When you climb on the table for a traditional feel-good rubdown, the technique is most likely to be Swedish massage. This is the primary technique taught in massage schools and is the most popular form of bodywork practiced in the West. Swedish massage employs soft strokes on the more delicate and bony structures of the body, such as the face, hands and feet, and stronger strokes over thickly muscled areas that retain stress, such as the neck and shoulders. The careful attention to the amount of pressure makes Swedish massage great for relaxation.

Next: Shiatsu