massage - flowing left to right

[Guest 2548]

is it true that you should always start left side to rt in massage


Subject line edited by Pete, Section Moderator to clarify topic

 

[Michelle2love]

I've been doing massage for over 16 yrs now and this is the 1st that I've heard of this. Where did you get this information from?

Angie

 

[ape]

I haven't heard of this, either. Your left, or the client's left?

 

[MDX 0601]

Moving this topic to the general "Massage and Holistic Therapies" category -- the Research category is for topics related to current research in the field.

-Section Mod

 

[Above Normal]

I know some people who were taught this way. I think I remember them telling me it has to do with the lymph. Since the majority of lymph drains from the left side of the body, I guess the theory is that you don't want to stress the lymph channels on the right side of the body. I don't know if I buy that theory, I was never taught that. Maybe it comes from lymphatic drainage training.

 

[thecolouramanda]

thank you

Thanks for the feed back. A fellow massage therapist told me that and and said it was because that's the direction the blood flows.
I don't know where she went to school.
But I find it helpful to make sure I cover both sides.
I actually had a massage and the therapist forgot my left leg which was weird.

 

[?Strawberry?]

I am interested how you incorporate this into your massage. Would you mind sharing a flow chart just for kicks and grins?

 

[Ghandi]

I was also taught right, then left..don't know why tho?

 

[Billgun]

The swedish routine I learned in school went like this:
Prone--left leg, right leg, back and shoulders from the right side of table, back and shoulders from the left side of table
-flip-
Supine--right leg, left leg, abs and chest from right side of table, abs and chest from right side of table, pects from head of table, left arm, right arm, head and neck.

It was a very flowing sequence, and kept the practitioner moving in a counter-clockwise circle around the table for the most part. I don't remember the significance, if there was one, of moving this direction. When I do relaxation massage now, I usually begin with working the back, then move into the general sequence as outlined.

 

[rbabz]

In LaStone they specify a certain direction due to Polarity theory.

 

[Rick420~57]

massage

is it true that you should always start left side to rt in massage

If you get to the point where you have weekly clients that you see for years and years on end (and it is my sincere hope that you do) you had better be prepared to take whatever "routines" you have and turn them upside down, inside out, left to right, right to left, sideways and backwards. Not all of the time but often enough to keep both of you from becoming too patterned. Keeps you evolving the therapeutic connection between yourselves.

 

[Duke Powerhand]

In LaStone they specify a certain direction due to Polarity theory.

Mind expanding on what direction that would be?

 

[Dherbs]

massage

is it true that you should always start left side to rt in massage

No.

It depends entirely upon the client's situation and what kind of work you are doing.

In most cases, it doesn't matter what side you start with, nor if the client is supine or prone, nor whether you end at their feet, their head, or somewhere else.

Never stop questioning what you think you've learned, especially if you don't know the reasoning behind such teachings. In the process of questioning and going beyond your initial education, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the work you are already doing, and see many ways to improve upon it.

 

[Snow Kid(is back again 2)]

Think of all the massage modalities out there. They all have reasons/techniques. I don't think there is a certain pattern. Its all what you are trying to accomplish or what your client prefers, if they have a preference, etc. LaStone has certain protocols. I follow them when performing a LaStone Massage. I follow other protocols performing Shiatsu, AMMA, etc. Some techniques have less protocols - i.e. where to start, certain strokes before others, etc. Some have copywright protection. LaStone requires all students sign a form acknowledging their copywright.

 

[Johner]

Left to Right?

Mostly my massages are intuitive, many times creating the next move as I go.. My intuition has never told me to do the left side first. I think the key is that if you are being intuitive, you will feel what is needed in what sequence. That is when you stop focusing on pure routine and strat working purely on the client's needs. It takes a good while to develop, but once you do, you learn to go with your gut.

A good style for this is Esalen. There is no routine, no plan. One just feels it out as they go.

 

[Huckleberry Sin]

Like others have said, what you do will largely be dictated by what is going on with the body, the reason(s) for the session, etc. As therapists, we also tend to develop our own protocols that we prefer to follow. As a general rule, for example, if a person is coming to me for tight L anterior neck muscle issues, I may work on the R first in order to re-educate the body. I will then go the L. At some point, I will incorporate both sides as equally as possible depending upon the balances between the muscles. (Of course, I also work secondary and ancilary muscles in the process.)

 

[sexy man]

One thing i like about having a structure or routine is it allows you to deviate in a specific manner, while keeping everything flowing and economical.

 

[Flyn]

If you get to the point where you have weekly clients that you see for years and years on end (and it is my sincere hope that you do) you had better be prepared to take whatever "routines" you have and turn them upside down, inside out, left to right, right to left, sideways and backwards. Not all of the time but often enough to keep both of you from becoming too patterned. Keeps you evolving the therapeutic connection between yourselves.

So true... I have been seeing some regulars for about a year now, and I feel like I need to throw new things in regularly. Just did today (after reading a post here about breast massage {no I didn't massage the breast tissue}) and he said it was the best yet.

 

[PUB25]

PremoMT

". . . .I feel like I need to throw new things in regularly. Just did today (after reading a post here about breast massage {no I didn't massage the breast tisuue})". . . :

Thanks for starting my day off with a good laugh.

 

[RRenzoG]

No one else seems to have said this yet, so here goes. My initial bodywork training was in Thai massage, and I was taught to start *in general* on the left for women and on the right for men,due to a natural energetic affinity between each side and gender. If you study eastern philosophies and medicine, you'll notice the correspondences yin/yang, female/male, left/right, dark/light, etc.
So, as a habit, I generally follow my sessions through in this way. Example: male client - start prone right back, left back, left leg, right leg, supine right leg, left leg, abdominal, left arm, right arm, neck, head, face. Sorry for the lack of diagram
However, if a client presents with a complaint on one side over the other, I tend to start work on that side just to bring them a sense of peace that I am addressing their concerns, and also to give me enough time to assess and work out what I can in that area. Personal experience too. I know that I hate it when I go for a massage and complain of my left levator hurting, and that's not at the top of the list of areas the therapist touches.

Original question - I have no idea why anyone would be taught to always start on one side of the client. It seems rather random to me. Or perhaps misunderstood. Perhaps the teacher/therapist meant that to be a guideline as one is learning massage therapy? Don't know. The energetic correspondences have always made sense to me.