Back To Basics Massage Therapy

Whether you are just getting started or have been practicing massage for a while, you should read over some of the following massage basics to make sure you aren't missing anything or doing anything harmful. If you're not sure of doing something, don't be afraid to ask the person you're massaging for feedback. You may just need to lighten the pressure, trim your fingernails or something very simple that you won't know until you ask.

Strokes

Swedish massage is the easiest to learn, especially for amateurs. There are only five main strokes, and you will probably rely most heavily on just two of them. The two easiest are effleurage, a long gliding stroke, and petrissage or kneading, which may be a combination of compressing, squeezing and otherwise moving the muscle back and forth. Tapotement is a percussive stroke using fingertips or the pinkie side of the hands. Friction is especially useful on deep muscles; you press on a tight muscle and vibrate your fingers. Vibration involves grabbing muscles and shaking them.

Muscles

Many people carry tension in their shoulders, and the trapezius and rhomboid muscles are often tight. Use petrissage and friction on the trapezius, and add vibration with the rhomboids. The lower back is a good place for vibration and effleurage.
Don't forget the gluteal muscles, especially around the hip joint. Petrissage, friction and effleurage are great for glutes. On the legs and arms, use effleurage, petrissage, tapotement and add vibration for the quads, calves, biceps and triceps. Gentle clockwise effleurage on the abdominal muscles is also pleasant and therapeutic. Feet and hands should primarily receive petrissage.

Cautions

Veins are closer to the skin surface and have valves in them. It puts less stress on the valves if you make your deeper strokes toward the heart. Do not press directly on the bones. Especially familiarize yourself with the bones of the back so that you avoid the spine, the shoulder blades, the tail bone and the pelvis.
When massaging the abs, use gentle open palm pressure and stay between the bottom of the rib cage, the hip bones and the pubic bone. Do not massage over bruises or broken skin, and ask your massage recipient if there are any injuries or other areas of the body you should avoid.