For thousands of years, Massage has been used by all cultures, worldwide, to heal and soothe the sick. Massage offers the gift of caring touch, movement and energy, qualities that are associated with well being.

Recent Studies on massage have established that this therapy can lower an individual's blood pressure, make one feel more relaxed, relieve tension, soothe away headaches, relax tense muscles, or conversely, can be done to make someone more alert.

Massage can preserve health, heal illness and relieve us from stiffness and pain. It provides us with a means to counteract stress and to deeply relax.

Kneading or pulling upwards with the flat of the hand on the fleshy areas of the body in a rhythmical and rocking movement. It is effective on shoulders, hips, buttocks, and legs. Useful to tone and stretch the muscles relieving stiffness and tension. It also improves circulation and assists the dispersal of toxins from the tissue.

Deep circulatory movements using the thumbs, to break adhesion between tissue and knots. The area to be treated is first relaxed with pettrisage, then massaged with friction every so often so that the knot is broken down gradually rather than in one go. It should NEVER be used on the spine itself.

Cupping and Hacking. A percussive movement on the skin, consisting of stimulating, invigorating and warming of only the fleshy parts of the body by clapping with cup shaped hands (cupping) or the edge of the fingers bearing the weight of the whole hand (hacking). this improves the circulation and reduces tension in the muscles. It should NEVER be used on the spine itself.

Manually articulating joints to allow the recipient to relax muscles. The recipient can feel their muscles impeding or aiding the movements and can consciously relax them, but to do this they must be able to trust the masseuse/masseur. Whilst moving the appendage, the grip must be secure (not hard, but a firm grip with a large contact area). Your own body weight should move with the appendage as much as possible, which gives a smooth flowing movement.

The key to a good massage is CONTACT-- make contact with the whole hand and never break contact (ie both hands) whilst massaging.

From the massage point of view, the back can split into five areas;

The Spine, the erecta spinae, the flanks, the scapular region and the shoulder region.

Everyone develops their own 'style' of back massage, and will tailor it to the recipient. The following should not be regarded as a list of items that must all be included for complete satisfaction, simply as an itinerary from which you can select appropriate techniques.

The first effluage is generally used to begin, as this is the move that you use to spread the oil.

Effleurage. This is used to spread the oil, accustomise the recipient to the touch of your hands and to start warming the muscles. This should be light to start with, and as the back warms up, pressure is gradually added.

Pettrisage of the flanks. This is more vigorous than the effluage, firmly and rhythmically, kneading and pulling up the sides.

Circles along the side of the spine - NOT on the spinous processes themselves. This can be done either with fingertips, thumbs or the heal of the palm. The fingertips are more sensitive and can be useful in finding areas of localised tension.

Rocking horse and Fork. These are used once the erecta spinae have been warmed up. For the rocking horse, brace two fingers either side of the spine about 2 inches apart, and run smoothly up from bottom to top. For the fork you also used two braced fingers but this time apply point pressure every inch or so up the spine.

Iron and Rake. These are two friction techniques, used on the more heavily muscular areas. The iron is applying pressure through the heals of the hand in either linear or circular movements. The rake is tensioning the hand like a rake, also moving in linear or curving movements.

Kneading Shoulders.

Gently knead neck muscles.

Circle either side of the neck up to base of the skull.

Lift up arm and bend back so that the recipient's hand rests in the small of their back. This is to isolate different muscles in the scapular region. Care should be taken not to disturb the recipient...they should not have to assist you.

Knead around and under the edge of the shoulder blade.

Plucking using thumbs and forefingers across the blade.

Cup and hack along the side. Rhythm is crucial --- so practice. Your hands must be loose.

Spread horizontally, vertically and diagonally. This stretches out the muscles that you have just been working on. Time pressure with the recipients breathing, and do the move on complete exhalation.

Effleurage to finish...

Neck and Shoulder Massage...

This is one taken from Aromatherapy and Natural Health.

With your recipient led in front of you, you sit at the head...

Starting stroke: Stroke down the chest, across to the shoulders, around them and up the back of the neck to the base of the skull. It is a smooth and continuous stroke.

Rib Pressures: Find the space between the top two ribs and close to the breastbone in the centre of the chest. Make small circular pressures, stroking out to the armpits, whilst asking the recipient to breathe out. Work down the upper chest, until just before the breast tissue. Check the comfort with the recipient. Then give the whole area gently sweeping strokes.

Upper Back Pressures: Stroke out across the chest and around the top of the shoulders as in the first step but this time when you reach the back of the shoulders use the fingertips to massage the fleshy areas with slow circular movements. Start with light, cicular strokes and gradually increase the pressure.

Pressures up the Spine: Ask the recipient to lift up slightly so you can slide your hands palm up down their back, fingers toward the spine. With fingers about an inch each side of the spine, use you fingertips to apply static pressure asking your recipient to breathe out and relax into your hands as you do so. Release, move a little up the spine and repeat. Work up both sides until you reach the neck.

Pressures under the Skull: Repeat step one sweeping this tim eround to the back of the neck. Find the bony ridge at the base of the skull. Starting at the centre of the neck apply pressure with your fingertips under this bony ridge avoiding the spine itself. Repeat working out towards the ears, moving a little each time.

Pressures across the Shoulders: Starting at the spine, at the base of the neck, use your fingertips to apply a series of pressures out across the back of the shoulders. Work your way along the back of the shoulders, and out towards the top of the arms.

Stroking the Neck: Starting at the edge of the shoulder, stroke up the left side of the neck, using one hand after the other. The recipients head should naturally rotate to the right. Make your movements slow, sweeping and rhythmic. Once you have finished with one side ask the recipient if they could put their head back to centre. Then repeat on the other side.

Gentle Stretch: On the top of the towel, rest one hand on the breast bone, with fingers pointing to the toes. Let the other hand rest on the forehead. Gently apply a gentle stretch with the hand on the breastbone, pushing lightly towardsthe toes.

Complete the massage by doing step 1 a few times then letting the hands come to the back of the neck and head, and gently resting the head down. Clasp the head lightly then release slowly.

Head massage is the favourite. It is unlike most massage's due to the lack of muscle depth in the facial area and skull region. It is however one of the places on the body that is densely packed with nerves. Head massage can include just the face, or extend to include the neck and upper shoulder.

The recipiant should lie on their back with a towel or similar below their their head. The massuer can sit cross legged with the recipients head in their lap.

The face needs no Oil. The skin has enough of it's own. Before starting, check if the recipient is wearing contact lenses, and if so be careful in the eye area.

Step by Step guide...

Start gently by resting the palms of the hands on the forehead to accustom the recipient to your touch.

With your finger tips, gently stroke from the eye sockets to the hair line, approximately 1/4 inch from the centre line.

Starting with your thumbs in the centre of the forehead, smooth towards the temples and circle over the temples. Cover the whole forehead in strips.

Smooth the eyebrows.

Using the thumbs do "S" shapes, starting at the hairline, and smooth down across the bridge of the nose and down the opposite side of the nose. Alternate the sides.

If they are not wearing contact lenses, gently massage the eye sockets.

Moving down the face in 1/2 inch strips, smooth outwards with the thumbs.

Massage and knead the back of the neck, and as far down the shoulders as possible.

With care rotate the head so that it is fully supported by one hand. Use the other massage the scalp in "Shampooing" motions. Gently tug the hair (this improves blood circulation to the roots). Change sides.

With small circling movements, massage the edge of the ear and the lobes.

Steps for a foot massage are simply as follows...

Effleurage whole of foot. Thumb and knuckle sole. Pinch outer edge of foot from heel to toes. Circle at base of toes.

Rotate squeeze and pull toes. Spread foot. Circle ankle. Rotate and stretch foot. Effleurage and sandwich off.

Simple as that. You can be go more advanced and add some reflexology as you massage the foot...it is up to you. As stressed before it is not a regimental act, it should flow from you and no two massage's are ever exactly the same.

One thing that is important to mention is the circulatory system which is, as with the arm, a uni-directional flow towards the heart. Therefore massaging of the legs should be towards the heart.

The leg can be split into five regions;

The front thigh, the rear thigh, the knee, the calf, and the shin.

A warning is to be careful of the back of the knee region. Pressure is not to be applied to this area. It is to be lightly touched over. The same applies for the achilles tendon.

Leg massage can be performed with the recipient either face down or face up. The process is similar for both. The following format is for the recipient being face down.

Effleurage towards the heart.

Knead inner and outer thigh.

Hack and pummel back of thigh.

Effleurage.

Bend knee up.

Wring and drain leg. This forces the blood along the flow direction and up leg.

Effleurage and sandwich off foot.

The veins in the arm and hand are non return valves to allow blood to flow in one direction. Therefore care must be taken to massage towards the heart.

There are five sections of the arm;

The shoulder, the wrist, the upper-arm, the forearm and the hand.

Arm massage can be done from a variety of positions, but one of the most convenient is with the recipient lying flat on their backs. This allows them fully relax their shoulder muscles.

Effleurage forearm, upper-arm and shoulder.

Knead upper and lower arm.

Lift arm and thumb down forearm.

Bend arm, thumb down forearm.

Lift and stretch arm.

Using joint manipulation technique, support forearm and move the upper arm in a figure of eight.

Stretch arm back.

Effleurage hand and wrist.

Thumb and knuckle palm.

Circle base of fingers.

Work on finger pads and pull off.

Turn over hand.

Thumb back of hand.

Work up between tendons.

Spread hand.

Circle wrist.

Turn hand over.

Interlock fingers and thumb palm.

Make sure it is repeated as you have two appendages to work on... and finish in an appropriate manner.

Finish by connecting all 'parts' - from the sacral area, lightly run your hand in a smooth 'circular' sweep around abdomen down right leg and off the foot. Do the same for the left leg, and from the sacral plexus up over the right shoulder and down the arm. Do the same for the left and place the left hand over the third eye area and the right over the solar plexus, hold for three seconds and remove both hands at the same instant.

If you wish to learn more about massage, there are a number of good books on the market, but in terms of value, I highly recommend "The New Book of Massage" by Lucy Lidell, 2000 - Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-187843-8. As it has not only Swedish Massage, but details Shiatsu and Reflexology.

Courses in massage are also freely available at a number of reputable massage schools.

Happy massaging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!