How to Massage - moves

There are a lot of different strokes that can be used for giving a massage. They are ranging from the most delicate touch to deep-tissue work. Knowing how to perform these is the key to a succesful Massage Therapy session. Here are a few guidelines for your bodywork:

• All strokes can 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 chose the faster moves.
• 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), can be done ignoring these two rules.
• The massage session should be perceived as one long series of rhythmic strokes.
• Following is the description of most common  strokes met in a massage salon. If you master these moves you are a lot closer to being a massage therapist. Don’t forget though, that in order to be one you need to go to a Massage School.
• When you do the massage you will need these basic moves which are an extended set of moves of the Swedish Massage:

• Effleurage
• Friction
• Pétrissage
• Tapotement
• Stretching
• Compression
• Vibrations

If you master these basic moves you can give a massage like a professional.