Massage Tutorial: Body mechanics for low tables
My new book is out! It's called Massage Is Weird: https://massagesloth.com/book/
Using a low table isn't just for deep pressure. It's also great for doing less work! In this video, I describe several changes to the "standard" body mechanics that we're taught in massage school.
0:00 Introduction
2:13 Step 1: Connect and tuck. Allow your thighs/hips to lounge against the table as you work, tucking your tailbone so that your back can be completely relaxed. If your client's body spreads too far toward the edge of the table to make this possible, either move them (have them hang the arm off the side of the table, for example), or forgo this part for the time being.
2:38 Step 2: Move over your client. Lean your body forward, allowing your weight to sink into your client via straight limbs. Think "pouring your weight" rather than "pushing." Basically, lounge.
3:00 Step 3: Lean and shuffle. Trust your weight to your client and lean forward. This will create the conditions for effortlessly deep techniques, as well as that 45 degree myofascial angle that I'm always talking about. Use little oil or lotion so that there's still plenty of friction. To follow the stroke as it moves along, shuffle your feet.
3:35 Client demo!
5:38 Step 4: Use both hands. Always have both hands on the body (except when following step 6). This allows you to offer a comforting presence as you work deeply, and it gives you two hands for distributing your weight.
7:14 Step 5: Redirect your force. If you'd like to angle your pressure, do so by tucking your elbow(s) into your side/hip/thigh as you work. This will redirect the force created by lunging and leaning, and allow you to do deep angled moves without pressing really hard. Let your bodyweight do the work.
7:55 Bringing the steps together.
9:40 Step 6: Break the rules. Never use one strategy for too long, especially if you find yourself fatiguing. Go back into Swedish mode, or turn a technique into a stretch for your own body, or do a little dance. If you're tired or bored, you're doing it wrong.
Basically, lounge your way through techniques, let your straight or tucked limbs pour your weight into your client, and change things up often. If you have any difficulty with this, let me know in the comments!
Support me on Patreon: / massagesloth
My Facebook blog: / massagesloth
More stuff: http://massagesloth.com
Watch video Massage Tutorial: Body mechanics for low tables online without registration, duration hours minute second in high quality. This video was added by user Massage Sloth 05 May 2015, don't forget to share it with your friends and acquaintances, it has been viewed on our site 36,730 once and liked it 724 people.