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EASY
TO LEARN BACK
MASSAGE ROUTINE LONDON THERAPY
Massage
London is proud to present our tips on massaging the back. Most
people massage their friend's back while they lie on the floor or on
a bed. We suggest that they lay on the floor on top of a series of
couch cushions or futon type cushion.
Position
yourself on your knees beside them. Use your weight and be careful
not to strain your own back. It will be helpful to use a little bit
of vegetable oil as a lubricant between your hands and their
skin.
For
optimum access to their back, it will be helpful to have them remove
their shirt and to pull their underwear down a bit. Be sure to have
them turn their head occasionally so their neck won't get stiff.
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Before
we begin, it is important to note the areas that can be
accidentally injured with too much pressure. These areas are
marked in red in the photo above.
The
lower two red spots are the approximate locations of the
kidneys. Never do percussive (pounding) techniques here.
Secondly, don't dig deep into the arm pits without additional
training.
Also
be careful of the sciatic nerve in the buttocks. Sharp
pressure in this area will be very painful. Also, note the
white dots on the photo above. These dots indicate the
approximate location of the bones called the spinous
processes.
Don't
press directly on these bones. Don't push on these bones with
pressure thinking that they are just stubborn spasms. |
 
From
the head (top) smooth down the back muscles on both sides of the
spine. This thick rope-like muscle is called the Erector Spinae
group. It actually runs from the base of the skull to the tail bone
area. Use equal pressure on your fingers and the heels of your
hands. Smooth down the Erector Spinae, and back up along your
friend's sides, shoulders, and neck. Do this several times.
Move
yourself along their side and face their head. Repeat the long
smoothing strokes, going slightly deeper with each pass. Make sure
that your hands conform to their body. Your pressure should be even
and your strokes consistent in speed.
Try
splitting your index finger and your center finger, placing your
hand over the spine. Gently place each finger in the groove between
the spine and the Erector Spinae muscles. Place your other hand over
the bottom hand for extra pressure.
 
Again
begin making strokes down the back, but deeper than the first time.
Emphasize your pressure on the heel of your hands, stroking the
Erector Spinae, down both sides of the spine. You can try to
separate the fibers of the Erector Spinae group of muscles with your
thumb.
For
extra strength, you can use your other fingers to reinforce your
thumb. Firmly, but smoothly, work from the ditch next to the spine
and over the Erector Spinae muscle. Don't "thump" over the
muscle. Take it slowly, with control. This will help to improve the
fibers in the muscle itself.
 
After
you've worked the muscle all the way down the back, you can do
soothing circular strokes with the finger tips along the same area.
This serves to relax the muscle and increase circulation.
Now
the fun stuff! To work the Erector Spinae even deeper, now that it
is warmed up, we'll use our elbows. In the second picture above, you
can see that we use our elbow to work from the low back to the top.
Keep your elbow away from the spine. Do not work to quickly so that
you lose control. You will make several strokes (3-10) the entire
distance.
Each
should be slightly deeper than the first.
Remember:
The deeper your
stroke, the slower you should go. Let your friend give you feedback
as to how you are doing. You may even want to use your other hand to
guide your elbow. You can also work the upper back along this muscle
area from the head, facing the feet. Work gently and slowly.
When
you're done with the deep stokes, you can use your forearms,
together, to smooth up the back. Make this pass several times.
Next,
carefully place the arm of your friend over their low back and your
hand under their shoulder, for support. If this hurts their
shoulder, keep their arm along the body. Gently lift the shoulder up
and use your fingers to work along the border of the scapulae
(shoulder blade).
Make
deep circular strokes, pausing to press on any pebble-like spasms.
With caution, you can also use your thumb to gently push under the
shoulder blade, lifting it away from the back, stretching the
Rhomboid muscle. This area will be very tender. Place the arm back
along side them very slowly.
For
a finishing touch, we will now work up and down the back with a
pushing and pulling motion, made with alternating hands. Push with
one hand, while pulling them up with the other. Then, do just
pushing stokes. Follow this with strong, supporting pulling strokes.
 
Carefully
use your knuckles on the Erector Spine muscles, from the top of the
back to the low back. Stay off of the bones of the spine. Smooth the
back out again, and finish with gentle feather-like strokes, hand
over hand pulling upward from the low back to the neck. You're done!
I
wish you well as you learn to massage. Using your hands to help
others can bring incredible satisfaction. Good luck and practice
often.
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