Is aromatherapy massage similar to Swedish?

[eevans1]

Hi,
I am training in aromatherapy which will be fairly advanced by end of the course. I am wondering how much difference there is between Swedish Body Massage and Aromatherapy Massage? I am also wondering if Swedish massage would be worth learning. It has been suggested to me that they are too similar to warrant paying for the VTCT level 3 swedish massage course.

Your thoughts would be appreaciated,
Thankyou,
Ellie

[cola]

Is it the Micheline Arcier massage routine that you've learnt or some other aromatherapy routine? If it's some other, it's probably pretty similar to Swedish, if it is th Micheline Arcier routine, a lot of it is similar to Swedish, and a lot of it is lymphatic moves, some polarity, bit of accupressure, bit of reflexology..... I'd recommend go for more lymphatic training or a bit more sports massage rather than Swedish.

[ChrisRams]

I did both Swedish and Aromatherapy on the VTCT L3 course. Aromatherapy is much gentler - more effleurage, kneading etc, less or no petrissage and deep tissue work. Some Shiatsu or acupressure points in there too. Now I tend to use Swedish techniques in the aromatherapy if I need to, so I'd say learn them both - it gives you more tools in your kitbag.

[Jinx]

Hi Ellie
It was ages ago but I did Swedish first then an aromatherapy course. Classic aromatherapy massage I learned was quite gentle (theory was that the oils did the work) not much kneading & no hacking or cupping. In my experience clients love the oils (and so do I) but most prefer a more robust massage.

Not sure you need to take a whole swedish course though as much of it is similar. Might be worth doing a swap with a swedish trained therapist to see what you think. I agree with Cola - something like Sports Massage might broaden your skills more and be more useful.

[JoJo2504]

Originally Posted by ChrisRams

I did both Swedish and Aromatherapy on the VTCT L3 course. Aromatherapy is much gentler - more effleurage, kneading etc, less or no petrissage and deep tissue work. Some Shiatsu or acupressure points in there too. Now I tend to use Swedish techniques in the aromatherapy if I need to, so I'd say learn them both - it gives you more tools in your kitbag.

I do much the same as Chris and definitely agree with the last statement

[eevans1]

Hi,
Thanks for the replies.
The routine we have learnt is one from the institute/ association of advanced practitioners (can't remember it's exact name.) However as I am doing a higher ed course we will be learning a new routine next year in the advanced aromatherapy module. I believe that the new routine will be similar to the Arcier routine and it will be contain deeper massage movements and more acupressure points.
The people in my class that have also done the vtct swedish massage have said that the routines are very similar in terms of how deep the movements go, but that the aromatherapy routine does not contain hacking and cupping. I have learnt some cupping and hacking from learning Indian Head Massage.
I am therefore not sure of the benefits of spending £350 and a year of my time learning swedish body massage if it is that similar so I wanted other peoples opinions as well as my classmates.
Thanks again for the replies

[JoJo2504]

Aromatherapy is soft tissue massage whereas Swedish is a bit deeper, it's another string to your bow. As said before you can adapt to what your client needs.

[cola]

Yes, yes, yes, do another course to add more tools to use in treatments! You'll most likely pick up Swedish much too easily, find you are quite familiar with a lot of it and wonder why you bothered.

If you're going to do another course, you've got the lighter styles from the aromatherapy training. Sports massage will give you a better understanding of how to get more thoughly than Swedish, you might not do a sports massage ever again after you finish, but you will be able to include sports massage techniques when required and some will almost always be required, it's the nature of modern life, either bad shoulders and neck from posture in front of computer screens, or lower back, or dodgey knees. Add essential oils into a massage that has the sports massage moves as customised for the client as they present, and you will have a very stong base to treat from, from sporty to light with a bit of accupressure, lymphatic etc.

Lymphatic drainage is light work, but incredibly effective, though it tends to be a much smaller market.

If you're young, do the sports massage, if you're older and sports massage sounds a bit too much work, go for lymphatic, more chance to sit down

If you want something more entertaining (I wanted to scream by the end of my aromatherapy course with 3 of this this side, 3 of this that side, then 3 of that, then 3 of the other, I was bored silly) do something like lomi lomi, or No Hands, No Hands will get you in deeper without hurting yourself and you'll pick up a lot from it, lomi lomi is great.

Having said all of that, I still do a lot of the aromatherapy facial moves in any treatment I include the face in (with a lot of Ayurvedic marma point massage). I do a lot of the aromatherapy body massage moves on pregnant clients, they usually need something lighter and more lymphatic stuff. I use some of the aromatherapy moves in every treatment as the soothing calming warn up, relaxing after a bit of sports type work and wind down at the end.