Massage

When somebody new comes for a massage, I let their bodies tell me what to do.

This means understanding what massage modality best serves your client’s needs, which specific techniques you’ll employ, and how to maintain your energy and focus throughout the treatment.

Start Slow and Be Intentional

Just like any endurance activity, it’s crucial not to start too aggressively or too weak, but at the level that suits the client.  Beginning with slow, deliberate movements allows both your muscles and your client’s tissues to properly warm up and adapt to the touch.

Slowing your movements transforms random motions into intentional, therapeutic strokes that help clients achieve deeper relaxation. This deliberate approach signals to your client that you are fully present and engaged during their session.

Research in massage therapy continues to support the connection of mindful touch and enhanced parasympathetic nervous system activation, leading to better therapeutic outcomes.

When practitioners move too quickly, clients may perceive the session as rushed or impersonal.

Enhanced Assessment Through Slower Techniques

Slower massage strokes significantly enhance both the client’s experience and your ability to provide effective treatment. When moving too quickly, practitioners often miss crucial tension, sore or stiffness muscles, tension patterns, and areas requiring specific attention, such as trigger points or fascial restrictions.

The slower you work, the more detailed information your hands can gather about your client’s soft tissue condition. This enhanced palpation allows you to identify problem areas more accurately and adjust your treatment accordingly. Modern massage therapy education emphasizes this assessment-through-touch approach, recognizing that skilled palpation is fundamental to effective treatment planning.