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Massage moves in a nutshell
Here are some simple general guidelines that you can apply to all the preced-
ing maneuvers and use in every massage you give:
3 Follow the contour. When in doubt about what particular move to
make, just trace the body's outlines with your fingers for a few moments,
applying pressure according to what you feel. It's better to keep moving
in a constant flow rather than stop and say something like, "Now, what
was that next maneuver again?" This can be annoying to your partner.
3 Do no harm: Don't press too hard or work on areas that may be too deli-
cate, such as sprains, strains, or scar tissues soon after injuries. Of
course, avoid all contraindicated areas and conditions. Ask for a physi-
cian's advice if there is anything that gives you concern.
3 Stay in the moment: The easiest way to look at a massage is piece by
piece. Concentrate on one movement at a time, and one area. Work on
just that leg first, and worry about what you're going to do on the arm
later. One move at a time, one after another, creates a whole massage.
A ticklish situation
Some people out there will flat-out refuse to 3. Gradually apply pressure with as broad a
even consider the possibility of getting a mas- surface as possible, for example, your
sage because they're afraid they would giggle entire palm instead of your fingers.
so hard they would fall right off the table. These
4. After you "sink down- to a depth that is not
folks consider themselves "ticklish," but what is
ticklish anymore, make your movements
a ticklish person anyway? Most of us are sensi-
slow and steady, gently rocking back and
tive when we get poked in the ribs or stroked
forth, pulsing up and down. Avoid knead-
lightly on the bottom of the feet, but some people
ing, pressing, and vibration.
claim any kind of touch at all elicits the "tickle
response." 5. Move slowly from one area to another,
staying away from the areas your partner
When someone complains of being overly tick-
reports as most seriously ticklish.
lish, you can follow these steps to help them get
over it: 6. If your partner shows any signs of discom-
fort, discontinue movement and simply
1. First, explain that surface tension in the
apply steady firm pressure.
muscles causes excessive ticklishness.
2. Explain that you are going to get "under-
neath" this layer by applying firm pressure
that affects tissues below.
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The Massage Dance
So, you may be asking yourself, what am I supposed to be doing with the rest
of my body while my hands are massaging someone? Good question. Can you
guess the right answer?
A. It doesn't matter, as long as you remain in a generally upright position
and don't fall asleep.
B. Something constructive, such as learning a foreign language with audio-
cassettes, because otherwise you're just wasting your time.
C. Absolutely nothing; stay as stiff and still as possible so you don't dis-
tract the person you are massaging.
D. Make every move a "whole body move" by engaging your entire self In
what you're doing, turning the massage into a dance.
The answer, of course, is "D." In fact, it's so important to use your entire body
properly while giving a massage that massage pros have given this practice a
name — body mechanics.
It may seem like a lot of extra effort at first, but in the long run It's easier If
you use proper body mechanics and engage your entire body while giving a
massage rather than relying on the strength of your arms and shoulders
alone. Actually, using your arms and shoulders alone is guaranteed to burn
you out really quickly. You may end up saying something like "This is WAY
too difficult." Then you may quit, offering muscle-fatigue as an excuse to your
partner after Just ten minutes.
Here are a few guidelines to help you fine-tune your body mechanics:
r 3 Root yourself•. Your movements should feel like they're coming from the
place where your body Is rooted to the earth. Don't get off balance and
lose your center of power. You need to ground yourself enough so that
It's difficult to knock you over when you're giving a massage.
3 Move from below: Whether you're standing or kneeling down next to
your partner to give the massage, generate your movements from your
legs and hips, not Just your upper body, as shown in Figure 10-13.
3 Maintain straight lines: When you apply pressure, do it in a straight line
from your shoulders down to your fingertips. Bending your joints and
then applying pressure puts extra pressure on your thumbs, wrists, and
elbows, and should be avoided. Figure 10-14 shows you what I'm talking
about.
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Figure 10-13:
If you're
standing,
keep your
knees soft
and move
from your
hips. If
you're
kneeling,
still move
from your
hips.
Figure 10-14:
The wrong
way (top)
and the right
way
(bottom) to
apply
pressure.
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3 Be kind to your thumbs and wrists: Thumbs take the biggest beating
when giving a massage, and wrists come in a close second. Be extra
careful not to rely only on these delicate instruments to do your heavy-
duty massage work. Give them a break every once in a while by using
your knuckles and forearms.
3 Lean a lot: Instead of straining your muscles to get the job done, use
your body weight. Simply LEAN on the person you're massaging by plac-
ing your center of gravity several Inches away from her, then falling
forward and supporting yourself on her body. This takes a little practice
because our civilized instincts tell us not to use other people's bodies as
counter tops. Go ahead and try it, though. It saves you a lot of work.
Massage Gizmos
Ever wander around inside one of those expensive gadget gift shops like the
Sharper Image and suddenly realize that about a quarter of the inventory is
massage gizmos of one kind or another? They have vibrating chairs, tables
with rollers built in, and devices to buzz you, press you, knead you, jab you,
and squeeze you. Seeing all this, you can definitely come to a couple very
important conclusions:
D3
Massage gizmos are a great way for manufacturers and retailers to make
lots of money.
3 Massage gizmos are a great way for you to spend lots of money.
So, naturally, the question comes to mind — are they worth it? In my opinion,
most of them are. And, fortunately, they don't all cost tons of money either.
You can get a nifty little massage device at your local pharmacy for $12.95.
There are three main reasons why people use massage gizmos:
1. They're fun and kind of neat looking.
2. They can help save your hands a lot of work.
3. They actually make you feel better.
Often, people overlook reason number 3. This is strange, because that's the
whole point of using them, right? The little gizmos can really make you feel
better, but you should also exercise the same cautions and observe the same
contraindications when using them as you do when using your fingers.
Before you go out and purchase your own massage tool, I have a little secret
for you, and you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Ready? Here it is:
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FEELS GOOD WHEN IT'S RUBBED AGAINST YOUR
BODY! THE SECRET IS NOT THE TOOL, BUT THE TOUCH.
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Whoops, I said that kind of loudly, didn't I? Maybe even some of the gizmo
makers heard. But it's true. Don't take my word for it. Go out in the backyard
and grab a smooth, palm-sized rock. Wash it off, of course. Then have some-
one take a rounded end and gently rub it against your back muscles. Wow!
Feels fantastic, doesn't it?
The truth is that you don't really need these custom-made massage doohick-
eys, but all sorts of neat designs are out there, and some of them, admittedly,
feel quite a bit better than rocks from your backyard. The ones that apply
vibration and pressure are especially effective. Everybody should have at
least one such gizmo in his or her home. But which one are you going to
choose when there are so many shapes and sizes available, as shown in
Figure 10-15? This section attempts to make a little sense of the whole mas-
sage device market for you by breaking it down into three categories:
gravity-assisted gizmos, pressure tools, and mechanical devices.
Figure 10-15:
The choice
of massage
gizmos con-
tinues to
grow.
Gravity-assisted gizmos
These tools utilize your own weight to massage various parts of your body:
*WO 3 Foot rollers: There are many of these, and most of them look basically
like wooden cigars: stubby, brown, and round. Some have grooves
etched into their surface, and others have a series of interconnected
rolling balls. By running your feet over them, you stimulate nerve end-
ings and reflexology points (see Chapter 14 for more on this). You can
even buy sandals with hundreds of tiny knobs on the soles that massage
your feet as you walk.
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3 Back rollers: Several versions are available. They look similar to the
rolling pin your mom used to use to make pie crusts. The most famous is
the Ma Roller, which has two bumps in the center that are placed on
either side of your spine. The instructions say not to roll your back
down over the knobs, but that's what everyone does, because that's
what feels the best and has the most profound effect. Be careful when
using these not to accidentally roll hard wood onto your spine itself.
3 Stretchers: We all need to stretch, and sometimes we could use a little
help from devices like the "body bridge" which is basically a curved
table that you bend over backwards on, letting gravity do the stretching.
3 Body Balancer: A massage pro named Grace Apfel in California, trying to
recreate the support and flexibility she offered clients with her own
hands, created the device shown in Figure 10-16. You fill the holes with
pegs of different heights that you adjust to your particular needs, then
lie down upon them and just relax It's a good way to let gravity do the
work in easing some of your back pains for you.
Figure 10-16:
Massage
gizmos have
become
more and
more elabo-
rate in
recent
years.
Pressure toots
All sorts of devices are available now that you rub on the body with varying
degrees of pressure. You can get them in specialty shops, but they're increas-
ingly available in more common outlets such as drug stores. Basically, they
stimulate acupressure points and trigger points. You can use them to exert
pressure on tough knots and sore spots. But be careful: The materials used in
these tools are usually hard, like stone or wood. Just a little pressure goes a
long way.
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3 Little knobby things: Many little odd-shaped items are now sold that
you're supposed to rub across your body (or somebody else's body) for
fun, pleasure, and relief from stress. Some of them even have names and
personalities, like the Happy Massager from the Tender Loving Things
Company, Inc. or the Dolphin Massager. You can even order a Handy
massage tool from the back of this book, designed by yours truly. It's a
hand-shaped instrument with a perky personality that you can use when
your own hands are too tired or not in the mood to give a massage. All of
these utilize the same simple concept: Pressing on people makes them
feel better. Try them, you'll like them.
3 "Captain Hook" devices: Ever wish you could rubberize your arms and
reach around to massage a knot in the middle of your back? That, in
essence, is what these curved devices allow you to do. You can use them
to hook onto otherwise unreachable tight spots on your posterior sur-
face. Popular brands Include the Backnobber and the Thera Cane.
3 Professional pressure tools: There are certain tools that you can only
get in massage clinics that are meant for professional use. One particular
device looks like a sharpened pencil eraser stuck into the side of a
wooden peg. Neuromuscular therapists use them to work on deep tis-
sues. If you find professional tools somewhere, you're better off not
buying them. They can cause harm if not used by skilled hands.
3 Rubbing gloves: Several brands of textured gloves are now available.
You slip them on and then apply pressure and friction over the skin. The
gloves both exfoliate the skin and stimulate nerve endings. They feel
great, too.
Mechanics! devices
There are many mechanical devices on the market that utilize electricity to
create vibration and kneading actions. They range in price from just a few
bucks to major capital investments.
3 Thumper. This is probably the best-known in its class, and its name says
it alit gives a heavy thumping action that simulates a pair of "chop-
ping" hands. Great for after workouts or to combat chronic tension, but
it ain't cheap.
3 Vibrating doohickeys: Dozens of these line the shelves, and there's
always one that has batteries and is available to test. That's because the
manufacturers know that they feel great and that you may want to take
one home when you feel it for yourself. That's a good tactic. However,
after you get home, these items tend to see more use as conversation
starters than therapeutic devices.
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3 Shiatsu massager. This type of unit has kneading lingers" built into it.
You put it behind you in a chair and lean back against it. According to
many reports, they can work wonders. Greg, a Journalist friend of mine,
swears by his. He has a back problem that is exacerbated by long hours
sitting at the computer, and he credits his Shiatsu massager for saving
his career.
3 Massage furniture: Panasonic and other well-known manufacturers have
gotten in on the massage game with electronic chairs and tables that
give you a massage while you recline on them. These are fun items to
have around the house, but the novelty often wears off pretty quickly,
and before too long you're left with a slightly odd lumpy piece of expen-
sive furniture.
The best gizmo of aft
When it comes to any of these gadgets, the bottom line Is this — they are fun,
helpful, and neat, but no amount of technology or ingenuity can create a tool
more adaptable, powerful, or sensitive than the human hand. Even the device
makers themselves know this. Living Earth Crafts, one of the largest massage
manufacturers In the world, has a slogan: "There is no substitute for the
human touch."
Tom Myers, a famed anatomy teacher and structural massage expert, agrees.
Holding his own hand up for inspection, he often comments, "Twenty-five-
million years in the making. Hard to beat that kind of engineering."
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Putting the Moves Together
In This Chapter
Setting up
D Oil's well that ends well
Massage rules
I> The massage
was recently watching an episode of the sitcom Friends on 1V, and one of
the main themes of the show concerned the effects of massage on friend-
ships and relationships. The Monica character thought she gave a great
backrub, but her boyfriend Chandler thought otherwise. The whole show
centered on how he should break the bad news to her.
We humans are sensitive creatures, and when we give something as personal
as a massage to someone else, we're making ourselves vulnerable to his or her
judgement. What if they don't like our technique? What if they don't like us?
When you give of yourself through massage, it's natural to be afraid of what
people may think and to wonder, secretly, if you're doing it right or if you're
good enough.
I think you should forget all about that stuff. Your massage abilities are not
something to be proud of, or ashamed of. Your abilities are something you
should share.
As long as you tune in and become sensitive to your partner, you can give a
good massage. The idea Is not to focus on being good, but to focus on doing
good.
If Monica had not been so proud in the beginning, she wouldn't have forced
her own concept of what she thought was good onto her boyfriend, which set
the stage for her to feel rejected and ashamed later.
Be sensitive. Time in. Do good. If you do these things, you never have time to
worry about whether you're good or not. As long as your heart Is into what
you're doing, you're guaranteed to do it the right way.
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Setting Up
First, you need to go over Just a few preliminaries to make sure you're set up
and ready to go. I assume that you've created a suitable inner chamber for
your massage experience and that you've practiced a few moves from
Chapter 10. You know what to do and what not to do, and now you just have
to get yourself ready and do it.
Table (or one?
One thing you may notice is that the massage in this chapter is being given
on the floor. It's pretty much guaranteed that you have a floor available some-
place to work on, right? But there's a good chance you don't have a massage
table like the ones the pros use. For those of you not familiar with them, mas-
sage tables are oblong, folding, padded tables. Most of them have legs of
adjustable height, like the one in Figure 11-1. These tables are great tools, and
if you get serious about massage at some point, you may want to consider
investing in one. New ones cost a few hundred dollars.
. •
Figure 11-1:
Massage
tables look
like folding,
adjustable-
°
height,
oblong,
upholstered
card tables.
The floor can be quite a comfortable place to get a massage, especially if you
add a few pillows, a sofa cushion or two, plus a sheet and towels, as you can
see in Figure 11-2.
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Chapter 11: Putting the Moves Together / 63
Rgure11-t
You can
create a
perfectly
comfortable
massage
space on
the floor.
Many massages have been given on beds, but in those cases the massage
often leads to other activities — like sleeping! That's right, it's very tempting
for the giver to just roll over and lounge around instead of working like he
should. When you do give a massage on a bed, arrange some towels near the
foot or along one edge, so that you don't have to be up on the bed yourself
the whole time you're giving the massage.
Sheets, towels, and so on
Don't use your best sheets and towels to do a massage on because the oils
and creams can leave stains and a musty oil smell behind. Also, the color
white seems to show off oil stains the most. Many spas use darker colored
linens, like green or blue, for this reason.
Other things you may want to have around include heating pads, blankets,
bottle warmers, and other such comfort-creating devices. Nothing's worse
than getting a massage and not being able to concentrate on how good it
feels because you're shivering the whole time.
*Mat It's also a good idea to have some extra pillows to use as bolsters for support
beneath your partner. Massage pros use specially made bolsters, as men-
tioned in Chapter 8, but you can use normal pillows just as effectively. If you
use one of your nice pillows, It's a good idea to cover it with a towel to keep It
from getting stained by oil.
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Oit's Well That Ends Well
Yes, it's true. Massage can be an oily endeavor. In fact, in some countries,
such as India, oil plays a major part in the whole procedure, and about half
way through a massage people in Delhi end up glistening with a layer of lubri-
cant. This is okay (as long as you have lots of towels around to sop up the
extra oil afterwards). In fact, the Indian system prescribes large amounts of
oil — usually sesame oil — on purpose for its lubricating and detoxifying
effects. The common wisdom in most other countries, however, is that you
should use just enough lubricant to, well, lubricate.
This is how you best use oil during a massage:
tNet 1. First, choose the oil (see the sidebar later in this chapter).
2. Second, make sure the oil is not cold.
When you apply cold oil to your partner's skin, it may cause her to hit
you or kick you, which is not desirable. The best way to warm the oil is
to place the bottle in hot running water for a few minutes, or use a baby
bottle warmer, until the oil is warm to the touch. Don't microwave the
oil, which can potentially overheat it, causing an equally adverse reac-
tion from your partner.
3. Cup one palm and pour a small amount of oil into it.
Ideally, you want to keep the back of your cupped palm in contact with
your partner so that you maintain a constant connection. The amount of
oil depends on the size of the area you are massaging, the amount of
body hair in the area, and the maneuvers you plan to use. You may have
to experiment a few times to get the amount right.
4. Rub your palms together for a few seconds to further warm the oil
and then glide your hands over the skin, spreading a smooth layer of
oil over the whole surface you are massaging.
The correct amount is the amount that leaves the skin lubricated, but no
puddles of oil or "greasy" spots.
Getting creamed
Skin creams and lotions area good alternative than oil, so you don't slide around so much.
to oil, and in fact many professional massage Good ones leave a lubricating layer that makes
therapists would not be caught using anything it easy to-work. A lot of pros choose a brand
else. Cream absorbs more quickly into the skin called Biotone.
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Bottle placement
There is an age-old feud that has gone on between massage therapists for
decades over where to place the oil bottle during the massage. I know that
this may seem silly to you, but you can rest assured that it's a debate taken
very seriously by otherwise intelligent adults. There are basically two
camps — those that propose placing the bottle next to the person, where it's
handy but liable to get knocked over; and those that propose keeping the
bottle out of harm's way, on the floor for example, where it's harder to reach
but less likely to get kicked or spilled. Some people go as far as to keep their
oil bottles in a specially made holster strung around their waist like a six-gun.
This gives the average massage therapist a Wyatt Earp kind of look that is
perhaps not ideal for inducing relaxation.
Where should you put the bottle of oil during a massage? In my professional
opinion, speaking as a massage therapist who's been working in the field for
almost 20 years, it doesn't really matter. Whatever's most comfortable for
you is best.
The type of bottle (and especially the cap) does matter, though. You can
make things much easier for yourself if you choose a squeeze-top type cap
that pours a tiny bit of oil at a time. Pump tops work well, too. If you use a
wide-mouth opening, chances are you may end up with oil all over the place,
especially if you have your massage area dimly lit with candles.
Your own oil blends
t%futei. You can incorporate the concepts of aromatherapy into your massage by
adding a few drops of essential oil to the oil you're already using, which is
then called the carrier oil. Typical carrier oils include grapeseed, sweet
almond, jojoba, avocado, and sesame, which are all good as a base for the
essential oils. To make your own aromatherapy oil, blend two dozen drops of
essential oil with 2 ounces of carrier oil. For added aromatherapy benefits,
place a few drops in a diffuser to fill the room you're in with the same scent
you're using for the massage, as I suggest in Chapter 9.
Table 11-1 lists the essential oils I use in my spa therapy workshops and a
description of their basic effects:
Table 11-1 Essential oils
Oil Properties
Cedar Reduces fluids in body tissues, diuretic. Warming in baths.
Clary sage Balances female hormones. Good for scalp problems.
(continued)
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Table 11-1 (continued)
Oil Properties
Eucalyptus radiata Excellent for lungs, respiratory system. Muscle tonic.
Geranium rose Balances the skin by affecting sebum. Balances emotions, too.
Juniper Calming and purifying.
Lavender Anti-bacterial (first-aid kit in a bottle), calming, good for skin.
Lemon grass Stimulates digestion. Antiseptic, detoxifies lymph. Uplifting.
Orange Mood elevator.
Peppermint Stimulates alertness. Good for headaches, colds.
Pine Pain killer. Natural deodorant.
Rose Excellent for the skin.
Rosemary Hair tonic. Astringent. Good for oily skin.
Sandalwood Grounding and relaxing. Spiritually uplifting. Aids aging skin.
Tea tree Antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial. Good for the skin.
Vetiver Grounding and calming.
Wang ylang Aphrodisiac. Relieves tension/stress. Balances dry skin.
The Rules (or Giving Massage
Just as there were some rules for receiving, there are rules for giving, too. For
the most part, these are things I've mentioned all along throughout the previ-
ous chapters, but it helps if you review them here, right before you actually
begin giving a massage.
I. Do no harm. This is the number one rule for giving a massage. Refer to
Chapter 10 and make sure you're aware of the moves that you shouldn't
make, the places that you shouldn't press, and the conditions you
shouldn't treat.
2. Think &D. Refer to Chapter 4 and try to visualize the physical struc-
tures beneath the skin that you're affecting with your hands during the
massage.
3. Use your whole body. Remember to use correct body mechanics (see
Chapter 10) in order to save your own body from overexertion while
applying just the right amount of pressure for your partner.
A
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So many oils, so little time
Walk into any bath and body shop or health food There are a few things you want to look for
store and you see at least a dozen choices in when choosing an oil:
massage oils. Which is the best one, you ask?
3 Ingredients: Check the ingredients. A
Is it the special formula designed by the spiri-
common addition to several oil blends, for
tual healer Edgar Cayce who "received" the
example, is lanolin, which comes from art
recipe while in a trance? Or is it the "mango
animal source and turns some people off.
tango" scented blend that your favorite bou-
tique down the street recently released? 3 Scent Make sure the scent is not overpow-
ering or synthetic.
Several oils available straight from the shelf in
your local grocery store are usable, if not ideal, 3 Viscosity: Everyone has his or her own pref-
for massage. Almond oil is used in spas around erence as far as the right viscosity goes.
the world, and you can use sesame oil and olive 'Thin- oils, such as mineral oil, feel a little
oil, too. But the special oils formulated just for watery and spread unevenly. This is not
massage really are better. They have more nutri- recommended. "Thick" oils like coconut
ents for the skin, and they create just the right leave a "greasy" feeling. Test a little on your
amount of lubrication. In my opinion, it's worth palm before buying to find an oil somewhere
the extra money you spend to get a high-quality in the middle of this spectrum that works
massage oil. for you.
4. Focus on the other. This is no time to be thinking about politics, sports,
the weather, or your upcoming turn to receive. As fully as you can, focus
on your partner, what she's feeling, and how you can make her feel
better.
5. Go out of your mind. After you figure out the moves, practice the tech-
nique, and focus on your partner with all your concentration, then you
can stop thinking. That's right. Let go of your extraneous thoughts, and
even your thoughts about doing a good job.
6. Get creative. Go ahead, go crazy; just let yourself feel whatever you're
feeling and go with your intuition. Want to leave one palm on your part-
ner's forehead and the other on her stomach completely motionless for
ten minutes? That's probably exactly what she needs. As long as what
you're doing Is generated from caring and commitment to your partner,
it Is going to be the right thing.
7. Let love flow. Certain people develop an ability to send a very distinct
and palpable sensation of love Into their fingers and palms. You can feel it
when they touch you. Everyone else has the potential to develop that abil-
ity. Why not use massage as an opportunity to explore your own innate
abilities to send a powerful message of caring to others through your
touch and presence? There are worse ways you could spend your time.
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The Massage
Okay, here It is, the moment you've all been waiting for. You can only talk
about it for so long without realizing that massage is not really about talking,
it's about feeling. And as Bob Marley once said, "He who feels It, knows it."
Soon, you are going to be sailing away toward hours of massage bliss. All you
have to do to get started is follow these five easy steps:
3 Cleanliness first
3 Take your positions
3 Invocation
3 The force, Luke, remember the force
3 The first touch
Cleanliness first
You're all set up, the mood is right, the lights are low, and now, before you do
anything else, there's one critical procedure you must follow before starting
the massage—wash your hands!
Good hands
What does it mean to have "good hands?" It's the you focus on your partner, the way you become
one quality that millions of massage lovers around sensitive to her, and the way you care. It's also
the world use to describe the essence of an about following some very simple guidelines,
excellent massage therapist As in,"Oh,that was which I call the "rules for giving massage: You
the best massage I ever had. You have got great can find those rules right here in this chapter.
hands." But, because that quality is so vague, it's Follow these simple principles, and you may
a little difficult to reproduce or teach to someone even go beyond havinugood hands to having
else. Good hands? What does that mean? "great hands" one day.
Having good hands, as it turns out, is not really
about your hands. It's about YOU. It's the way
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But do I have to cut my nails?
Once I was hired to present a massage work- massage school is to cut their nails, and you can
shop at a huge annual convention of nail often tell a massage pro by her extremely short
technicians (manicurists) in Detroit. I never and neatly trimmed nails.
knew so many manicurists existed before.
Does this mean you have to lop off your own
Demonstrating some basic massage moves on
dearly beloved nails in order to give a massage?
the feet of one class member, I then told them to
Not necessarily. If your husband is the only
exchange similar moves. Soon, the room was
person you're going to be massaging, and he
filled with sounds of pain and discomfort.
likes it when you run your long nails down his
These women had nails an inch and a half long. back, don't worry about cutting them. You can
Sharp nails. Some of them had holes drilled in improvise massage moves by using your palms
the ends of their nails, and miniature charm and the bottoms of your fingers, keeping your
bracelets dangled throughthem. It was impos- nails lifted •up.out of the way. However, if your
sible for them to practice massage. nails are long.andyour intention isto.get better
at massage and perform all the moves
If you have long nails, it's going to be awfully
described here to their fullest, you have some
hard for you to give a good massage. One of the
serious clipping to do in your near future.
firstthings people are told when they sign up for
Washing cleanses away dirt and grime, and it also protects you and your
partner from nasty bacteria. It's a good habit to get into.
Take your positions
To begin the massage, you and your partner both have to be in the right posi-
tions. In the routine shown in this chapter, you start with your partner lying
on her back, and you sit up near her head.
Some people are sticklers about this whole positioning issue, but I don't
believe In starting every massage in the same position every time. In fact,
starting over and over again in the same position can lead to complacency
and a boring massage. It's better to begin each massage where you are drawn
to begin by your intuition, your partner's suggestion, and your observation.
Is she all hunched over by tight back muscles? Then by all means start the
massage with her facedown, working on her back. The sequence of the mas-
sage shown in this chapter is not the only way.
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Part III: The Art of Giving Massage
Invocation
You may recall that in Chapter 5, I describe a massage I received from Wesley,
who's a native Hawaiian massage therapist and healer on the Big Island. What
I didn't describe was the prayer Wesley used to begin the massage, sitting
humbly on the floor beside me, melodiously intoning some words in
Hawaiian: "Kou makou makua deka okalani."
This invocation was meant to make both Wesley and me at one with the
source of life. He learned it from his teacher, Auntie Margaret, and she in turn
was taught it by her elders.
Although you may feel a little funny at first, it may be appropriate for you to
say a couple of words of invocation as you're about to start your massage.
They don't have to be in Hawaiian; something simple is fine, such as, "I
summon the powers of healing and wholeness to be with us during this mas-
sage." Just say them from your heart, and you get your message across.
The Force, Luke, remember the Force
Remember, you're not just dealing with a pile of flesh and bones here. Your
partner is more than a series of points to be pushed and muscles to be
kneaded. She has a magical inner spark, too. According to many massage
philosophies, especially those from the East like Shiatsu, the body is filled with
invisible pathways that are pulsing with this Inner energy, variously known as
chi, ki, pram, universal-life-forte-enemy, and the-force-Luke-remember-the-force.
You can give a better massage if you simply stop for a moment at the begin-
ning of the massage and focus on that force that exists within you and your
partner. Remember the scenes from Star Wars when Luke was zeroing in on
the Death Star using nothing but his intuition? The voice of his mentor was
there in his head all along urging him to "remember the force." Tune Into
your own inner guidance as you begin the massage, and you may surprise
yourself with how well you do.
The first touch
This is the crucial moment, when all of your preparation and practice is put
to the test. Ninety-five percent of what your partner needs to know about
your massage is completely obvious in the first split second, with the very
first touch. At this juncture, you go forward into the realm of being and doing
rather than thinking, and a new thing is created, the massage.
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Chapter 11: Putting the Moves Together
Reaching both hands down, place them gently and consciously on your part-
ner's back, as if you were touching a sleeping child and trying not to wake
her. Put one up on the top of the spine near the head, and the other down by
the base of the spine. Then Just touch for a moment, with no need to move.
You can actually summon the "force, Luke," and say your invocation at this
time, too. (See Figure 11-3.)
Figure 11.3:
After you
summon the
forces
w thin,
reach out
and touch
someone.
Hold this position for a minute, with your hands on your partner's spine,
simply communicating your presence and loving intentions.
Then you can begin.
Note: You may notice that I haven't included any stretches in this chapter.
That's because I explain stretches in the sports massage section of Chapter
16. This doesn't mean you can't use them during your full body massage, too,
though. In fact, I highly recommend stretches. After you master some of the
stretches, sprinkle them liberally throughout your massage for optimum effect.
The back
The back is a great place to begin a massage because many people equate
massage with a "back rub." Although it looks large and solid, the back is actu-
ally prone to lots of little aches and pains, and much of the tension and
everyday complaints people have can be found there. Thus the famous
phrase, "Oh, my aching back." And finally, the back is the least vulnerable
area to touch someone, psychologically speaking, so people are more likely
to relax and "let you in" when you begin there.
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Part III: The Art of Giving Massage
1. Without moving your hands from the position they're in, simply begin to
rock your partner gently from side to side, by using the tailbone as a
kind of handle for the heel of your hand. When you get good at it, you
can extend your rocking maneuvers further up the back and down onto
the buttocks and even the legs. The lc:Jetts to get a wave-like motion
going through your partner's body so that she starts to melt into the
floor.
When you want to get someone out of the mood they were Just in, and
into the mood of getting a massage, nothing beats rocking.
2. People either love skin rolling, or they really don't,l ike it at all, so you
have to experiment a little and ask your partner how it feels. Start by
getting a grasp on the skin at the base of the neck between your thumb
and your first two fingers, then "walk" this roll down the back, keeping it
between your fingers the whole time. This takes-some practice, so start
with a partner who doesn't mind playing guinea pig.
3. Use your fingertips to "hook" into the muscles alongside the spine near
the tailbone. Then start vibrating your hand while dragging it with
medium pressure back up toward your partner's head, as in Figure 114a.
Repeat this three times.
4. This long gliding movement spreads oil and further warms up the entire
area. See the section on oil earlier in this chapter for the proper oil-
spreading technique. Glide down with both hands on the muscles` on
•
either side of the spine, with your fingers Eiointed in toward the middle.
When you reach the base of the spine, swivAyour fingers toward the
outside And glide back up as sho4rn.in Figure 11 Repeat this gliding
founQr five times, using light pressure at first andthen slightly firmer
pressure.
Ass
5. When you reach the base of 074 spine. on thtfourth of fifth glide, stop
and apply circular rubbing all•bverthe sackn, or tail bone, as shown in
Figure 114c. You may notice that when your partner is lying down this
bone is tilted in such a way tliNt presents a relatively flat surface, so
you can lean your.weight forwSrd'from your partner's head and apply
pressure to it.
6. For this next move, start with your thumbs at the top of your partner's
back, one thumb on either side of the spine. Then push your thumbs
down along the "ridge" of the erector spinae muscles very skw/y•with
medium to firm pressure, as in Figure 11-4d. This should take 30 seconds
or more. When you get to a tight "spot," slow down and let your thumbs
sink into it even more slowly, making a mental note to revisit this area
later. Remember to use proper body mechanics so you don't overstrain
your joints while pushing. After you reach the base of the spine, glide
your way back to the top.
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