When giving a full body massage for men, use Swedish massage strokes to warm up his muscles and deep tissue techniques to address localized areas of muscle tension. According to the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals website, Swedish massage involves vigorous movements designed to energize the body by increasing circulation. Deep tissue massage includes slow, focused strokes for treating chronic muscle pain and for injury rehabilitation, reports the site.
Step 1
Give your client privacy to undress and lie on the massage table under the top sheet. Ask him to lie face down with his head supported by the face cradle.
Step 2
Stand at the head of the table and apply oil to your hands. Perform vigorous kneading strokes on his shoulder and back muscles. Use light pressure and massage with your palms. Massage from his shoulders toward his hips.
Step 3
Massage the muscles running along the sides of his backbone with your fists. Use slow, vertical strokes with moderate pressure. Begin at his shoulders and massage to his hips.
Step 4
Massage the edges of his shoulder blades with your knuckles. Apply moderate pressure with slow, focused strokes.
Step 5
Position your knuckles at the base of his skull just below his ears. Massage down his neck and outward on his shoulders with slow, gliding strokes and moderate pressure.
Step 6
Massage the back of his legs with vigorous, kneading strokes and light pressure. Address each leg separately. Massage from his ankle to his hip.
Step 7
Stand at the foot of the table and massage his calf muscles with your fists. Use slow, vertical movements and moderate pressure.
Step 8
Massage his hamstrings with your fists. Apply moderate pressure and use slow, focused strokes.
Step 9
Hold the sheet taught and allow your client to lie face up. Apply oil to your hands.
Step 10
Perform a fast-paced, kneading massage on his legs. Massage one leg at a time with light pressure and palm strokes. Start at his ankle and massage to his hip.
Step 11
Massage his quadriceps muscle and the iliotibial band on each leg. Use your fist and slow, gliding movements with moderate pressure. Stroke from his knee to his hip. Address each leg separately.
Step 12
Massage his arms with fast-paced, kneading movements. Stroke one arm at a time from his wrist to his shoulder. Use light pressure and palm movements.
Step 13
Massage his forearm and biceps muscles on each arm with your knuckles. Use moderate pressure and slow, striping strokes.
Tips and Warnings
- When performing a deep tissue massage with your fist, Art Riggs, certified Rolfer, recommends to position your thumb forward and says that the force should come from your own body weight or horizontal power provided by your legs, rather than your shoulder muscles. Fold the sheet to expose the area of his body you will massage, and replace the sheet when completing the massage in that area.
- Because deep tissue massage can be painful, communicate with your client to ensure that he's comfort.
Things You'll Need
- Massage table
- Massage oil
- Sheet set
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