Good TECHNIQUES

Massage is about touch, and touch is communication. Thoughts and feelings can be communicated through our hands. How we touch can reflect and alter our partner's feelings and our own, which flow back and forth as our partner responds. The quality of our touch can transform a massage into a beautifully evocative, creative experience. However, no matter how gentle a person's feelings are for their partner, massage involves

However, no matter how gentle a person's feelings are for their partner, massage involves structured touch, which must be learnt to be accomplished properly. The three basic types of touch, which are used regularly are effleurage, petrissage and friction.

Effleurage is an oiling stroke, good for getting to know your partner's body. Petrissage uses a pumping, kneading motion, which is wonderful for releasing tension. Friction presses into specific problems, and, best used for small areas, gives a feeling of deep release.

Effleurage
This is the fast stroke of any massage, and is used to spread the oil, as well as to make contact and explore your panner's body. Stalling with your hands flat, fingers relaxed, glide lightly down the body, feeling for knots or tension (top left). Allow yourfingers to spread as you sweep round to return, gradually trailing off with the fingertips. Generally, you should increase the pressure as you stroke towards the heart. This stroke relaxes, affecting the nerves beneath the skin, and helps return the blood flow to the heart,

Petrissage
Have deeper strokes, good for fleshy areas, are used. Kneading is the most useful example. Grasp the flesh, pushing your thumb in and away from you. Use your fingers to roll the flesh back toward'yon (bottom left). Like kneading dough, move your hands alternately, with a squeezing, rolling, lifting action. Kneading frees the muscle fibers, increasing circulation,

friction
Here, the thumbs are used to apply specific pressure to joints, deep tissue and muscle over bone. Press down using the pad of your thumb, circling slightly on the spot for penetration (main picture). Friction brings release and stimulates circulation.