SPAHOLIC Know your massage By Emma Rose Policarpio Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 22:29:00 09/02/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Massage is the bedrock of the spa industry. It is, hands down, the most requested treatment to bust your stress or get revitalized after a long day at work.
It is a powerful tool that can improve your physical, mental, even spiritual health. More than a feel-good back rub, this ancient form of healing encompasses a variety of techniques using the hands to manipulate the tissues in the body.
Best-known benefits of a massage include improving blood circulation, loosening contracted muscles, balancing the nervous system and helping eliminate waste products and harmful toxins that build up and overwork muscle tissues in the body.
Art and science
Long before I became a “spaholic,” I considered massage as just an hour or so of having a therapist target those achy parts of my body. As my passion for massage grew over the years, I developed a deeper understanding of the art and science that go behind every stroke. I learned not only the massage lingo but also the reasons for all those pounding and rubbing. You, too, can enrich your massage experience by familiarizing yourself with the basic massage techniques.
The flow of effleurage. From the French “to skim the surface,” effleurage is the basic full hand gentle gliding stroke used at the start of a Swedish massage. Light strokes are great for calming and relaxing the muscles, especially when strokes are rhythmic and slow. It prepares the body for deeper bodywork and helps spread the massage oil all over the body. Effleurage strokes generally move toward the heart to encourage good circulation.
Feisty fist. Effleurage can be done with loose, open fists as well. Using the knuckles to go a little deeper into the muscles, fist eflleurage is good for loosening muscles and tissues and relieving tension.
Forearms forward. When palms are not big enough to cover large areas of the body, the forearms are also used. This is the basic stroke used in a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage.
Just like a rolling pin, the forearm gently glide from the lower back, effleurage style, on either side of the back, avoiding the spine as this may cause injury. Those who prefer an invigorating massage session can look forward to a full Hawaiian Lomi Lomi body work.
Petrissage. Another basic stroke in a Swedish massage. If effleurage covers large areas of the body, petrissage is more focused on a particular body part. Just like a baker kneading bread, petrissage strokes involve squeezing the muscles gently in a circular motion, applying firm pressure. Petrissage is a great cleansing massage technique as it dislodges toxins and wastes from the muscles.
Wringing. Did you ever get the feeling that your therapist is wringing your arms and legs like a wet towel to get the bulk of the water out? Both hands are wrapped around the area, with one hand gently rotating forward and the other back. The wringing petrissage stroke is a great way to wring tensions out of the muscle. It should not be done too tightly or too fast, as this would only cause a burning sensation on the skin. Instead, it should be gentle, gliding and deep enough to manipulate the underlying tissue, not just the skin. It should be gentle yet deep enough to manipulate the skin’s surface.
Massage on a roll. Rolling is done by grasping the skin and underlying tissue between fingers and thumb, and gently rolling the flesh while holding it. Some skin lifts right up; others seem to have tight fascia, making the stroke more difficult, making you feel as if you are being pinched. If so, just remember that this stroke is good for releasing stored toxins in the body.
Hacking or “Chop Chop.” Just when you are dozing off, you feel your therapists performing an a la Karate Kid “chop-chop” pounding on your back, bringing you back to reality. With fingers apart, “chop-chop” works like a drumstick on those fleshy areas such as the back, legs and buttocks. It is usually done before your session ends.
Cupping, not slapping. Done with hands cupped and gently drumming the muscles, it is ideal for more sensitive areas and should be done quickly and lightly. For larger muscles with more tension, pounding can be administered by making a fist and firmly bouncing it robustly against stubborn muscles. Finally, tapping is a refreshing ending after an interlude of pounding. It is done gently, tapping the fingers against the skin surface as if typing on a computer keyboard.
Acquainting yourself with these basic techniques can definitely heighten your massage appreciation. Knowing what you want in a massage and how you want it spells a big difference in relishing the ultimate relaxation. This is also one way to test if your therapist is knowledgeable.
So, the next time you get a massage appointment, surprise your therapist by asking her to “knead you more” or “drum it up” for a totally uplifting experience.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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