Final answer:
In a general massage, the number of gliding strokes applied may start with 3 to 5 minutes of warming up and can be interspersed with other techniques throughout the session to ensure relaxation and circulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a general massage, the number of gliding strokes applied between other strokes can vary. However, a common practice is to use gliding strokes, which are also known as effleurage, as both an introductory and concluding technique. Typically, massage therapists may start with 3 to 5 minutes of gliding strokes to warm up the muscles before proceeding to other techniques such as kneading or percussion.
These are then often interspersed with additional gliding strokes to provide smooth transitions and to ensure continuous relaxation and blood circulation throughout the session. A general guideline could be to perform a few gliding strokes after every few minutes of other massage techniques, depending on the client's needs and the therapist's method.