Touch Me A Beginner's Guide to Massage

Chapter 1 - Introduction The intention of this book

After nearly twenty years as a massage therapist there are usually two questions I’m asked by the clients on my table, Can you teach my husband/wife how to do this? and How can I do this for my partner? usually with a telling smile in their voice.

So, after hearing these questions over and over again I decided to put my *mumbles an obscure number* years of experience as a writer to use for my career as a Massage Therapist and put together some very basic information about the human body, and about massage.

The main purpose in these pages is not just to provide the Anatomical and Physiological information necessary (bony prominences, main muscle groups etc) for the lay person to give a good massage to someone they love; but also to give a little insight into how the giver can and does effect the receiver, and how to make it an optimal experience for all parties concerned.

Massage is essentially educated and practiced rubbing. Everyone has their own unique rhythm and sense of motion that feels right to them.

What I hope to accomplish here is to help those who are interested, to cultivate their own unique massage style while providing valuable anatomic and technical knowledge that will reduce the likelihood of discomfort or injury. The information will also help both the giver and the recipient get a better feel for their body and nurture a deeper, more satisfying relationship between both parties whether the relationship is platonic or more intimate.

There is no information contained in this book that is meant to be construed as medically diagnostic, nor will the information provide the reader or lay-practitioner with any kind of expertise that is a replacement for proper education in the way of Massage or the Healing Arts.

All the information contained herein, as well as the philosophies and theories posed are relayed strictly for the purpose of enhancing interpersonal relationships without fear of causing harm.

How the information is applied to your individual life, or your relationships with your loved ones, is completely up to you.

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One quick note... please keep your nails trim and smooth, it’ll be more comfortable for both of you.

Matter:

For our intents and purposes here Matter is any solid object that can be touched.

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Energy:

Can neither be created nor destroyed, and is essentially (in the world of quantum physics at least) the most basic building block of EVERYTHING, even matter.

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The Energy of Touch:

Believe it or not, it’s about more than the weight of someone’s hand on you. My clients are often more aware of how I feel about a particular project or endeavor before I’m aware of it myself.

Some of them have cited a change in pressure as the giveaway, others the speed or type of stroke, or even the depth and length of time I may linger on any given trigger point as the most telling factor.

The point is that something going on inside my head and heart is being communicated through TOUCH to my clients, many of whom are friends as well.

Oddly enough though, these same cues have also been cited as the telling factors when my mind is on something that’s troubling. But what’s really interesting is the way the difference has been described even if the technique is the same; often as a sense that I’m ‘cut off’ or ‘not really there’.

To every one of my clients and friends who understands how essential communication is, I am grateful for those times you bring me back to YOU. Thank You.

Touching is first and most obviously a physical connection, but second and even more importantly it is an emotional connection.

In our bodies we hold tension in certain places.

An adult who was sexually abused at any time, or made to feel ashamed of their body in any way may hold tremendous tension in their legs for instance, their muscles rock hard and immovable as if they’re forever ready to sprint away or escape. It’s important to be aware that these ‘holding’ places can be any muscle or group in the human body, and that it is possible that by working on that area, you might elicit an emotional release from your partner, sometimes it’ll be a strong one that may make them cry, or laugh, or even tighten up further if they’re not ready to deal with it, and sometimes it’s as simple as a sigh.

If your partner tightens up while you’re working on them, it’s not advisable to ask them if they’re having an ‘emo’ moment, you can and should however ask them if you’re hurting them, or if they’d like you to stop what you’re doing, and act accordingly to either adjust your pressure and/or technique.

Mindfulness when giving massage is essential and has its own section in chapter 3. It’s a small but very important

detail that can mean the difference between a positive experience and a ho-hum or even negative one.

Chapter 2 - Basic Massage Strokes (a Brief Overview)

But first! A wee bit of history:

What is massage? Simply put, Massage = touch (usually with rhythm).

From the dawn of life on this planet, every living thing responds to SOME kind of touch, including the touch of energy itself.

Plants respond to actual physical contact and the energy that comes from that contact, as well as solar and wind energy.

Flowers are pollinated in part due to contact with other living entities, bees, hummingbirds, bats, bugs, etc. As well as by the caress of a gentle breeze that carries the pollen to other flowers.

Animals, especially social animals groom each other to establish bonds, to reinforce the social order or hierarchy of