My new book is out! It's called Massage Is Weird: massagesloth.com/book/
Here are six tips I wish I had known at the beginning of my massage career. By the way, I'm releasing another video today, just for my supporters on Patreon! / massagesloth
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Tip 1: Remember the beginning and end of your massage techniques. It can be tempting to let your focus wander away from your hands when you're not in the "meat" of the technique. Realize that this can feel unsatisfying as the client, as it can make the moves feel short and disconnected. Instead, consider the way that you place your hands on the body, and try emphasizing the ending with extra time for finishing the technique.
3:00 Tip 2: Airplane landing and take-off. This one's pretty easy: When placing your hands, do so gradually and conscientiously. When removing your hands, same deal. A small change, but important for the overall quality of your massage.
3:34 Tip 3: No throw-away moves. If you've made your way past your area of attention, make the best of it! Instead of mentally skipping this part so that you can get back to the good stuff, take the time to make it meaningful.
4:43 Tip 4: Layer your techniques. By moving one hand at a time, you can blur the barrier between your techniques and leave the massage feeling continuous and flowing. This can take practice to develop, so just make it your intention to play with this one over time.
6:41 Tip 5: Make the client's body move. Basically, trust your client's body with your pressure, throw your weight around, and make your massage techniques feel like the crashing of a wave. See my videos on deep tissue massage for more!
7:49 Tip 6: Put yourself in your client's place. This is a kind of meditative exercise where you try to "feel what your client feels." As your hand squeezes your client's trapezius, what would that feel like to you? As you manipulate the scapula, what angles would feel good to you? Basically, maintain contact with your hands and imagine your client's experience, and try to stay immersed in that world as you work. This is another skill that gets easier with time, and dipping into this mental space can help you sink into a state of flow.
Don't feel like you need to implement all of these simultaneously! I recommend trying one at a time and seeing how they affect your massage session. I'd love to see your advice for giving a better massage in the comments!
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