Massage Basic Sequence
Michael C. Callaway
March 2,1996
The Basic Massage Sequence
When learning massage, it will help you to understand and memorize the sequence of strokes if you can see how it is broken down. You start by massaging the back of the body, working down from head to feet, then turn the person over and massage the front of the body, once again working down from the top. The sequence is made up of seven distinct areas - two on the back of the body, and five on the front, no matter which area you are working on, you follow roughly the same order of strokes. First you oil the part of the body thoroughly then work from lighter, broader strokes to the deeper, more specific ones, ending once more with lighter ones. When giving a full massage you are affecting many of the body's systems, including the lymphatic and venous circulation, the nervous system. Traditional massage works "toward the heart", to aid the venous circulation, but since we are interested here in relaxing and balancing a wide range of processes, our sequence of strokes adheres to this rule only where it is particularly appropriate. On the arms and legs, for example, you use firmer strokes toward the heart and lighter ones away from it, to assist the flow of blood back to the heart,
The Back
The back is the main supportive structure of the body and an area of great mobility and strength. Since it is more protected than the softer front of the body, it is the best place to start a massage. For by the time you come to work on the more vulnerable front of the body, your partner will generally be feeling more trusting and relaxed. The back is also the single largest area you will be massaging and as such it often merits more time and attention than any other part. And because you reach nerves on the back that spread to every part of the most people feel a deep sense of release after a thorough back massage. It is imperative that you are comfortable so that you can reach down and a cross the back.
To avoid tiring yourself, remember to use your whole body, and not just your arms. As your massage begins with the back, it is here that you are accustoming the receiver to your touch and becoming acquainted with the feel of his or her body.
Shoulder from Head
After oiling the back, you start to work on the shoulders, one at a time. Begin with the shoulder away from which the receiver's head is facing if not using a face cradle. First, circle around the Shoulder blade and up the side of the rib-cage. Then start to work more firmly, kneading all the fleshy areas of the shoulders. Gradually begin to use more pressure, applying the thumb- rolling stroke around the base of the neck and the Trapezius muscle. Pay special attention to any little knots of tension you may find interspersing this more concentrated work with soothing broader strokes. Finish with deep alternate thumb strokes along the side of the spine.
Shoulder from Side
You now shift your position to work on the same shoulder front the side, facing your partner's head. Lift the forearm carefully on to the lower back, Anchoring the arm on the back, cup your other hand under the shoulder joint - left hand under left shoulder and vice versa. Having isolated the shoulder blade by raising it, use your free hand to begin to work around and across it. Once you have squeezed along the spine of the blade and kneaded the back of the neck, slide your partner's arm down gently off the back and re-position yourself at the head. Ask the receiver to turn his or her head the other way, when ready, then repeat the sequence on the other shoulder. Always check with the receiver before placing the arm on the lower Back this is the same position as an attacker would to subdue a person and many people fined it the position to be threatening CHECK FIRST DON’T ASSUME.
Lower Back and Buttocks
To work on the lower back and buttocks, you must position yourself at your partner's side, level with the thighs. First you thoroughly knead the lower back; then you massage one buttock, before pulling up that side of the torso. The lower back is a common seat of tension and discomfort. Since it is linked to the, pain in the lumbar region often suggests Problems connected with grounding, security and sexuality. A good way of completing the sequence, after pulling up the sides, is to use a gliding stroke down the, from shoulder to foot. Now move to the other side of your partner and repeat the sequence on the opposite buttock and side.
Spine
According to yoga, the condition of the spine affects us at every level-physical, emotional, and spiritual. The spinal nerves link the brain with all other parts of the body and since they lie close to the surface of the back, massage can have a profoundly relaxing effect.
Spinal massage divides into three main strokes:
broad stroke, called the "rocking horse", which is in two parts, one soothing, the other more stimulating;
Deep friction stroke which eases tension around the vertebrae; and finally,
Connecting stroke with your forearms which imparts a feeling of wholeness to the entire back. In general, you avoid pressing directly on the vertebrae and work on either side of the spine letting your hands melt away any knots you find as you work up the back.
Back of Legs
To complete your massage on the back of the body you work on the back of the legs, and finally on the feet. In bringing energy down to the legs and feet, you are helping your partner to feel more grounded and stable. The soft, fleshy backs of the legs are ideal for kneading and wringing. If this area is especially sensitive or painful, you may find that your partner suffers from lower back problems, since the sciatic nerve runs from the base of the spine right down the back of the leg to the heel. By massaging the back of the leg you therefore not only relieve tenderness there but also affect pain or stiffness in the lower back. If there is active sciatic nerve involvement massage in this area is contraindicated.
Half Lotus Leg Lift
In addition to using the different basic strokes to massage your partner, you can incorporate various “Passive” exercises into your session. These mobilize the joints and stretch the muscles by placing the receiver's body in certain positions. The "Half Lotus " Leg Lift - so-called because the movement imitates the Half Lotus position in yoga - it exercises the hip joint and stretches the muscles at the front of the thigh. When lifting your partner’s leg, let your whole body take the weight, not just your shoulders and arms. And flex the leg only as far as the point of resistance. There should be no strain or discomfort, either for you or the receiver.
Draining the Leg
These strokes work with the circulation, assisting the flow of blood and lymph back to the heart. Positioned either at your partner's foot or by the side of the leg, you begin to work up front the ankle, first with your thumbs, then with the heels of your hands. when you come to the back of the knee, your strokes should be broader and lighter-if you press too hard, the knee-cap will be pushed uncomfortably against the working surface. The draining stroke with the heels of the hands is most effective on the back of the thigh and buttocks, where there is a generous expanse of flesh, but you can also use it on the calves.
Working Down The Leg
Having drained the leg up to the hip, you now begin to move down again toward the foot, using a kneading stroke on the thigh and calf. After thoroughly massaging the entire leg, you can either pull down the inside of the leg in overlapping strokes or wring your hands along the leg. The back of the legs is particularly suitable for wringing work as there are no protruding bones to interrupt your path.
The Ankle
Like any other joints, ankles often store tension, blocking the free flow of energy between the feet and the legs. People with stiff ankles may suffer from cold feet and may be "ungrounded, their connection with the ground, with reality, is unsure. Massage will not only help to restore flexibility and assist energy flow, it will also relieve any build-up of fluid. Three of the movements shown here serve both to test, and then to increase mobility and suppleness in this area. Rotating the ankle gives you a sense of the flexibility of the joint; flexing the foot tests the tension in the muscles and tendons. If the hamstrings are tight, you will not be able to push the foot far forward; if the extensor muscles at the front of the lower leg are tight, pushing the foot backward will be painful.
The Foot
The human foot has evolved into a highly complex structure, made up of 26 small bones, some of which form two large supporting arches. As well as carrying the entire weight of the body, feet serve as a marvelous shock absorbers. In addition, the sole of the foot contains thousands of nerve endings, with reflex connections to the whole of the rest of the body. In massaging the feet, therefore, you are affecting the entire body, not just the feet themselves. For this reason many masseurs concentrate on a foot massage when ther is not enough time for a full body massage. Once you have finished one foot, move over to work on the back of the other leg and foot, starting from the beginning of the sequence. Treating the feet ends the massage on the back of the body. After completing both legs, let you’re partner rest for a few moments. Then suggest that they turn over to facilitate work on the front of the body.
Shoulders, Neck, and Scalp
Once your partner has turned over, you begin your massage on the front of the body by returning to the shoulders, one of the principal storehouses of tension in the body. In a healthy individual, feelings that arise at gut level are expressed physically through the arms and hands, or vocally, through the throat. But many of us are forbidden to express our emotions freely as children, and learn to suppress feelings of anger or sorrow by tightening up in the shoulders and throat. So this area merits our attention from both the back and front of the body. The main advantage of working on the shoulders from the front is that the receiver's own weight presses down on to your hands under the back, giving extra impact to the strokes. The sequence of strokes may seem a little complex at first as a lot of it happens out of sight, between your partner's back and the working surface. But once you have learnt it, you will find it a most rewarding part of your massage session, and one that feels especially good to the receiver.
Neck Stretches
These stretching movements lead on naturally from any of the long strokes. Instead of bringing your hands off the top of head, you simply stop at the base of the skull and, holding the head securely, gently pull it toward you. You can also stretch the neck forward, backward, and to one side. This stretches right along the top of the shoulder and side of the neck. Many people will be relaxed enough to surrender their heads to your hands - their heads will feel heavy when you lift them. Others who are tense will unconsciously move their heads themselves. If this happens, simply ask your partner to be aware that they are "holding on" while you attempt to loosen the neck by stretching it. But don't be impatient if they are unable to "let go" just carry on to the next stroke.
Shoulder, front and Back Sequence
Now you have loosened the whole neck up a little, you start to focus on one side at a time. laying the head on its side on one land, you use the other hand to work the whole upper back and neck area on the opposite side,. Since much of the sequence takes place out of sight, under the back, we have provided diagrams to illustrate the path of your hands. The sequence consists of pushing your hands under the back pulling up toward the Neck across three different areas of the back in a fan shape. You will find it easier to get your hands under some backs than others - don't try too hard but be content to go as far as you can comfortably manage, without stress. As you pull your hands toward you, the flesh may bunch up at the neck don’t disconnect continue on slowly upward your pressure will release the folds.
The Scalp
Surprisingly, the scalp Can get tense and contribute to tension headaches and also to hair problems, such as dandruff and hair loss. Massage helps to relieve this tightness and aids the circulation; in the process it also improves the health of the hair.
Spinal Stretch
This is the only stroke in the front of shoulders and Neck sequence that requires cooperation on the part of the receiver, who must lift up his or her head to enable you to reach under it with your hands. The stroke stretch the whole spine and feels very good to the receiver. You may need to practice a little before you can execute it smoothly. Be sure to always pull from the hara and pelvis, not just from the shoulders.
The Face
The face is generally the part we notice first in other people. It is uncovered, exposed and reflects the history of its owner, whether openly or secretly. Its expression is sculpted by the tiny muscles that give us the mobility to make faces. Stress and tension are reflected in tightness around the brow, jaw and eyes, joy and serenity in an open relaxed expression. And whether we wear a constantly smiling mask of appeasement or one of mock surprise, with eyebrows fixedly raised, the patterns frozen on our faces help reveal our attitudes and character. By enabling us to relinquish some of our masks, a caring face massage can lead to a sense of deep relaxation and throughout the whole body, and to the comfort of just enjoying "being", without having to appear to be something else.
The Face
You don't need to oil your hands to massage the face, as what you already have on your fingers will be enough for this relatively small area. Before giving a face massage for the first time, practice on your own face to sec how it feels. The face is bonier and less fragile than it looks and you may be surprised to find that you can apply quite deep pressure without discomfort. Thresholds of comfort vary, however, so you should be sure to get feedback on your pressure from your partner. Before beginning, check whether your partner is wearing contact lenses ; if so, refrain front working over the eyelids. in this sequence, you work gradually down the face, stroking across it in strips front the center to the sides. Make your movements slow and "clean" and keep your awareness in your fingers.
Eyes, Nose and Cheeks
Continuing on down the face, you now work over the eyebrows, eyelids, and nose to the chin. Twelve pairs of cranial nerves link the brain directly with the face and the five senses. Working around the eyes, eyebrows, and temples in particular, often helps to soothe away stress, relieve headaches and clear the sinuses.
Chin and Jawline
Massaging the lower part of the face consists in squeezing the chin, working along the jawbone and then circling over the chewing muscles, or masseters. If you find it hard to locate these muscles, place your fingers on the cheeks and ask your partner to clench their teeth. You will feel the muscles rise up and harden as they contract. The jaw is related to the pelvis, and tension in one usually means tension in the other. If your partner holds a lot of the tension in the hips, it is often helpful to loosen the jaw before working directly on the pelvis.
Cheeks and Ears
This two-part sequence begins with a broad stroke across the cheeks and ends with stretching and squeezing the ears. Way back in our history we were able to move our ears - some people still retain the ability to wiggle them. This may explain why it feels so pleasurable to have your ears massaged - echoes of a long-lost skill.
Connecting Face and Head
This is a long stroke in three parts, connecting the face with the neck and head. For best effect, let it be one smooth flowing movement, ending in a gentle stretching of the neck.
Arms and Hands
When we evolved from walking on four legs and stood upright, we freed our upper limbs for a variety of uses to get food and fuel and to ward off danger. We also exposed our soft bellies, and our relationships with one another acquired a new sensitivity. The arms and hands are intimately connected to relating - how we relate to each other and to the world at large, to how we give and take. They are instruments of doing and expressing - out of which feelings can flow freely, provided no chronic tensions are present in the shoulder and throat area. Through our arms and hands, we express our most powerful emotions, showing love by embracing, giving, protecting or stroking, hatred or rage through hitting, punching, shaking our fists. An arm and hand massage is a relaxing experience, especially for those who tend to "bottle up'' their feelings.
Draining the Arm
This sequence works with the circulation of blood and lymph ill the arm. Its purpose is to assist the lymphatic flow and the blood's venous return to the heart. Veins are closer to the skin's surface than arteries, which carry blood away from the heart. You start by draining the forearm, then work along the upper arm. While squeezing down the forearm. you may notice your partner’s fingers opening and closing; this is because muscles controlling the fingers are in the forearm.
Stretching
Stretching is passive exercise, when applied to the arm the oil the shoulder joint stretch and tone the connective tissues - the ligaments and tendons that attach the bones of the joint; stimulate the production of synovial fluid -- the lubricant (oil) of the joints and extend the joint's range of movement. As with any other passive exercise it is you that does the work here, your partner should surrender to the movement.
Shoulder Joint and Arm
Having stretched the arm and shoulder joint, you now place it back by your partner's side and work around the shoulder girdle and down the arm. You begin with a stroke that squeezes from the center of the upper chest and back out to the shoulder joint, then continue with some medium-depth work down the whole arm to the elbow and the wrist. At the shoulder you are working on a ball and socket joint which has a wide range of movement, enabling the swing round in a broad circle. The elbow is a hinge joint, that allows only up and down movement. The bones of the forearm can rotate over each other.
Wrist and Hand
A hand massage is especially relaxing - both because our hands are so accustomed to being touched and because, like the feet, the hands have reflex connections with the whole of the rest of the body. The area in the motor and sensory parts of the brain that: is concerned with the hands is disproportionately large, indicating their unique sensitivity and functional importance. In fact, with their opposable thumbs, the hands are one of the main features that distinguish us from other animals. Pay special attention to the joints, for it is these that give the hands their great mobility. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the side effects of the computer age and is nothing more than overuse of the wrist.
Front of Torso
We face the world with the front of the body, exposing the belly, our most unprotected part. The front of the torso is linked to the way we feel and the way we relate. The torso consists of two main areas - the hard protective cage of the chest, which houses the heart, lungs and other organs, and the soft unprotected muscle wall of the belly, containing our guts - our deepest feelings. When massaging the front of the torso, be aware that this is an area of vulnerability. Before beginning, take a moment or two to study your partner's breathing pattern and observe which parts of the torso move with the breath, as you will be coordinating some of your strokes with the breathing. Our breathing pattern is intimately linked with our vitality and our emotional health, if your partners is trusting, having this area massaged can be profound experience for both giver and receiver, establishing a deep contact.
Rib-cage and Chest
As well as protecting the vital organs in the upper chest, the rib-cage plays an Important part in the breathing process. We tend to think of the rib-cage as fixed and static. In fact, when we breathe in correctly, the ribs rise up, pushing the breastbone forward, opening up the chest cavity, causing air to be drawn into the lungs. The muscles used in breathing are the large diaphragm muscle that crosses the body horizontally just below the rib-cage, and those connecting the ribs themselves. To allow proper breathing, the diaphragm must he relaxed and the rib-cage flexible. Massaging this area loosens the muscles and increases the mobility of the ribs.
The Abdomen
To work on the abdomen you move round to one side of your partner, level with the belly. The abdomen is highly sensitive, so let your hands come down gently initially and pause for a moment before you start. You begin by moving your hands in clockwise circles around the belly. It is important that you travel clockwise direction, for this echoes the direction of the large intestine. After rotating your hands over the belly in a broad circle, you gradually increase the depth of your pressure, using smaller circles. You end your massage on the front of the torso by working with the rhythm of your partner's breath. your partner breathes slowly and deeply you glide your hands over the torso in a long circulatory stroke - up from the belly to the chest on an inhalation and down the sides on an exhalation. It is up to you to follow your partner's breath with your hands - not vice versa.
Front of Legs
In Western society today, many of us have lost touch with our bodies, with the earth on which we stand. Too much of our time and energy are spent five feet off the ground, living in our heads. A whole body massage ends on the front of the legs, so that you bring the receiver's awareness right down to the toes and he or she leaves the massage session feeling "grounded". The sequence you follow is similar to the one you used on the backs of the legs. But here the terrain is a little different - as well as the soft muscle area of the thigh, you are working on the bony areas of the shin, and the knee. Knees that are continually braced or pulled back indicate a somewhat insecure personality that is striving to maintain a hold on life and stand its ground. Massage can help release the energy blocked in the legs, allowing the person to move more freely through life.
Stretching the Leg
When receiving a massage, it feels unexpectedly good to have your limbs passively exercised like having someone do yoga for you, without your having to make any effort. In stretching the leg you are exercising three joints - the ball and socket hip joint and the hinge joints of knee and ankle. As the giver, you will find it more effective and less tiring if you pull with your whole body, not just your arms. And make sure that your grip on the foot is comfortable to your partner. Some people are ticklish
Working up the Front of the Leg
This sequence basically consists of draining strokes to aid the circulation, interspersed with some more precise work around the knee-cap. On the lower leg, you must be sure to work on the muscles on either side of the shinbone. Direct pressure on the shinbone can be painful for the receiver. On the thigh, you use broad, fairly deep strokes to push upward, assisting the venous and lymphatic flow. if your partner is long-legged you may have to work from the side.
The Hip Joint and Down the Leg
Linking the top of the leg to the pelvis, the hip joint is a large ball and socket joint with a wide range of movement. It is packed in firmly by the surrounding muscles, and may he hard to find at first. Press in under the rim of the pelvis to locate the bony protuberance at the top of the thigh bone. If you go deeper round this hone, you will be working on the connections of the hip joint. Having pressed around the joint thoroughly, you now work down the leg, using broad strokes on the thigh, more precise finger strokes around the knee-cap, and then finish by squeezing down the shin muscles to the ankle. As you work down the leg, you will need to move. When working on a massage table it is easy to move smoothly; but if working on the floor you will probably have to break contact gently, change position, then continue.
The Front of the Foot
You round off a massage session with some final attention to the feet, moving down to sit or stand
facing the foot you are working on. These strokes are intended to ground your partner. After opening and starching the foot you enclosed it in both hands and pull them soothingly off the toes. Do this for each foot in turn
Connecting
Having worked on each part of the body in turn, you now need to "connect" the various parts and give your partner a sense of their own wholeness. There are two ways of connecting the body- by long strokes which flow over the entire body, from one end to the other; or by simply resting your two hands on different parts of the body for a few moments. You may also use these connecting strokes as a bridge between working on one part of the body and the next. The "held" stroke can connect an y parts of the body you choose - for example, the forehead and belly, as shown opposite, or the belly or base of the spine and the feet. At the end of a session, leave your partner to rest for a while and cover them with a sheet or warmed towel.
