Swedish Massage is the most widely recognised and commonly used category of massage. The techniques vary from light to vigorous using five styles of strokes. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fibre or with the fibres) and vibration/shaking.
A deep tissue massage is not a ‘hard’ massage. There is no definitive line between a ‘regular’ massage and deep tissue work. It is a technique where by the therapist uses their understanding of the deep tissue layers of your body to work with the tissue/muscles rather than into them in order to relax, lengthen short and tight muscles to release tension and holding patterns in the body.