Spring’s Here!

Welcome to spring. The wind has been wonderful with the windows open all weekend. Finally we can air out the house from winter,and let the new kitties smell the wind as they sit on the windowsill watching the robins build nests in the pear trees.

This month, I’m covering some basics about giving a spouse, partner or family member a massage without hurting either one of you. Also, I'm covering self-massage at stoplights, and including more information about Lymphatic Drainage Massage.

- heather wibbels (615.294-6672)

Touch heals – whether it’s a hug at the end of a long day, or a much needed foot rub after a long workout. Learning couples massage can be a wonderful way to take that instinct for touch to another level with therapeutic massage. For my clients, I offer a 90 minute class of one-on-one instruction in couples massage. I coach one client on massage techniques for his/her partner’s trouble areas. Then, we switch and I coach the other person on massage techniques. My goal with couples massage is to give clients the tools to massage someone without hurting the partner or themselves.

Before you start your massage, set the stage for the massage, making the atmosphere comfortable and relaxing. Play soft music. This can be anything from classical or meditation cds to soft jazz or a favorite movie soundtrack. Turn off the television. Tivo or record if you have to – for that 15-20 minutes of massage, give your partner your complete attention. Lower the lights and don’t bring up any stressful topics if you talk during the massage (taxes, in-laws, work issues, etc.)

1. Breathe – If you aren’t breathing, you’re holding your breath. If you’re holding your breath trying to concentrate you are not relaxed enough to give a massage. Relax. Breathe. Have your partner take a deep breath with you. Breathing throughout the massage will keep the giver relaxed, and will also cue the receiver to breathe deeply.
2. Start light, go deeper – This is the most common mistake I see. Don’t attack the body. Massage is a conversation between two bodies. Say “Hello, How are you?” with your hands before you go deeper. Start light, get the body used to your touch. Then, slowly work deeper into trouble spots and areas of tension. If you start in too deep too soon, you can hurt yourself or your partner. Keep asking your partner how the pressure feels. Let me say that again in case you missed it: Keep asking your partner for feedback on the pressure.
3. Go Slow – A good massage is a sloooooooooow massage. Do 1 to 2 strokes per second. Slower strokes feel deeper, more relaxing, and save your hands. Slow strokes also feel deeper than fast strokes. Remember, with massage, slower is better for a relaxing, therapeutic massage.
4. Lean with your body, don’t press with your arms – When pressing into the body, don’t push with your arms. If you do, your back and your upper arms will get tired very quickly. Instead, brace your arms and lean forward with your torso, pushing with your legs. Use your legs and the angle torso to apply deeper pressure to the body. Using your fingers, arms and hands to push will wear out your hands and reduce the duration of the massage.
5. Use your whole hand – if you just use your fingers, ten minutes is going to feel like a very long time. You have the whole surface of your palm, your knuckles, your thumbs, your forearms, your elbows. Use as much of your hand as possible and reduce the chance of one part getting sore.
6. If it hurts, don’t do it – If it’s hurting you or your partner, stop. There’s another way to get the same effect without hurting your hands/arms or giving them a bruise or muscle cramp. Experiment to find another way. Try using a different part of the body, or move your partner around so that you don’t have to work as hard. Try having the receiver sit instead of lying down. Work with the receiver on a bed instead of the floor.
7. Communicate and have fun – Play around, experiment and find what works. Goof off. Make each other laugh. Talk about what feels good or what is uncomfortable. Between the two of you, try changing the position or angle of your bodies to work on one another without pain. And remember, you’re getting a massage – it’s all right to sigh or groan if something feels good. You can even make the Tarzan sound if your partner is using percussive strokes.

More on Massage: Lymphatic Drainage Massage

In the human body, the lymphatic system removes toxins, germs, and excess water and generates white blood cells. Lymphatic fluid is present within the entire capillary system of the body, and there are specific pathways the lymph fluid takes to move all the lymph fluid toward two major ducts at the base of the neck. Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a gentle, rhythmic type of massage that works by stimulating the lymph system. Gentle pumping actions applied to the skin cause movement in the lymph system toward the main lymph drainage ducts. This reduces blockages, gets lymph moving, and cleans out your system.

Normal movement of the lymph fluid is caused by muscle movement – breathing, walking, moving hands – all of these actions stimulate lymph fluid into lymph capillaries. However, when the body is injured, or under stress, the lymph system goes into overdrive, and the lymph system may be overwhelmed, or have blockages. Lymphatic massage can influence the lymph fluid to move from tissues into capillaries, and from there, to the major ducts draining lymph fluid throughout the body. The thoracic duct (on the left side of the body beneath the left collar bone) is the destination for lymph fluid from the entire left side of the body, and for the right side of the body below the chest. The right duct gathers fluids from the right side of the head, neck, upper chest and right arm.

In Lymphatic Drainage Massage, the massage therapist works from the major ducts outward, clearing blockages in major thoroughfares before working on lymph flow from more distal points on the body. By reducing blockages, the flow of the lymph system improves, and pulls along more lymph fluid from distal areas as it is worked. The therapy is very light and rhythmic. Usually the same actions are performed several times on a part of the body before moving to the next. Because lymphatic massage helps aid the removal of wastes in the system, sometimes clients feel tired and lethargic for 24-48 hours. This feeling has been compared to a low-grade alcohol hangover. The benefit is that once those toxins are out of the body, clients feel much better, retain less water, and increase function in the lymph system. Lymphatic massage can help with allergies and congestion, as well as edema. There are four main contraindications: 1) heart-related edema, 2) blood clots within the last three weeks, 3) acute inflammation (first 48 hours), and 4) active malignancies.

The following site contains more information about manual lymphatic drainage:

• Dr Vodder School North America

Please give me a call if you'd like to know more about lymphatic drainage massage or to include it in your next session (615.294-6672).