If you’d like to purchase a massage table, you can find one here. If you don’t have access to a massage table, then you can try using the floor, a couch, a bed, or even a kitchen table if it’s sturdy enough for the person to lie on. Each option has drawbacks that make it less ideal than a massage table, mostly due to comfort issues for the person receiving the massage and height issues requiring the person giving the massage to lean over in uncomfortable ways. If a bed is the best option available, make sure that the suggestion doesn’t come across as inappropriate. Consider the relationship you have with the person and discuss that the massage will take place on a bed beforehand.
Play some uneventful music. New age, ambient music, quiet classical music, or even soundscapes will help the person relax to their fullest. Pulsing, driving music won’t help. Keep the volume low. Turn the lights down just enough so there’s no glare in the room. Light scented aromatherapy candles. This is optional, and you should ask the person before lighting the candles since some people enjoy the smells while others are too sensitive to them.
Always provide an additional towel or sheet above and beyond the one covering the table. This way the person can lie down and cover the parts of his or her body not being massaged. This will make the environment both more comfortable and warmer, which is relaxing. If privacy is a concern, step out of the room as you have the person dress down and cover himself/herself with the additional towel or sheet. Knock and ensure that the person is ready for reentering the room. If the person left pants or underwear on, you could tuck the edge of the towel or sheet into the waistband to ensure no oil from the massage stains the material.
If it’s comfortable for the person, you can also use a pillow or folded towel beneath the ankles. This will support the person’s lower back.
Ask them where they usually feel tension or pain, if they’ve gone to physical therapy or seen a chiropractor in the past, and if they have any diagnosis before you get started. This will give you a better picture of their situation so you’re able to better help and not make their pain worse. [1] X Expert Source Will FullerCertified Massage Therapist Expert Interview. 9 January 2020. Periodically remind the person to take a slow, deep breath. It will help with relaxation.
Good oils to use are organic coconut oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil. There are many expensive scented and speciality massage oils on the market you can try too. You can explore massage oil options here.
Use the whole of your hands and start at the bottom of the person’s back, moving upward. Always upward toward the heart (the direction of blood flow) while applying pressure, and then lightly bring the hands down the outside of the back lightly. Maintain contact without applying pressure as you bring your hands back down. Repeat this technique for 3-5 minutes while gradually increasing from light to medium pressure to warm up the back muscles. Don’t forget the shoulders and neck area.
This technique can use the palm, fingertips, or even the knuckles in the short, circular motions. [6] X Research source The movement should come from the waist—your core—rather than from the shoulders. This will help keep you from becoming fatigued. Go across the entire back for 2-5 minutes. You can alternate between this and lighter effleurage movements to diversify techniques. Without professional training, use only light to medium pressure while applying petrissage movements.
Keep your wrists relaxed and flex at the wrists, using quick movements to perform tapotement techniques. [10] X Research source This ensures that you don’t apply too much pressure. Spend 2-3 minutes applying the techniques across the person’s entire back. You can also try using an electric massager gun to perform percussive therapy. Electric massagers are effective, feel great, and have the benefit of not tiring out the person performing the massage. You can explore electric massager options here.
Move up and down the back 2-3 times.
Make sure you are massaging the muscles on either side of the spine, not directly on the spine itself. Massaging over the spine can be very uncomfortable and dangerous if you are not trained properly.
