Swedish Massage is a classic style of bodywork. Also called Western massage, it is the most popular and familiar massage method being practiced today. Swedish massage consists of manual manipulations on the muscles and connective soft tissue of the body for the purpose of relaxation, rehabilitation, and health maintenance. It is comprised of five basic strokes and their variations: effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), friction (cross fiber), percussion (rhythmic tapping), and vibration.