Post your back massage routines here to share

[Psyluna]

I found in one of my massage books the sequence for figure of 8, which has been helpful even with photos. Its also gives sequences for fanning and butterfly shoulders.

 

[okie dokie]

some people do 3 circles rather than 2 circles (fig 8). So they do shoulders -first circle, rib area (can't think of tech terminology, lats?) 2nd circle, hips to buttocks 3rd circle.

another variation on this is to stand at client's head and do an "I". Slide down each side of spine, sweep out to hips all the way down to the bed, return, slide back up spine and sweep out to shoulders and top of arms, when you return to shoulders, pick-up neck muscles slightly and pull them downwards as you continue to repeat your "I".

Please explain butterfly shoulders.

 

[estisilelia]

This movement relaxes the shoulder and disperses tension

1. Place one hand at the bottom of the shoulder blade (scapula) with fingers splayed and the second hand poised to follow on the same side.

2. Brush the hand up and out in a smooth fanning movement. Follow with the second hand, work all round the shoulder blade and out over the shoulder, towards the armpit.

Repeat 4x then work on other shoulder.

 

[Varcan]

oooooh, nice!

 

[K T]

Ok so here is my back massage routine - 55 minutes. Its a bit lengthy!

Back:

· Effleurage up the back and down again – Repeat 3 x
· Effleurage on left hand side with both hands sweeping up and down back – repeat 3x repeat on R side 3x
· Standing to the side, pull hands across persons back left hand and right hand in a wave like motion – Repeat 3x
· Hand kneading up spine on each side – Repeat 3 x
· Finger kneading up spine on each side – Repeat 3 x

Pettrisage :
· Standing to the side, wringing up left of back and up to shoulders – repeat 3x
· Repeat on right hand side 3x

Lower Back

· Finger kneading across lower back – Repeat 3 x
· Wringing on left side – 4 x
· Circular friction of hip working into muscle
· Ironing – 4 x
· Picking up – 4 x
· Knuckling in circular motions
· Repeat on Right side
· Knuckling up the back on left side with fists clenched and together and down again – 3 x
· Knuckling up the spine one hand on each side and back down again 3x
· Repeat on right hand side
· Start at base of spine – thumbs slide up spine about 3 inch and then place palms down and slide back to start. Repeat to 6 in and then down and again until full sequence up back.

Standing behind client

Thumb strokes slide around trapezius – L side and then R side – Repeat 3 x and then both hands together on each side of trapezius
Then slide both thumbs down the spine one on each side – Repeat 3 x moving outwards each time.
Neck rub using picking up – Repeat 3 x
Thumbs circles up hairline and around hairline
Loose fists on shoulders i.e. pounding/beating, hacking, pinching – Repeat 3x each

Upper Back
· Small circulars on trapezius, circles in and out down spine and to top of neck (using tips of fingers (all fingers)
· Push across muscle fibres using both hands, using tips of fingers from the spine outwards
· Figure of 8 1st movement 3x
· Place hand straight using heel of hand. Spend time smoothing out muscle
· Using a flat hand, finger stroke tips in circular motion deep into tissues using one hand up to base of neck and back down again. Start again but move faster. Heel of hand rests on back.
· Figure of 8 2nd movement 3x
· Picking up to lift muscles – Repeat 3x
· Reinforced ironing on each side L then Right
· Reinforced kneading on shoulders
· Deep thumb circle around shoulders
· Use finger tips of both hands in circular motion around trapezius
· Work into trapezius using thumb pads
Work out any tension spots / areas.
· Figure of 8 – 1st movement 3x
· Knuckling upper arm and salsa move around arm/shoulder
· Figure of 8 2nd movement from shoulders to lower back 3x

To finish:

· Wringing across whole back
· Picking up
· Hacking
· Cupping
· pinching
· Skin rolling on each side
· Twists – like wringing but not lifting
· Fine tumbling movements down back
· Effleurage to finish

Done!

 

[Ron Lat]

well done Tracy,
that sounds like a fab routine and well described too.

 

[Gondenbehrt]

Thanks Daisy

Well hopefully it can be of help to someone who had the same problems as me. I worked on it for days trawling books, HP and the internet plus incorporating my moves that I learned from College. A big job now completed successfully.