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Good Body Mechanics

Yesterday in class, we just started focusing on our basic strokes. Last week, we just finished up learning our body mechanics, so it's still new to me. Anyways, while working on my basic strokes, I'm trying to focus on both my mechanics and my basic strokes but I can't seem to focus on both. I'm ok with the horse stance, but then when it comes to the archer, I'm so way off, I hurt my back, I strained my ankle, AND I pulled a muscle in my arm. It's fine if I get injured, but what if I hurt someone else while I'm using poor mechanics? That is the last thing I could ever want. Any tips on how I can get better at focusing on my body mechanics and being able to massage at the same time? This way, I don't hurt myself or my fellow classmates.

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Permalink Reply by Lucianna Johnston on June 29, 2011 at 12:15pm

First of all my friend, you DO NOT want to get injured...you will be doing lots of massages and you'll want to be feeling great or you simply will not enjoy being a massage therapist. I would say, since you are new to this, just relax. Over time, you will learn all this stuff. In the meantime, try to engage your core, push into your back leg and make sure your table is the correct height. Just be natural. Focus on the strokes and let your body tell you where your mechanics are off. Example, if you are getting pain in your traps/neck area your table might be too high or you may be hugging your shoulders up toward your ears while your working. Your neck and upper back could start to act up if you are only using your hands and arms...In other words, push the strokes through your whole body from the feet up...does that make sense? If your lower back hurts your table might be too low. Try to relax and use your whole body to perform the strokes..not just your hands/arms. Watch a Tai Chi video or better, take a Tai Chi class (or Qi Gong) and apply that movement to your technique. This will all start feeling more natural the more you practice...enjoy!! Being a massage therapist is so awesome...congratulations!

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Permalink Reply by Jeanne Riley on June 29, 2011 at 12:52pm

Hi Matthew,

I remember feeling like you described. Trying to remember strokes and posture and focus on all the details felt very clunky and my body felt uncomfortable from moving in different ways. It will not always feel that way. Practice, practice, practice and all those details will feel like second nature. ...and as others have said try to relax and stop thinking so much. If you are tight and not moving freely you increase the chances of hurting yourself. One of the best classes I had started with blindfolds. Our teacher was trying to teach us to absorb what we were learning and feel the work we were doing so she had us wear blindfolds. I wouldn't recommend that with a client, but it was a very valuable experience with my classmates. You should try it.

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on June 30, 2011 at 12:07am

The best thing is not to think. Just make yourself comfortable when you work. End of lesson.