With so many massage modalities available, it’s hard to know which is best. But don’t feel overwhelmed. Minneapolis massage therapists are happy to tailor bodywork to clients’ concerns. That being said, before scheduling a massage at one of the many spas in Minneapolis—of which we have a few suggestions—you may want to brush up on two of the most common massage styles.

Swedish massage

Swedish massage combines four distinct motions—effleurage, petrissage, friction, and tapotement—to help relieve tension and stimulate blood flow, thereby energizing the body and soothing the mind. The four phases are easy enough to distinguish. Effleurage refers to the smooth, gliding strokes that help relax soft tissues at the beginning of the treatment. The squeezing, rolling, or kneading gestures of petrissage follow. Deep, circular motions make up the friction phase, in which layers of tissue rub against one another to boost circulation. Massages conclude with tapotement, or rapid percussive taps performed with cupped hands, fingers, or the edge of the hand.

Where to visit: 

• All the massage therapists at Healthy Touch Massage & Wellness receive extensive training in Swedish massage techniques. 
• Several team members at The Doorway for Bodywork and BetterHealth specialize in Swedish massage. 
• Swedish massages are among Genuine Massage & Spa’s services.
  

Deep-tissue massage

Deep-tissue massage focuses on more specific concerns. Due to stress and other factors, the layer of connective tissue that surrounds the body's muscles—the fascia—often tenses up, resulting in muscle knots and a painful buildup of lactic acid. Deep-tissue massage aims to warm up the fascia and release the accumulated toxins. To achieve this, the massage therapist’s fingers, thumbs, and elbows move along the body in slow, deliberate strokes, applying pressure to penetrate beyond superficial muscle layers. Although the intensity can produce some discomfort, deep-tissue massage should still be relaxing. The goal, after all, is to relieve the tension between muscles and their weird roommate, the skeleton.

Where to visit: 

• InTouch Massage’s clients are big fans of massage therapist Danielle Standfield’s deep-tissue massages. 
• Phil Zuber—the licensed massage therapist behind Make Your Day Massage—counts deep-tissue massages among his specialties. 
• Located on the second floor of the Hotel Ivy, a Starwood Hotel, Ivy Spa Club offers a discount on deep-tissue massages every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.