The Art of Relaxation Massage

By: PWT

Although there is a science to relaxation massage, it really is the art of the massage profession.  To properly relax the body there should be a flow of techniques from start to finish.  You can't relax someone with jerky, stop/start techniques.  Any form of massage can be incorporated into relaxation if you know what you are doing.

Unfortunately the client feedback on relaxation massage for many therapists is quite poor.  This falls back onto initial training of course but also reflects on the massage therapist's skills. 

If it doesn't have the ambience it's not going to work.  A quiet room away from the world, some relaxing music and aromatic scents.  You're relaxing before you're reach the table. Massage strokes must be slow and firm, yes firm, people hate skin polishing they want to feel something for their money.

The therapist needs to be relaxed, centred and move their body with the techniques.  If it feels good to you it feels good to the client.  Never squirt oil onto the client (it is done frequently by therapists) warm it in your hands and apply it.  Keep contact with the client as much as you can, it helps them to relax.  One of the most important things is the transition, it needs to be smooth, a seamless transfer between one technique to the other.

Namikoshi shiatsu is a very good example.  The trick to Namikoshi is it is applied slowly to a reasonable depth, then slowly eased off.  It can be very, very relaxing even though there is no oil or long strokes.  It is all in the application and the therapist.

Go have a relaxation massage - if you don't relax, try someone else until you find the right therapist for you.