How to Massage - General Guidelines

There are a lot of different techniques that can be used during a massage session. The range is from the most delicate touch to deep-tissue work. Knowing how to perform these techniques is the key to a successful massage.
This is the description of the most common strokes in a massage. If you master these moves you are a lot closer to become a professional. Don't forget though, there is a lot more to massage than the technique.

Guidelines for Bodywork

• All strokes must be varied in speed and pressure according to your client's needs. For example, if you want to relax your client you will perform slow strokes, on the contrary if you want to stimulate your client you need to choose the faster moves.
  But to be honest, for most of the subjects, slow and steady will do it. The slower the better.
• As a general rule, strokes should be made in the direction of the heart, or following the lymph circulation, (towards lymph nodes). The very light strokes, (effleurage, stroking), can be executed ignoring these two rules.
• The massage session should be perceived as one long series of rhythmic strokes. When you pass from a technique to another there should be no interruptions for adjustments. This is normally achieved through practice.
• Adjust the pressure according to your client's needs. Never think that you know better than your client. And "no pain no gain" doesn't apply in massage.
• Don't be Nervous you can give an effective massage. If you are nervous your subject will pick up that.

Massage Techniques

When you do the massage you will need this extended set of Swedish Massage moves:

Effleurage

Definition: Effleurage is a slow, rhythmic massage movement, performed mostly with the open palms of the hands. The strokes are long, steady and even, maintaining contact with the subject as much as possible. It is one of the most commonly performed massage technique. Variations of the technique include the use of the forearm or the knuckles, and different speed or pressure.

Friction

Definition: The massage friction technique attempts to move the deep tissue layers applying moderate to deep pressure. The fingers, or knuckles, or elbow do not glide over the skin, the technique is using the skin as a glove and it is the subjects skin that glides over the underlying tissue.

Petrissage

Definition: Petrissage is a broad term to describe various massage movements applied with medium to medium deep pressure targeting the underlying muscles. The petrissage techniques have in common a rhythmic, alternating, push-pull motion, the most common being the kneading. Other petrissage techniques are wringing, skin rolling and lifting, (the last one is not an alternating technique).

Tapotement

Definition: Tapotement or percussion is a massage technique that involves rapid, rhythmic hands movement. The hands apply alternating, rhythmic strikes with a relaxed wrist.

Stretching

Definition: Massage Stretching consists of active - passive movements, performed by the practitioner with the purpose of increasing joint mobility. Some of the movements include traction, rotation, bending, flexing, etc...

Compression

Definition: Compression, uses various pressure levels from very light to deep and it is applied with elbow, palm, fingers, knuckles, feet, etc… to create motionless pressure on various body parts.

Vibrations

Definition: Massage Vibration is a technique performed with the fingers or the palm at a very high frequency. The trembling movement is performed superficial with a light pressure. The vibration is obtained in the therapist's forearm muscles of the therapist creating a shivering sensation.

You Need More than Massage Techniques

Knowing the techniques is mandatory but it doesn't make you a complete practitioner.

There are a lot of things that cannot be learned from a book, you still need to go to a massage school. There are techniques that can only be learned in a school under supervision.
These things and many others can only be learned in a supervised massage training setting under the supervision of a specialized staff.