I don't want to be good I want to be GREAT!

[morriss]

I have only been in school for 3 weeks but the way the program I am taking works is that we start massage immediately. I like my school but it seems a little footloose and fancy free as far as structure goes. I have learned a massive amounts of strokes currently if I included them all in a massage it would easily be 2 hours long and we haven't yet covered the neck, shoulders, arms or hands.

Since I am practicing a lot (I have done 21 hour outside of class not counting the time inside) I am trying to figure out flow. I know that right now its about learning the strokes and figuring out body mechanics but I tend to want to be "there". Currently I am feeling a little of a loss. I have several massage therapist friends not to mention my teacher and my clients I have been requesting feedback from. I get such a variety of contradictory answers. I did a massage yesterday and at the end of it I felt the client was not wowed... I don't think she hated it but I did not feel she was thrilled either. During the massage she was telling me about this awesome massage she had in Mexico where they did hydro therapy. After the massage I asked her if there were in strokes in particular she did not like or did like and she brought up one of our mutual friends techniques of separating the little connective muscles around the spinal cord. I explained that that friend specializes in nerve work and I am looking forward to learning from her (which I am). However I did feel a little deflated. That technique is beyond my current level I would be afraid at this point to manipulate the spine in that manner. I had been hoping for feedback on what I had done. Sigh anyhow...

I know I am rambling at this point. I guess my question is in your opinion what makes a great massage? I know there is no one answer so I would love to hear everyone's feedback. Another question I have is regarding flow. Did your school give you a flow chart to do a one hour massage? Did you determine it yourself. How do you break up your massages and what are the secrets to make a massage feel flowing instead of disjointed and disruptive?