Deep Tissue vs. Firm Pressure

There seems to be some misunderstanding around the difference between deep tissue and firm pressure, for massage therapy.  A lot of it is subjective.  Personally, here is the main difference, in my opinion and my personal massage business:

You can have a firm pressure Swedish massage, you can also have a firm pressure deep tissue massage.  However, deep tissue includes trigger point therapy, active/passive stretching, tender point release, myofascial therapy, cupping and any other modality where the muscles and tissues are worked on at a deeper level.

Knowing the human anatomy and kinesiology is a must, when trying to facilitate healing on a deeper level with clients.  Knowing energy balancing and reiki is also helpful, as we are all made of energy.  Disruptions in a client's energy field, can manifest into the physical body.  As any client of mine would tell you, as I have told them, everything is connected!

The goal of deep tissue work, is not to make you hurt for days after your massage appointment, but to help improve or reconnect your brain/muscle disconnection, thereby reducing the pain cycle.  You may have some discomfort during the massage, but you should all around feel better afterwards. If you are feeling pain in the session, you need to speak up during the session.  Don't assume the massage therapist knows best.  You know best, you know your body better than anyone else.  I like to describe the sensation of "hurts so good", as in a relief of the tight muscles.  No pain, no gain is NOT my motto!

I'd also like to reiterate here that massage therapists do not fix anything.  We are merely helpful facilitators in your body's own innate healing.  Sometimes it just needs a little help along the way of repair.