Esalen massage therapy is a variation of the traditional Swedish massage. Esalen massage therapy does use many of the long flowing strokes that have become known as Swedish massage technique, but the focus and goals of Esalen massage therapy are what sets it apart from Swedish massage. The following are the main noticeable differences between Esalen massage and Swedish massage:
The goal of the massage
therapy ~
Swedish massage has slightly different goals than Esalen massage. Swedish
massage is focused on relieving pain and increasing mobility in specific
muscles, joints, etc. Esalen, while also trying to accomplish this, is focused
more on the body as a whole, and tries to harmonize the entire body, mind and
spirit while also helping the client live more comfortably in his or her own
body.
The philosophy of the
massage therapy ~
Swedish
massage was developed as a part of gymnastics, focused on the body and the
effect of the massage on the body, while Esalen massage was developed as a part
of Gestalt psychotherapy, focusing on the emotional and spiritual healing
involved in the massage as well as the physical manipulation.
During an Esalen massage therapy
session, the patient will be nude and minimally draped with a sheet or towel. Esalen massage is mostly made up of long smooth
strokes, but many Esalen massage therapists will combine these with a variety of
techniques from many other forms of massage, as well. Exactly what will happen
during the Esalen massage session varies greatly
from person to person. The practitioner will base what they do on the patient’s
reactions (physically as well as verbally) to the massage, trying to achieve the
maximum amount of healing and comfort possible.
Healing is achieved through Esalen massage therapy in a few different ways. The most obvious is that the massage itself increases circulation throughout the body, which in turn allows the body to fend off disease and illness, as well as begin its own healing process. Another way that Esalen massage therapy provides healing is the healing of both body and mind that can only be achieved through touch. Touch promotes mental well-being, therefore emotional healing is a side effect of the touch that is used during Esalen massage therapy.