Different Types of Massage Strokes

PATTERN

There are many different massage Techniques and although they are all different, there is often a PATTERN to the sequence of movements

After a hold to introduce the Masseur's Touch

a massage tends to Start with Gentle Soothing Strokes

Deeper movements such as Kneading and Pressures are then gradually introduced

Interspersed with stroking

The length of the massage and how you finish it, depends on the effect you wish to achieve

Approx an hour for a full body massage

When applying Oil - never pour the oil directly on to the skin

Instead, warm 5ml oil in your Palms first

If you need more oil, drizzle it on the back of one hand

And stroke it on with the other

THE MASSAGE SEQUENCE

1. HOLDS: Use a simple positive hold to begin a massage.This makes initial contact with your client and greets with your hands

2. APPLYING OIL: Apply oil with light strokes, keeping the hands relaxed.When you need more oil, apply it as directed above, so contact with the body is not lost

3. DEEPER STROKES: Gradually increase the depth of the stroking.Mould your hands around the contours of the body, both to soothe an to feel for any tension

4. KNEADING: Knead the area to warm it.This deeper movement will also stretch the tissue, and relieve muslce tightness and congestion

5. LINKING STROKES: Stroke the body again, both as a linking movement and to relax the area and encourage the elimination of waste product

6. STRONGER MOVEMENTS: Now that the area is relaxed, introduce deeper movements such as raking, knuckle strokes,circular pressures or skin rolling

7. STROKES: Relax the body after deep massage work by rhythmically stroking your hands over the whole area.Use the strokes to connect the different parts of the body with each other

8. FEATHER STROKES: Use very light superficial feather strokes with fingertips.These will lift away the last vestiges of tenison and let your client know that the massage is nearly complete

9. PERCUSSION: Eding off by saing goodbuye, either by using brisk, stimulating percussion movements to wake your clients up, or by finishing the massage as you started and using calm, positive holds

Different Types of Massage Strokes

Stroking

Stroking is the most versatile of all massage techniques.It allows you to get a feel for your client /partner's body at the start of a massage and serves as a useful link between other movements.You can give a complete body massage with stroking alone, simply by varying the pressure and tempo of the movements. LIGHT, superficial strokes have a soothing hypnotic effect,while DEEPER ones compress the muscle tissue against the bone and stimulate the circulation

LIGHT STROKING

Gentle strokes with the whole hand or just the fingertips affect the nerve endings in the skin and have a calming influence throughout the body.This is usually used at the beginning or end of a massage and range from sweeping the hands softly and rhythmically over the surface of the skin to aura stroking, when you actually do not touch the body at all

CAT STROKING

** Best for Back Massage - Calms the nervous, soporific - Use oil **

This simple stroke can be used to apply oil at the beginning of a massage or as a final soothing touch at the end.The sheer repetitiveness is what is so relaxing

FEATHER STROKING

** Best for Whole Body - Soothing Sedative - Use oil**

Sometime known as Nerve Stroking .This movement can induce deep relaxation.Most people loves this superficial stroke, but some may find it too ticklish

AURA STROKING

** Best for Back, Abdomen,Legs Arms - Creates Warm Tingling Feeling,Relaxing- Do not use oil **

You do not touch the clients body.Hands are placed just above the surface of the skin.Aura stroking is used by practitioners, particularly in traditional cultures such as India, China, Afghanistan to disperse 'blockages' in a peron's 'energy field'

FAN STROKING

** Best for large areas such as Back or Abdomen - Use oil **

**Fan Stroking for the Back - Soothing - Use oil**

** Fan Stroking for the Abdomen - Soothing - Use oil**

** Alternative Fan Stroking - Best for back, legs, arms - Creates Soothing Diagonal Stretches - Use oil**

** Fan Stroking with Thumbs - Best for Hands, Feet and Forehead - Ease away Tension - Use oil**

The secret this fluid movement is to mould your hands to the curves of the body without dragging the skin and to maintain a steady rhythm.For a deeper, more precise action, the thumbs can be used in a fanning movement

CIRCLE STROKING

** Best for Shoulders, Abdomen and Hips - Light -Soothes /Deep -Stretches- use oil*

** Light - Best for Shoulders, Abdomen & Hips - Soothes - Use oil**

** Deep - Best for Back - Stretches - Use oil**

** Circular Thumb Stroking - Best for Small tensed areas - use oil**

This is a flowing continuous movement that can be used to spread oil around the body and to link movements in a complete massage.The direction in which you stroke, is up to you, although on the stomach you should stroke in a clockwise direction to follow the workings of the intestines.Light circular strokes with the fingertips skim over the skin - creating a soft soothing effect. Deep slow circle stroking uses your body weight and - boulds the flesh

SIDE STROKING

** Light Side Stroking -Best for Back, Abdomen an Thighs - uses oil*

* Deep Side Stroking -Best for Back,Abdomen and Thighs - use oil*

One of the most simple massage techniques to master, side stroking is extraordinarily soothing for both giver and receiver.Its repetitiveness has a hypnotic effect and as your partner relaxes, you can apply deeper pressure.Light Side Stroking is performed with very relaxed hands in a flowing movement, and it affects nerve endings in the skin.Deep Side Stroking uses the whole hand and the forearms and works on the muscles, helping to stretch muscular tissue

CRISS-CROSSING STROKES

** Simple Criss-Crosses - Best for Back,Abdomen, Legs and Arms - use oil*

* Figures of Eight - Best for Back and Tights - use oil*

Strokes that criss-cross the body combine smooth, gliding movements with gently squeezes.Both hands works simultaneously to create a fluid rhythm that is wonderfully relaxing for the recipient.Simple criss-crosses are easy to learn and can be used all over the body, although you should avoid pressing the spine.Take care not to pinch the legs and do not use if there are varicose veins

DEEP STROKES

** Forearm Strokes - Best for Back, Thights - Irons out Tension - use oil**

** Knuckle Strokes - Best for Either side of spine, arms - Eases Taut Muscles - use oil**

** Raking - Best for Back Either parallel or at right angels to spine - Deeply relaxing - use oil**

**V-strokes - Best for Bulky, muscular areas - Warms and relaxes - use oil**

Strokes can be deep enough to compress the muscle tissue against the bone. They should only be used once an area has been sufficiently relaxed with gentle stroking and are especially effective on large muscle groups. Deep strokes have a broadening and stretching action on the muscle tissues and should generally follow the direction of the muscle fibres.Work up and down on the back with deep strokes on the muscles, taking care to avoid the spine, on the limbs, stroke towards the torso, following circulation

KNEADING

** Basic Kneading - Best for Fleshy areas, such as Hips or Buttocks -Loosens and Stimulates use oil**

** One-Handed Kneading - Best for Top of Shoulders - Softens and Relaxes - use oil**

**Fingertip Kneading - Best for areas wihtout much Flesh like Upper Arms, Neck - Relaxes the Skin and Top layer of Muscle - use oil**

** Skin Rolling - Best for Shoulders, Back (either parralel or at right angles to the spine - Loosens tight areas - use oil**

Used to relax an soften an area, kneading involves squeezing,lifting an rolling th flesh.It helps to create space around the muscle fibres, making them more pliable, and eases tension in the connective tissue that surrounds every muslce.The success of kneading relies on an evern rhythm and as with all strokes, the depth an speed can vary. A steady tempo is generally effective and fast kneading can be extremely stimulating whereas slow kneading has more of a soporific effect.Sometimes the muscles in the body may be so tight that it is difficult to lift the skin.Just knead the area with flat hands, the rhythm of the movements should relax the area enough for you to get in deeper at a later stage

PRESSURES

** Static & Circular Pressures - Best for Tight Knotted areas - May break down any Muscular Adhersions - use oil**

Static & Circular Pressures range from deep, precise movements with the thumbs or fingers to broader compressions with the heel of the hand. The smaller areas - the deeper the penetration. Light pressures are - Soothing and allow you to feel for tense muscles. Deeper pressures compress tight muscle bands and may break down adhersions. Use your body-weight to achieve depth, and only apply deep pressure to previously massaged areas

PERCUSSION

** Pummeling & Hacking - Best for Back, Hips, Tights - Stimulating if fast / Relaxing if slow - no oil**

** Plucking - Best for whole Body - Light an invigorating - no oil**

** Cupping - Best for Back, Buttocks - Stimulating, helps relieve Congested areas - no oil**

** Finger Tapping - Best for Face & Scalp - Energizing - no oil**

Light, lively percussion movements boost the circulation, stimulate and invigorate.It helps to regulate muscle tone an improve skin texture and are perfect for waking someone up at the end of a massage. Keep the movements as light and springy as possible to avoid hurting your partner and move around an area rather than reamining in one place for too long.If performed slowly, percussion movements can be surprisingly relaxing.They are mainly used on fleshy areas - never use on bony areas, broken veins or bruises.Avoid kidneys and spine

VIBRATIONS

** Shaking - Best for Back,Legs and Arms - Releases Accumulated Tension - no oil*

** Rocking - Best for Whole body - Releases Physical and Emotional Tension - no oil**

** Superficial Vibrations - Best for Back, Stomach - Soothes the Nerves - no oil**

These techniques help to release tension at the start or end of a massame by sending relaxing vibrations through the body. they include energetic shaking of the limbs, fine trembling stokes along the surface of the skin, and comforting, rocking movements.Shaking and rocking are simple to master and fun to perform. Superficial vibrations ar difficult to learn and require perseverance, but are well worth the effort

HOLDS

** Initial holds - Suitable for the Whole body - Provides comfort and support - no oil**

Simple, positive holds provide moments of stillness in a massage. It can be used at the start to greet with the hands - in the middle to connect one part of the body to another - or at the end as a goodbuye gesture. The aim is to communicate feelings of empathy and support. Confidence is vital, since your partner will subconsciously pick up on an unsure touch. Healing therapies such as Reiki and Polarity Therapy - which draw on Eastern Medical Traditions - use this kind of purposeful touch to help maintain a balanced flow of energy in the body

info source: Massage The Ultimate Illustrated Guide- Clare Maxwell-Hudson