Basic Techniques of Massage

If you are wanting to learn some basic techniques of massage, you are in the right place.

Fundamentally all massage modalities are build from the basic techniques of massage. These are vibration, effleurage, friction, petrissage, and tapotement. Learning these basic massage techniques will help you develop a fundamental understanding of touch, and offer you the ability to perform a basic massage.

• Vibration: Vibration is one of the least used massage techniques, especially with the advent of motorized vibration tools. This technique uses gentle trembling movements to stimulate the nerves.
• Effleurage: An effleurage is a technique that uses long, gliding movements that tend to be light to medium pressure. It is typically used to apply linenments throughout a massage session. In traditional Swedish massage, effleurage means to skim, or to touch lightly.
• Friction: This techniques uses circular or cross-fiber friction movements.
• Petrissage: Petrissage involves kneading, rolling, or lifting soft tissues.
• Tapotement: Tapotement is a rapid and rhythmic percussive movements. Some examples include, tapping, cupping, slapping, and pounding.

If you would like to learn how to perform each of these basic techniques of massage schedule a massage class with me. I offer private class for two people at once, I will provide a link below for you to learn more.

If you already know the five basic techniques of massage I want you to dig a little deeper. How much have you really thought about the intricacies of each technique. If you have been a massage therapist for a considerable period of time, it is likely you haven’t even thought about them for a while. You might not even remember the definitions of each term. If you don’t it’s okay. As adults we only hold onto the data were use on a regular basis. We might use the techniques, but if we aren’t thinking about their names, their definitions will float out of our ears.

Rather than readdress the names and definitions of the five basic techniques of massage, we are going to learn how to dive into them. In this article I will provide a primer for you to investigate the elements and virtues of each technique you use.

The Elements of Massage

In this exercise we will be using the elements of massage. I have written extensively on this subject and you can read more about them by downloading the first edition version of the PDF, or by visiting the massage elements web page .

Basic Techniques of Massage: Massage Elements

• Point: What parts of your hand (or tool) are touching the client?
• Shape: What is the shape and the point touching the client?
• Pressure: How much kinetic force is being applied to the client?
• Line: What path are you taking when applying the technique?
• Movement: How are you moving throughout the technique?
• Temperature: What is the temperature of the point being applied to the client?

Basic Techniques of Massage: Virtues of Massage

• Empathy: Imagine how your client feels before and as you apply each technique throughout a massage.
• Humility: Know you are not the expert of all things. Though you may have a keen eye, and excellent discernment, you cannot know how someone feels unless they tell you. Have the humility to ask how something feels, rather than assuming you are the expert of their experience.
• Creativity: Take your time to explore,  create and use your imagination throughout a massage.