page for travel further out and for block bookings.