Shadowing Practice: Swedish Massage Therapy vs. Deep Tissue Massage Techniques, Back & Full Body Work Jen Hilman - Learn English Speaking with Video

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new videos every day life wisdom psyche truth massage hi I'm Jen Hillman

and something I'm going to show you guys today is the difference between Swedish massage

and deep tissue massage a lot of times these two techniques will be used in combination

because they really complement each other very well but

But there are some differences in the approach that you take and the effect on the body.

So let's go ahead and get started.

I'll just use a little bit of oil to work on the back.

Generally speaking, Swedish massage is used to stimulate circulation,

to help relax the body

and is usually characterized by long continuous fluid movements

so a Swedish technique is used to apply oil to the skin for example

so using long strokes with steady pressure across the entire surface of the part that I'm

working.

Swedish massage is a great way to start to warm up the muscle tissue and helps to improve circulation in the area,

really helping to flush out the arteries and veins

that are carrying the blood it also helps to bring more oxygen to any tight muscles

so just using these long strokes all the way

across her back just helping her to relax

and allowing her body to become accustomed to my touch so

applying the oil in this way is pretty standard for any deep tissue or Swedish massage.

So there's some other Swedish techniques that you can use.

One is called petrissage where it's a form of kneading.

So you actually knead the tissue back and forth.

So across her back I can do the left side

and then the right side just kneading back and forth so I'm using a steady pressure but it's not extremely deep

Petressage can also be used in a localized area, just working the shoulders for example.

This is a place where a lot of people carry tension.

So you can just work one area or you can work more generally a larger area.

Another great Swedish technique is using the flat part of the knuckles, not the edges of the knuckles,

that can be too deep and sensitive.

So using the flat parts of the knuckles,

you can move your hands all the way down on either side of the spine in one long continuous stroke.

Making circles right at the tops of the hips is also

a really great way to target it another tight area for a lot of people

so again just running the flat part of the knuckles down the spine

And making circles at the tops of the hips.

So by now your partner is probably feeling pretty relaxed

and comfortable on the table

and by working the Swedish techniques in this way you have

had a chance to identify where there might be some tension or tightness in your partner's body.

So this is a good time to start working some of the deep tissue techniques.

So deep tissue really just refers to an approach where you start to access the deeper layers of muscles.

This is where you'll start to identify knots and tight constricted areas of tension.

So I'll work into her shoulders because it is an area where a lot of people deal with tension.

So just using a slightly firmer pressure I can go in with my thumbs and start to work a more isolated area.

And as I work into this area, I'm noticing little knots, little bumps,

places where the tissue is not soft.

It's kind of hard and tight.

So these are the areas where she's holding tension.

And it's kind of hard to show on a video because it's something that I'm feeling.

So as you practice these techniques, it's really important that you tune in to your partner's body

and be aware of what you feel so one way

that I like to use deep tissue is to identify those knots

or identify a tight place and use a firm steady pressure right in

that area and you can also ask your partner does that feel pretty tight,

is that sensitive and it's also good to just check in with the pressure to make sure

that you're not hurting them because sometimes these areas can be really sensitive

and once I feel a little release I

can move into another area like I said everybody's body is different

so the sensations

that you'll notice are all going to be different some people

have really crunchy spots where it feels like you're running your

fingers over gravel those areas I like to use a little

bit of vibration actually vibrating the area with a steady firm pressure.

This helps to bring blood into the area, really helps to flood the area with blood that has new oxygen,

white blood cells, red blood cells.

All of these help to repair tissues and improve circulation.

And as this starts to loosen up, I can actually work even deeper into the tissue now and

you

can use these techniques just identifying knots all over the back

but especially in the shoulders between the shoulder blades at the

tops of the shoulders you'll find a lot of knots for most people

so just wherever you find those little tight spots just hone in on that area using a steady firm pressure.

Sometimes when people are really tight and have some knots, the knot is hard to isolate.

It'll kind of slip to one side or the other.

That is an indicator to you that it's an area that's really tight.

So just try and stay patient and stay focused

and really try to isolate that tight spot so you can help it to release and relax.

So that's one way to use deep tissue techniques.

Another thing I like to do is to use my elbow and forearm.

This is a great way to work the way all the

way down the spine as people carry a lot of tension in the erector muscles.

So it's important to note if you are choosing to use your elbow

that you want to stay either on the left or right side of the spine.

Using your elbow directly on the vertebrae feels terrible don't do

that we really want to work into the muscle tissue along either side of the spine

so I go in with my forearm first just to make a connection

and I'm using a firm pressure here

but I'm not digging into the tissue again even though we're

working deeply the point is still relaxation you want your partner to feel comfortable

so working nice

and slow as I make my way down the spine it's like squeezing a tube of toothpaste

so it's literally squeezing lactic acid and and toxins out of the tissue,

making way for fresh blood.

And you may notice other places where your partner feels tight along the back,

so it's It's important that you're not in any rush, not trying to push your own agenda,

but really just trying to work with what you're picking up from your partner's body.

And as I reach the base of the spine and start to make contact with the top of her hip bone,

I bring the pressure less in my elbow and more into the forearm

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so that I can continue moving past her hip bone up onto the sacrum.

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And using a steady downward pressure towards her feet,

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she's actually able to get a stretch along the low back.

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And then just gently sliding my forearm off of her back, I can return my hands to the top.

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So once I come all the way back up to the top of her shoulder,

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I can just use my fingers to run along the side of her neck,

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just getting those muscles along the edge of the spine all the way up to the head.

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This gives a nice complete feeling

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so these are just a few of some of my favorite techniques

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that I use a lot of the time so

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if you go ahead and favorite this video

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and leave a thumbs up then you can come back

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and watch it again and work your forearm down the other side of the back

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and give yourself a chance to practice these Swedish and deep tissue techniques

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and I'll be making more videos covering this topic of Swedish versus deep tissue massage.

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We'll be covering other areas of the body as well.

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So subscribe to the Psyche Truth channel so you can have access to my full library of videos.

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And to learn more about me and my practice, visit my website, jenhillmantherapeutictouch .com.

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Leave me a comment, leave me a thumbs up, come back and watch again soon.

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Thanks.

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Thank you.

121

Thank you.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 121 sentences and 1475 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:16. The speaker talks slowly, about 91 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
tissue noun	/ˈtɪʃ.(j)u/	Thin, woven, gauzelike fabric.
technique noun	/tɛkˈniːk/	The practical aspects of a given art, occupation etc.; formal requirements.
spine noun	/spaɪn/	A series of bones situated at the back from the head to the pelvis of a human, or from the head to the tail of an animal, enclosing the spinal cord and…
massage noun	/məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/	The action of rubbing, kneading or hitting someone's body, to help the person relax, prepare for muscular action (as in contact sports) or to relieve aches.
knot noun	/nɑt/	A looping of a piece of string or of any other long, flexible material that cannot be untangled without passing one or both ends of the material through its…
muscle noun	/ˈmʌs.əl/	A contractile form of tissue which animals use to effect movement.
steady adjective	/ˈstɪdi/	Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
tension noun	/ˈtɛnʃən/	The condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other.
relax verb	/ɹɪˈlæks/	To make something loose.
elbow noun	/ˈɛlboʊ̯/	The joint between the upper arm and the forearm.
sensitive adjective	/ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/	Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses.
thumb noun	/ˈθʌm/	The shortest and thickest digit of the hand that for humans has the most mobility and can be made to oppose (moved to touch) all of the other fingers.
circulation noun	/ˌsɝkjʊˈleɪʃən/	The act of moving in a circle, or in a course which brings the moving body to the place where its motion began.
isolate verb	/ˈaɪ.sə.leɪt/	To set apart or cut off from others.
finger noun	/ˈfɪŋɡɚ/	A slender jointed extremity of the human hand, (often) exclusive of the thumb, and the corresponding part, irrespective of including a thumb, in many other…

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
come back verb		To return to a place.
go ahead verb	/ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/	To proceed with; to begin.
go in with verb		To commit to something with; to partner with.
run along verb		To leave; to make one's way somewhere else.
warm up verb	/ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/	To become warmer.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 22 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: thumb /ˈθʌm/, toothpaste /ˈtuθpeɪst/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: tissue /ˈtɪʃ.(j)u/, massage /məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/, tension /ˈtɛnʃən/, circulation /ˌsɝkjʊˈleɪʃən/, rush /ɹʌʃ/
Long words — get the stress right: circulation /ˌsɝkjʊˈleɪʃən/, psychology /saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, indicator /ˈɪn.dɪˌkeɪ.tə(ɹ)/, characterize /ˈkɛɹəktəɹaɪz/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like tissue, technique, spine.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Swedish Massage Therapy vs. Deep Tissue Massage Techniques, Back & Full Body Work Jen Hilman - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?