One or Three Custom 90-Minute Massages at Be Here Now Massage and Body Work (Up to 54% Off)
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Massage therapist assuages achy muscles with strokes tailored from therapeutic and relaxation modalities
If deprived of massages, your muscles will gradually contract and twine together until they spell out the phone number of the nearest hospital. Answer the cry for help with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $79 for one custom 90-minute massage ($160 value) $220 for three custom 90-minute massage ($480 value)
Clients may choose up to three modalities, including therapeutic, reflexology, relaxation, sports and recovery, energy work, prenatal and hot stone massages. The therapist tailors the strokes in accordance with the client's individual needs.
Effleurage: The Foundation of Relaxation
Swedish massage relies largely on a technique known as effleurage. Learn how it zaps stress with Groupon's peek at this basic stroke.
Effleurage is the glue that holds a Swedish massage together. Its smooth, gliding strokes may not deliver much pressure—the word itself is taken from a French verb that means "to touch lightly"—but the technique simultaneously soothes the nerves, boosts circulation, and allows the massage therapist to identify problem zones that need extra attention. Because effleurage doubles as an assessment tool, many therapists begin each massage with it, usually by gliding their open palms lightly across the body to feel for tense spots and potholes while acclimating the client to their touch. This form of effleurage is known as "superficial," and it serves a soothing prelude, epilogue, and transitional movement between deeper, more focused kneading.
A slightly more forceful style of effleurage is known as "deep effleurage." This form still uses gliding strokes, only with more pressure, as the therapist aims to stretch out the muscle tissue and the web of connective tissue that covers it. Therapists will generally direct the first part of their deep-effleurage stroke towards the heart, finishing with a lighter return stroke away from it. Not only does this warm up tissues for deeper muscle work, but it can also speed up the movement of blood and lymph fluid. This boost in circulation can help drain fluid from injured areas, reducing painful pressure while also releasing endorphins that further relax the entire body.