Lets start with the basics

    So the most popular and most asked for modality would have to be Swedish. It is the most basic massage and also very relaxing. You can rarely go wrong asking for a Swedish and it is really good for putting your body at ease. However, if you have had a Swedish before and it didn't really do the trick, it could have been for a number a reasons like your therapist wasn't having the best day, they used too little or too much pressure and didn't ask if the pressure was alright, or the smell was off; you can't always have the perfect massage. So what I recommend to having a really great massage is to make sure you communicate with your therapist on what you want and your needs and what you are looking for in this massage whether it's to relax or to just get rid of all the knots in your body.
    If you're wondering what a Swedish actually is, it's basically soft, soothing strokes along different parts of the body. A breakdown of what a Swedish would consist of would be the beginning strokes which are used more for spreading lotion, then the grabbing/pinching strokes that shouldn't hurt, then a fast friction movement to cause heat and bring life to the skin, followed by a little shaking vibration to align the tissues and fibers ending with a little bit of tapotements or as what you've seen as karate chopping. Therapists will use these different techniques on the back, legs, arms, feet, hands, neck, and shoulders. The order is never the same and all therapists have their own techniques. Work on the head is separate from a Swedish but can usually be added on. This is what you should expect from a basic Swedish.

First things first

       O.K., so you're looking to get a massage, but don't know where to start; that's where I come in. Depending on what you're looking for will determine the kind of massage you want. Like for example, if you just want to relax and nod off for an hour, then you'd want a Swedish, but if you can only relax with deep pressure, then you'd want a Deep Tissue or Deep Swedish which is exactly the same as a Swedish, only with firmer pressure.
       Now, people usually charge extra for this, including myself, because of the added effort, so if you don't want to pay extra or aren't sure on whether you like deep pressure-I can't stand pressure myself- then you should probably stick with a regular Swedish. If you're looking for something a little more clinical, say, you want your hip aligned without going to the chiropractor, then you'd want Muscular Structural, which is not at all relaxing but will help your hip go back into place. So that's the basics, I'll be sure to post more about the different modalities you can ask for.