Most people assume that you require a special, innate talent to be able to provide a great massage. This is not necessarily true! Anyone can give a great massage if they learn the key aspects and techniques of massage.

It is always very important to start a massage with light pressure - this lets the client get used to your touch and feel comfortable and safe with you. The client's body will generally let you know when to go deep. The tissue warms, softens, and relaxes slowly. As you notice this, you can begin to increase the pressure that you are applying. Remember to use your body weight and not your muscle strength. This feels better to both you and the client and you can work a lot easier by not tiring out your smaller muscles.

The rate of your strokes can do different things. For example, a slow stroke will relax and sedate the client and will help you get through the superficial muscles and right to the deep muscles. A fast stroke on the other hand, will invigorate and tone the muscle. A medium stroke will do a little of both.

Effleurage

Effleurage are long, light strokes. They are executed by applying light pressure with the palm of your hand while moving it over the surface of the skin.

This stroke works on the lymphatic and blood circulatory systems by actually pushing them. Not only are nutrients moved in and metabolic wastes such as lactic acid and other ions moved out of the superficial tissues, but the stroke's direction also helps the veins move the blood and lymph back to the heart.

In the legs and arms, effleurage should be done from the distal point (a relative point furthest from the heart) to the proximal point (a relative point closest to the heart) ie. knee to hip or elbow to shoulder.

Executed with any part of the hand or forearm, effleurage starts and ends your massage.

Petrissage

Petrissage is applied deeper than effleurage and is more specific to an area. Petrissage squeezes the blood out from deeper structures, relaxes muscle fibers, and warms the muscle fiber through body friction and from the increased flow of blood.

Types of petrissage include kneading, grasping and lifting which all involve some form of squishing the muscle between the fingers and palm. Petrissage is effective for muscle spasm, as it loosens the spasm to let the blood in. Petrissage is great to use of soft structures, but is not good for massaging bony areas like the elbow or the knee.

Trigger Point Work

Trigger point work is a great way to loosen chronic tight holding patterns of muscle ie. lifted shoulders. Trigger points are areas of muscle that are tight, sensitive, and painful. When pressure is applied to a trigger point, the accumulated pain will radiate to other areas.

Start by using light pressure to find the trigger point, then increase the pressure until the client's pain threshold has been reached. Do not press in too deep and quickly. If you work the trigger point correctly, you will release the muscle holding and you will break the pain cycle so the tissue can get blood and nutrients to heal and relax itself. The pressure should be applied for about 30 to 45 seconds and should be lightly and gently released.

Other aspects relating to massage techniques include friction massage and range of motion techniques. These are often provided by a knowledgeable physical therapist.

Can you learn how to massage effectively?

SURE YOU CAN!

Buried deep within all of our hands is a very special talent just waiting to be unleashed. It's your ability touch, but in a very new way. If you would love to be able to give an amazing massage that will leave your partner spell-bound, consider going to your local community college, pick up some books on massage from your local library, ask a professional to give you some tips or simply use an online resource like learn-massage-online.com which offers very simple online step-by-step, massage video lessons.

Learning how to massage is a skill that will last you a lifetime. Within a very short time period, you will be able to give a massage that easily melts away stress, tension and tight muscles.

Learn-massage-online is provided by one of the leading massage therapist instructors in the country, Robert Sigler. It is easy to learn, highly effective & very affordable. There are also countless other products available to help you master the art and science of massage.

Just imagine being able to...

Whether you decide to take a course in massage at your local community centre or a certified school of massage, or simply purchase an online course or a collection of easy to read books on massage, you will certainly be on your way to being able to provide a great massage for your loved ones. Enjoy the journey and don't forget to get a massage done on YOURSELF once in a while!