more pressure

[hezpod]

Do you feel that you can give more pressure during a seated massage, or a table massage?

I did a chair massage for a friend today, and he said that my pressure felt like a cat walking on him. Another therapist worked on him first, and then I did, and he compared our work. He said she applied a lot more pressure then I did. He wasn't trying to be mean at all, just giving me some feedback like I asked him.

During clinical s at school, when I had to massage my instructor she said my pressure was ok. But she did not receive a seated massage from me. So now I'm concerned.

How would you compare your pressure?

Is there a secret in applying more pressure while doing seated massage?

Do I need to do push ups with my thumbs? LOL

 

[Ang.]

No thumb pushups needed Just use your body weight to do the work, lean into the body you are working on.

Its been ages since I did a real chair massage gig. I prefer to just bring my table to onsite events and do 10-15 minutes on the back/hip/shoulder, everyone can still stay clothed and same with chair I just switch out a facerest cover. Its a bit more lugging around but I like it over chair. 8)

 

[lostblackjackqueen]

Here's a great article on how to increase pressure for chair massage, using elbows & forearms, instead of your hands:

http://www.massageandbodywork.com/Articles/FebMar2006/chair.html

 

[amranKay]

Yes, using your body weight helps a lot.
If you are short (like me) it is difficult to get good leverage to use your body weight during chair massage because you need to step back and lean into the person. This puts me very low for most chairs. The best one for my height that I ended up purchasing was the Earthlite Avila.
But for the most part - I do not like giving chair massage - and mostly for that reason. I end up having to use too much upper body.
Hands down it's easier to get more pressure with client on a table.

 

[Darumu J]

Ocean, I agree like most here said, that leaning into the pressure with your upper and lower body is much more effective. I also recommend if you use your thumbs, go with thumb over thumb. Two thumbs are definitely better than one.

Use the thumb-pad over thumb-pad down the rhomboids, and anyplace where you do normal kneading, just knead with this technique. It's easier on you and it doubles the pressure.

About the only place where I use a single thumb is on the lower back, but very limited. You can put each thumb perpendicular to the back, along the "QL's", and sink the pressure in, going down in points along each side of the spine. What helps me when doing this trigger point, or Shiatsu-like pressure, is keeping your fists closed and your thumb just barely peeking over the edge. That way the thumb is stabilized by the rest of the fist, so it can't wobble and your thumb joint isn't compromised. This saves your thumb from aching, and it makes the pressure pretty deep.

 

[Chi Jackson]

Thanks everyone. You gave me some great advice that I will use in the future.

 

[Hardhat]

I find it somewhat easier to apply more pressure during table massage, mainly because my client is lower and the angle allows me to better take advaneforum.xxxe of gravity. But I usually favor techniques that don't require much pressure, mainly because I get much better results with them.

I can apply plenty of pressure in chair massage by getting low and using my legs and hips. I can't remember the last time I felt the need to use an elbow or forearm. In most cases I am using techniques that simply don't require me to apply all that much pressure, mainly because I get better results with them.

That said, my self-care includes exercises that maintain and increase my strength and endurance, so I will always have the ability to pour on the pressure if needed. This is balanced by joint mobility and flexibility training to keep things from getting tight, and also to provide better balance and stability in all my joints. Tightness in the musculature around a joint contributes greatly to joint instability, and must be compensated for.

 

[Emma Smith]

TouchPro training completely changed the way I do chair massage, including increasing the pressure I was able to give while improving my body mechanics, which made me feel better afterward.

I don't know much the DVD goes into body mechanics, but you could contact them and ask.

 

[JessikuhTOXIC]

TouchPro training completely changed the way I do chair massage, including increasing the pressure I was able to give while improving my body mechanics, which made me feel better afterward.

I don't know much the DVD goes into body mechanics, but you could contact them and ask.

Thanks for the input, EgoMagickian.

Maybe you could write about you experice with their course-- here?