Point

The point is the fundamental building block of every massage, as it serves as our point of contact with the body. Since touch is required for massage, developing our awareness essential.

Nearly every area of the hand can serve as a point of contact. Each area generates its own unique sensation. For example, performing an effleurage with an open palm feels different from using a knuckle or a fingertip. Now think about the techniques you already know, imagine the near-unlimited sensations you could create by simply changing your point of contact.

What is the Point?

Point is an element of massage and a term used to help navigate when body mapping. When used for body mapping, it represents the area we are either massaging or intend to massage. As an element, it refers to any area of your body or a tool that comes into contact with the client. Depending on how the word is being used, it may mean what you use to massage the client, and how they are being massaged.

There are three kinds of points:

• Focal: The focal point is the primary area where you intend to apply pressure or use a technique.
• Presence: The presence point is any area of your body that is touching the client, whether on purpose or by accident. Purposeful touches may include maintaining contact when performing necessary tasks or moving their arms when draping. Accidental touches are when any area of your body touches someone unintentionally or absentmindedly. You must be aware of your body position in relation to the client at all times.
• Secondary: Secondary points are areas you touch a client during a technique that are not the primary focus. For example, when using petrissage on the trapezius, the focal point may be your thumb and index finger. Though the thumb and index fingers are the primary digits performing the technique, other fingers are still involved. This creates secondary sensations you may be unaware of. Those other fingers may be applying pressure to a sensitive zone that could cause discomfort. When we are aware of our secondary points, it increases the likelihood that we can cultivate a rewarding experience for our clients.

Explore the Infinite Detail

Massage is more than a series of pushes, pulls, and squeezes; it is an exploration of the infinite details of existence. It offers us the opportunity to dive into life, celebrating every exquisite sensation and cherishing our seconds.

In every second, there is a snapshot of infinite beauty and awe. No matter how closely we look at something, there is always more to see. When we apply this philosophy to massage, it opens the door to incredible joy and hope. Through our exploration of touch, we can be the lighthouse at the edge of the sea, guiding people toward peace.

Dial in on the Point

When performing a massage, slow down. Give yourself a moment to process the intricate data your brain is receiving. Moving too quickly blurs the information and mutes the sensation. When you move patiently, it gives your nerves enough time to detect details that would normally be imperceivable.

When your hand moves like molasses, it unlocks sensations that are out of this world. Dialing in on the intricate details of your client’s soft tissues enhances their perception of touch. You can transform their awareness so that a single inch of skin can feel like an acre of pleasure.

Develop Your Sense of Touch

To improve your ability to feel and explore during a massage, you must develop your sense of touch. This requires a sizeable vocabulary to describe the sensations you feel. When you’re out and about, I want you to think about how everything feels. Touch and communication are intertwined, especially within the realm of massage. Most people have a limited vocabulary; so let’s expand it!

• If we slid our hand over silk, it would feel smooth, silky, soft, and luxuriously slippery. A freshly waxed car would feel sleek and polished, and a velvet cloth would be soft and plush. A windowpane would be hard, cold, and perfectly even.
• Running our hand over sandpaper would feel coarse, harsh, and abrasive. Moving wet sand between our fingers would feel gritty, and with enough focus, we could feel the individual grainy particles. Holding a rock, we might feel the uneven, rugged, and jagged surfaces. A wool sweater against our bare skin may feel scratchy, and the sharp protrusions of tree bark might feel rough.
• Tickling a down feather against our cheek could feel fluffy, light, and airy. We could explore the fine, soft hairs of a peach.

Massage Point Homework

Exercise 1: In massage, we are offered the unique opportunity to celebrate the magnificent sensations of existence in a pure and ethical manner. To harness the power of touch, you must develop the ability to articulate what you are feeling. Go out into the world and feel some objects in the park, touch the sides of a building, and place your hand in the dirt. I want you to feel the world.

Take a picture of the things you are touching, and then write a little snippet about how they felt when you touched them. If you are someone who doesn’t know many words, here are a few to help you get started.

Rocky, rigid, stiff, inflexible, bony, hard, knobby, lumpy, pitted, wavy, rippled, ridged, gummy, soft, sticky, tacky, clammy, gluey, smooth, wet, slick, slimy, slippery, soggy, oily, greasy, hairy, wiry, bristly, shaggy, feathery, grainy, sandy, powdery, pebbly, crumbly, rubbery, leathery, waxy, chalky, corrugated, mossy, damp, scaly, and thorny.

A considerable portion of providing a fantastic massage is the act of exploring through palpation. The more aware you become regarding what you feel on a micro level, the greater you will be able to offer relief on a macro level. Since the point is the fundamental element of all other massage elements, this is one you need to thoroughly explore.

Exercise 2: Place the tip of your finger on a table or flat surface. Keep the point of contact fixed so the focal point does not move. Now apply a little pressure and explore how the bone within your finger feels. Now imagine what the client would feel if you were using this kind of touch. Move your hand to change the focal point of your finger and explore how it feels to you, and imagine how it could feel for your client.