Back Massage
Back massage helps to soothe and relieve tension in the back, neck and shoulders, it also stretches out tight muscular fibres that may be tight and sore.
Benefits of Back Massage
Promotes a sense of well-being
Encourages a state of ‘alert relaxation’
Unravels tense aching muscles
Stretches cramped tendons and ligaments
Relieves minor aches and pains
Increases the circulation to all parts of the body
Smoothes and balances the nervous system
Lowers and normalises the pulse count
Is an immediate Stress buster!
IT FEELS GREAT!!
Types of massage
Effleurage
Meaning – To touch lightly using a stroking method.
What does it do – Allows massage oil to be applied evenly across the client. Helps the client relax. Warms the skin, improves circulation to prepare for deeper massage.
How to do it - When effleurage is carried out using the hands, bony areas should be avoided. Use long gliding strokes. Use the weight of your body to do the work.
When should it be used – Should be used at the beginning of every session and at the finish.
Petrissage
Meaning – To knead or rub hard. Designed to manipulate tissues and muscles.
What does it do – Stretches the muscles, which makes them more elastic and supple removing tension. Stiff muscles are usually a build up of toxins and petrissage helps remove this.
How to do it – Grab the flesh with one hand in the required area and lift as if pulling it away from the bone.
When should it be used – Follows effleurage.
Stripping
Meaning – Slow, gliding movement, which follows the entire length of a muscle. Intense, sustained pressure.
What does it do – Irons the muscles, eliminating knots, lumps and bumps.
How to do it – Firm pressure along the length of the muscle.
When should it be used – Should be used for deeper release of tense muscles and can be focused on sore muscles.
Friction
Meaning – To rub. Any technique, which causes the tissue to be compressed against the bone, can be referred to as friction.
What does it do – Heats up the area being worked, improving circulation, promoting lymph drainage, stimulating nerves and loosening muscles (ideal for tension and stiffness).
How to do it – Rubbing effect with the hands.
When should it be used – Used for small problem areas.
Cat Pawing
Meaning – To mimic the action of a cat pawing its mother.
What does it do – Slow and deep, enabling the full warmth of the hands to penetrate deeply into the muscles.
How to do it – Deep pressing of the knuckles one after another.
When should it be used – Excellent for larger muscles where the heat can penetrate as deeply as possible.
Rocking
Meaning – Rocking is a back and forth motion.
What does it do – It breaks down tight, knotted muscles.
How to do it – Performed slowly but with deep firm pressure.
When should it be used – Applicable to sports injuries in larger muscle groups.
Vibration
Meaning – A rapid movement, which produces vibrations in the muscles.
What does it do –Vibration has a soothing and relaxing effect on larger muscle groups.
How to do it – Pressing down onto the muscle, then lifting off, quickly and repeatedly, will create the vibrations. Imagine rippling waves.
When should it be used – Vibration can be used on deeper muscle groups to break down tight, knotted muscles.
Tucking
Meaning – The process of making the best use of hot stones you have just used, by tucking them under the client so that the remaining warmth or coolness can be applied to various locations.
What does it do – This provides specific treatment to areas not currently being worked on. If, for example, a warm or cool stone is tucked under a client in an area to be treated later, the warmth will loosen the tension, or the cool will reduce inflammation. This will prepare the area ready for work.
How to do it – Tuck the stones under the client so that the remaining warmth or coolness can be applied to various locations
When should it be used – This can be used at any time when a little extended work can be taken advantage of.
Tapotement
Various methods
Cupping (slapping)
Hacking (chopping)
Pumelling (using fists)
Pinching
Meaning – This covers a range of fast, stimulating movements.
What does it do –.Stimulates blood circulation, as well as toning the skin and muscles. It is a general toner, strengthener and stimulator.
How to do it – Fast chopping actions. Use you hands on their edges.
When should it be used – Good for cellulite and other soft tissues areas around the thighs and buttocks. Sagging skin and poorly toned muscles will also respond well to this technique.
Gentle introduction
We begin with a gentle stroke that starts at the base of the neck. Placing our hands on either side of the spine we use gentle pressure and continuous motion, rubbing down the length and then up the sides of the back. We repeat this motion several times until we feel the recipient relaxing.
Thumb pressure
Going back to the shoulder blades, we apply the fleshy part of our thumbs (not the tips!) on either side of the spine at about mid-back and then push outward for an inch (a few centimetres) or so. We do this from the mid-back to the base of the neck in a series of small, outward strokes. We always check with the recipient to see if the pressure is right. We always apply pressure away from the spine, not towards it.
Trouble spots
Once you've warmed up a bit with the introduction, we move to the spots that seem tightest under your hands or that you have indicated need special attention. Using the fleshy part of our thumbs, we begin to work in small circles in the areas that need help.
Once the trouble spots are loosened up, we switch the approach to more general strokes:
We shake up the shoulders. Placing our palms on one of the shoulder blades, we give it a gentle shaking by quickly moving the palm back and forth. This should create a nice loose movement of the shoulder blade and arm. We repeat on the other side.
Tender spots
We are likely to find tender spots along the tops of the shoulders and even tucked down near the collar bone. If so we use the fleshy part of our fingers in a small, circular motion to help ease these areas.
Always consult your doctor for advice before getting any treatment
To book a place please contact us on the methods shown below. We also offer gift vouchers to ensure that you friends can enjoy a relaxing massage as a present
Tel: 0781 6458977
Email: info@hullchinesemassage.co.uk
Hull Chinese Massage is fully insuranced with
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