The Art of Good Massage

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The Art of Good Massage

by Ginger Akuna, L.Ac, LMT
Former Spa Grande Program Director
Grand Wailea Resort
Maui, Hawaii

The secret of successful massage lies in the mastery of pressure, rhythm and contact. The pressure should be a light superficial touch to begin the massage, using a deeper pressure as the massage proceeds on the part being worked on. After the desired results have been achieved, the massage movements must be lightened once more into a superficial touch. Avoid jerky, jabby movements. Keep the hands flexible, letting them fit around the contours of your partner's body. A smooth flow of movements from the one place on the body to another is essential to good massage. If the giver appears to be relaxed while working, a feeling of relaxation will be imparted to the receiver. The rhythm of a general massage should be given slightly slower than the recipient's heartbeat rate. The contact of the giver's hands on the body of the receiver should not be broken until work is finished on that part. Always keep in mind that you are working on another human being. Make your massage a loving one by your focused attention and compassion.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Physical Level

  • Increase in circulation of blood and lymph fluids.
  • Relaxes nervous system and reduces stress
  • Relief of muscle spasm and tension.
  • Increases joint flexibility and range of motion.
  • Promotes deeper and easier breathing.
  • Reduces blood pressure.
  • Increases the excretion (via kidneys) of fluids and waste products; improves digestion.
  • Relief of tension related headaches and eye strain.
  • Nourishes the skin.
  • Improves posture and body awareness.
  • Speeds recovery period from physical exercise by flushing the muscles of lactic acid.
  • Improves the healing of pulled muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces spasm, pain, swelling; reduces formation of scar tissue.
  • Strengthens immune system; helps prevent disease.
  • Provides nutrition for muscles, tissues and joints.
  • Helps maintain health.

Mental Level

  • Helps create a relaxed state of alertness.
  • Reduces mental stress; creates a calmer mind.
  • Sensitizes one to the body; thus, creating a greater ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately.
  • Increases capacity for clear thinking.

Emotional Level

  • Helps to satisfy the need for caring and nurturing touch.
  • Creates a feeling of well-being.
  • Helps enable the ease of emotional expression.
  • Reduces anxiety.
  • Increases awareness of the body-mind connection.
  • Creates a sense of being unified and in harmony.
  • Increases energy flow at all levels.

Swedish Massage Techniques

Various aspects of Swedish Massage technique include:

1. Massage Movements

a) Effleurage (stoking):

Soothing, long, gliding strokes made with the entire flat surface of the hands that may be deep or superficial. The major purpose of this movement is to heighten circulation and increase depth of relaxation.

b) Petrissage (kneading):

Firmly but gently grasping the skin and surface muscles with thumb and fingers, and rolling, squeezing, or wringing them, and dropping them back into place. It is stimulating to the muscles and to circulation of the deeper blood vessels and lymphatics.

c) Friction:

May be long, slow, firm stroking movements or rolling circular movement in which the hand is kept in contact with the skin and the superficial tissues are moved over the deeper underlying ones. Used in treatment of joints and around bony prominences to break down adhesions, clear out congestion and toxic waste build-up. It raises local temperature and should be followed by effleurage.

d) Tapotement (percussion):

Stimulating, rapid alternate movements using both hands in: 1. tapping - using fingertips; 2. hacking - using karate chop like movements; 3. cupping - using cupped hand movements; 4. Slapping - using flat, open palms; or 5. pounding - using both fists. It is stimulating to the muscles and may be stimulating or calming to the nerves. Avoid heavy percussion over the kidneys and bony structures.

e) Vibration:

Very rapid back and forth shaking or trembling movements performed by the whole hand or the fingers; used on the upper back, buttocks and thighs. Has a stimulating effect upon the nervous system by acting on the nerve centers or terminal nerve branches. It can also be calming if done gently on the solar plexus or sacrum with a polarity hold.

2. Direction
Generally, the direction for most massage movements is with the venous flow, toward the center of the heart. Exception would be "nerve" strokes, which are outward, away from the center.

3. Pressure
Can vary from light to moderate to heavy depending on the type of massage and the objective of the massage.

4. Rate and Rhythm
The rate of the massage will depend on the type, its purpose and the condition of the receiver. Generally a slower massage will be more sedating, while a faster pace one will be more stimulating. For the most part, rhythm should be even, which allows the body to relax.

5. Oil
Oil helps to reduce skin-surface tension and friction. Preferably it should be from a natural source (vegetable, fruit or nut) for better absorption. Natural essences (Aromatherapy) can enhance the massage by adding another dimension, with general or specific therapeutic properties. Natural essences can boost the immune system and can stimulate the limbic center of the brain, thus helping to balance the emotions. Not to mention, they smell divine! Oils available at Spa Grande GRAND IMAGE BOUTIQUE focus on Tranquility, Harmony, Rejuvenation, Resilience, Longevity, Sensuality and oils for general massage.

6. Frequency

  • Daily
  • As often as you can get someone to massage you
  • As often as you can afford and are willing to make it a priority.

Swedish Massage Routine for General Relaxation

Begin with the person lying down, preferably on a massage table at an appropriate height, with a face cradle to avoid strain on the next. Cover the body with a sheet or large towel to avoid chilling and/or undue embarrassment.

  1. Standing on left side of the table, place left hand on the base of the skull and right hand just above the tail bone. Hold for 10-20 seconds.
  2. Fold the covering down to the hips. Put 6-8 drops of oil in the palm of the hand and rub both hands together. While standing at the head of the table, make long, effleurage stoke down the center of the body to the sacrum, and back up sides. Repeat 2x.
  3. Divide the back into thirds, and make 3 large circles down the back, getting larger and covering an additional third of the back, sweeping back up the sides. Repeat 2x, ending at the shoulders.
  4. Press and slide outward off the shoulders. Repeat 2x.
  5. Come around to the side of the table, facing forward to petrissage and knead the neck and shoulders.
  6. Petrissage the entire back.
  7. Percussion movements on the back. (Tapping, cupping, hacking, slapping or pounding) Gentle over the kidneys.
  8. Effleurage the back. Using both hands together, slide up one side of the body, around the shoulders, down the arms, and off the fingers. Cover the back, leaving the arms exposed. Apply more oil if needed.
  9. With both hands, glide back up the sides of the arms, petrissage or knead down the arms to hands, effleurage back up the arms, and repeat 2x.
  10. Upon reaching hand, lace fingers, and petrissage palm with alternating thumb rotations and friction.
  11. Unlace the fingers, turn over the hand and knead. Gently pull and slide off each finger.
  12. Repeat to opposite arm. After massaging the arms, cover them and move down to legs. Undrape one leg to hip. Oil the hands and apply oil to the leg, starting at the hip, sliding downward to the feet and gliding back up again. Repeat 2x.
  13. Slide down the leg to the feet. Thoroughly petrissage and knead feet, ankle, calf, thigh and buttock. Repeat 2x.
  14. Slide down the leg and off the feet. Drape leg, uncover the opposite appendage and repeat 3x. Cover the legs and ask the person to turn over.
  15. Undrape both legs, Oil hands. Using both hands, one on each leg, place oil on tops of foot, legs, thighs. Even out the oil distribution by sliding down both legs, molding the hands to the contour of the legs. Effleurage both legs about 3x.
  16. Starting on the left, petrissage and knead the right foot, ankle, leg and thigh, adding more oil if necessary. Effleurage down the leg. Repeat 2x. Finish with 3 long effleurage strokes up and lightly back down the leg, with the last stoke coming off the feet. Cover the right leg and undrape the left. Repeat 3x. Drape legs.
  17. Move up the right side of the table and uncover the left arm. Oil the hands, effleurage up the arm, over and around the shoulder and back down again. Repeat 2x.
  18. Petrissage and knead up the forearms, arms and shoulders; slightly slide back down to fingers. Repeat 2x. Final time, slide off the fingers. Cover the left arm and repeat 3x.
  19. Properly drape breasts, if necessary, and uncover abdomen to hips.
  20. Make 3 small, light, counterclockwise circles on the solar plexus, then reverse direction and, using moderate pressure, make three large clockwise circles around the lower abdomen.
  21. Reach under the opposite hip and gently pull up toward the midline, using alternate hands to work up the ribs. Move to opposite side of table and repeat to other side of body. Cover the body to the armpits.
  22. Walk to head of table, face the feet, and place hands on chest, just above the breasts. With moderate pressure, glide outward across the shoulders and down the arms. Sweep under the arms, palms up, backup again under the shoulders, up under the neck, and lightly off the head.
  23. Gently massage the neck and shoulders.
  24. Wipe excess oil from hands and firmly massage the scalp.
  25. Briskly rub hands together and lightly palm the eyes. Hold for 10-20 seconds and slowly come away. Shake out hands.