Although a therapeutic and professional back massage requires a lot of study and preparation, you can always massage a person to stimulate his tissues in a relaxing way, even without having followed a real course of study. You will be able to perform a good massage even at home, learning some basic techniques and applying them scrupulously. The most important thing to point out is that, without professional preparation, you have to limit yourself to applying only light pressure for whatever method you choose to use.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preparation
Step 1. Get a massage table
This tool gives you better access to the entire back of the person you need to massage; it is also designed to be comfortable and has a hole for the face, useful for keeping the spine well aligned. However, if you don't have one available, there are some alternatives.
- If you can't get a massage table, then you can use the floor, sofa, bed, and even the kitchen table if it's sturdy enough to hold the weight of a person lying down. Each of these options has its downsides, as they are less comfortable solutions than the professional bed, because they do not provide the same comfort to the person receiving the massage and are not at the right height to allow the masseur to work without bending over. uncomfortable way.
- If you have to use the bed, make sure your massage proposal is not inappropriate. Evaluate the relationship between you and the person you want to massage and inform them, in advance, that it will happen on the bed.
Step 2. Lay down a soft mat
If you don't have a massage table and are forced to use a harder surface, then place a mat on it. This must be at least 5 cm thick to ensure the right comfort for the subject you will massage.
Step 3. Cover the mattress or cot with a sheet
Since the person will have to take off most of their clothes to undergo the massage, a clean sheet will ensure greater hygiene and improve overall comfort. The fabric will also absorb excess oil.
Step 4. Prepare the room
Make sure it's hot enough without being unlivable. In this way you create the ideal environment where the subject can relax the muscles you want to massage.
- Put on some quiet music. New age, ambient, classical music and even the sounds of nature are perfect to completely relax an individual; rhythmic music, such as those heard while driving, is not at all suitable. Remember to keep them at a low volume.
- Dim the lights a little, just enough so they aren't dazzling.
- Light scented aromatherapy candles. This is optional and you should always ask the person if they like it, as they may be sensitive to scents.
Step 5. Ask the subject to undress to their comfort level
A massage should be done on bare skin, especially if you are going to use an oil or lotion. For this reason, ask the recipient to undress, but only as far as they want.
- Always have an extra towel or sheet available, in addition to the one you used to cover the cot. This way you can cover the parts of the body that you don't have to massage and make the atmosphere more comfortable, calm and relaxing.
- If there is a privacy issue, leave the room while the individual undresses and give him time to cover himself with the extra towel or sheet. Before you go back, knock and make sure it's ready.
- If the person has not taken off their pants or underwear, you can wrap the edge of the towel around the waist of the garment to prevent oil from staining the fabric.
Step 6. Ask him to lie down on his stomach
If you have a massage table, your face should be resting against the edges of the hole provided.
If the person finds it comfortable, you can raise his ankles with a pillow or rolled towel to provide more lumbar support
Step 7. Expose your back
If the person covered themselves with the sheet or towel after taking off their clothes, fold the fabric back to gain access to the back.
Part 2 of 2: Massage
Step 1. Tell the subject that you are about to start
Ask him to report any pain or discomfort to you; to be able to relax and be completely at ease, he must have faith in you. This is by no means the time to make inappropriate jokes or comments.
Occasionally remind him to breathe slowly and deeply to help him relax
Step 2. Pour massage oil into the palm of your hand
Start with about 15ml of product (which vaguely corresponds to the diameter of a 2 euro coin). Warm the lotion by rubbing it between your hands before applying it to the skin.
Among the various oils available, the most suitable are undoubtedly the organic ones of coconut, grape seed, jojoba and almond, but you can also try other products on the market, fragrant and very expensive
Step 3. Smear the oil on your back
The most used technique for spreading hot oil on a person's back is called effleurage, which means "brushing" or "light friction". Make long, even movements.
- You have to use your whole hand starting from the lower back and moving towards the shoulders. Direct each touch towards the heart (promoting blood circulation), while applying some pressure, and return to the starting point by lightly touching the skin. In the "descent" phase, keep contact with the person's body, but without pressing.
- Repeat this technique for 3-5 minutes, while gradually increasing the pressure to a medium level to warm up the back muscles.
- Don't forget the shoulder and neck area.
Step 4. Use the petrissage technique
This involves short, circular movements and requires you to apply more pressure than effleurage. You can think of it as a massage technique that uses pressure and manipulation to promote deep circulation.
- While performing this type of massage you need to use the palm of your hand, fingertips or even your knuckles, making circular movements.
- The movement must develop from your waist (and the whole torso) and not from the shoulders, otherwise you will tire very quickly.
- Continue in this way by straining your entire back for 2-5 minutes. You can alternate a delicate effleurage with petrissage to diversify the technique.
- Remember that if you are not a professional massage therapist you must limit yourself to moderate pressure during the petrissage.
Step 5. Switch to percussion movements
Percussion (also called tapotement) is a series of short, repetitive touches between your back and various points on your hands. You can cupped your hands, join your fingers together to form a kind of tip, or flatten your hand and practice gentle strokes with your knuckles. All these movements stimulate the tissues with compression.
- Try to relax your wrists and keep them slightly bent as you drum, so you avoid hitting too hard.
- Continue with these techniques for 2-3 minutes, taking care to work on the person's entire back.
Step 6. Try the kneading technique
To perform it you have to keep the fingers of the hand joined together forming a kind of "claw" with the thumb. Apply light pressure while twisting and lifting the tissues; the hands must alternate between them as if they were the windshield wipers of a car.
Run the entire back 2-3 times with this technique
Step 7. Use a fan technique
Move to the end of the table where the subject's head is. Place your thumbs at the base of her neck, on the sides of her spine. With a "fan" motion of your thumbs, gently push down and towards your lower back, applying gentle pressure towards her feet (not towards the floor). Press with both thumbs alternately, moving from the neck towards the waist.
Be sure to massage only the muscles on the sides of the spine and not the spine directly. Manipulating this structure could create discomfort for the subject and is potentially dangerous if you don't know what to do precisely
Step 8. Apply the twists
Go back to the individual and place one hand on their hip furthest away from you while the other rests on their closest side. Make a smooth motion and pull one hand towards you while pushing in the opposite direction with the other. Repeat this technique for the entire length of the back to the shoulders and then back down. Perform this massage 3 times.
Advice
- Advise the subject to get up slowly. After a massage, you don't realize how relaxed you are and you run the risk of staggering and even falling to the ground.
- Each individual has a different tolerance to pressure. Remember to always ask him if he is in pain or discomfort when moving on to a deeper technique. If you feel that the muscle contracts under the pressure of your hands, it means that you have exaggerated. If the person confirms that they are not in pain, then encourage them to relax to avoid muscle injury. Never force any movement.
- As you move towards your head, gradually reduce the pressure; when you move towards the pelvis, increase it.
- Try to always keep a hand on the person's body to make the massage fluid and give a feeling of continuity. Make sure you always move your hands smoothly, without stopping and starting over and over again.
- If you haven't taken a formal study course in massage, never go beyond moderate pressure. If you enjoy this kind of activity and would like to know more, then enroll in an accredited school. Even if you will never become a licensed therapist, you can still take classes at the weekend to learn safe basic techniques.
- When the session is over, you can cover the person's back with the sheet or towel and rub the shoulders and arms to remove excess oil; otherwise the clothes could get stained.
- If you have set a certain time for the massage, keep a watch on hand to stick to the schedule.
Warnings
- Do not apply pressure to the spine.
- When pressing on the lumbar region, always be very gentle. Remember that there are no ribs in this area that protect the internal organs from the pressure of your hands.
- Avoid areas where the skin has lesions, blisters, or signs of infection.
- When massaging your neck and head, apply gentle pressure. Only a qualified massage therapist should deeply manipulate these areas, because there are arteries and stimulation of this area may be contraindicated for some pathologies.
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There are cases where massage can aggravate the situation. A person suffering from the following conditions should always seek advice from their doctor before undergoing a massage:
- Deep vein thrombosis (the formation of clots in the deep veins, usually in the legs).
- Spinal trauma or damage such as a herniated disc.
- Coagulation disorders or on anticoagulant therapy (such as warfarin).
- Damaged blood vessels.
- Bone structure weakened by osteoporosis, a recent fracture or cancer.
- Fever.
- If the massage is to be performed on areas with open or healing wounds, tumor, damaged nerves, acute infection or inflammation caused by radiotherapy.
- Pregnancy.
- Cancer.
- Skin brittleness caused by diabetes or healing scars.
- Heart problems.
