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What's Your Favorite Technique to Give and to Receive?

i'm not talking modality but rather more specific technique.

i have to say i LOVE petrissage for both giving and receiving. it's the one technique that really makes my muscles say aaaaahhhhhhhh. :)

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Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
sad...i have NO idea what that is. :(

Mike Hinkle said:
Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
http://www.esalen.org/

Lisa said:
sad...i have NO idea what that is. :(

Mike Hinkle said:
Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
Hey Mike...

I took a quick look at the link you provided. I'm still a little unclear. i'm gathering there are ocean sounds during the massage to mimic the heartbeat as well as where the method comes from. but is Esalen a modality or a technique? I read this...

The practitioner brings a knowledge of strokes (many have roots in Swedish Massage), of muscles and bones, of movement, of listening to the body as well as the words. Prior to the session, he/she pays attention to his own physical comfort, and quiets down internal chatter to welcome inner guidance, or intuition. As he massages, the practitioner responds to the signs of relaxation: deepened breath, enhanced circulation, a sigh, perhaps flutters of the eyelids. Each session is unique, tailored by personal requests, comfort level, physical tension and release, the felt sense of intuition.

but i'm unclear as to how different that is from what we learn to do in a regular swedish session. this part here...

emphasizes the need for grounding of the practitioner; of nurturing intent; the quality of contact; listening, feeling, and seeing with your hands; and the long, lengthening, integrating strokes with full hand contact which can bring awareness to the body. It explains how the long strokes are also a way to assess the client's body and to learn where to direct attention during the session

sounds like a wonderful effleurage where the MT is present. very similiar to what we were taught through our MT program at CCMT.

am i missing something?

also what is Lomi Lomi?

Mike Hinkle said:
http://www.esalen.org/

Lisa said:
sad...i have NO idea what that is. :(

Mike Hinkle said:
Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
All you knead is love, love, love is all you knead.
Esalen and Lomi have many similarities with the long graceful strokes and a meditative state.

From speaking to Esalen certified instructor Robin Fann and her husband Corey, they believe those that set up the facility at Esalen, Calif and developed this style actually did a fair portion of their training in Lomi. Hence, the similarities.

Lomi, however, includes many ancient hawaiian spiritual principles. You can also read about that at www.Lomilomimassagece.com

Perhaps, my explanations on my link can inform you a bit more about Lomi.


As for the differences with Swedish. Lomi and/or Esalen incorporate many of the strokes Swedish has, but we both use our forearm for many of the techniques. The intentions are different, where Swedish was originally used to increase circulation, more physical type manipulations for athletes etc.

While both Esalen and Lomi use many effleurage type strokes, the quality and intention is "deeper".

Some people watch these styles and think it's very "light", when it truly can go deep on all levels, including spiritual. Hard to explain, one truly has to experience.

Here is a link my colleague, The MassageNerd made at a most recent training I did in Minnesota. Perhaps it will give you an essence of the work. Hope this helps a bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDRc03esT7g

Lisa said:
Hey Mike...
I took a quick look at the link you provided. I'm still a little unclear. i'm gathering there are ocean sounds during the massage to mimic the heartbeat as well as where the method comes from. but is Esalen a modality or a technique? I read this...
The practitioner brings a knowledge of strokes (many have roots in Swedish Massage), of muscles and bones, of movement, of listening to the body as well as the words. Prior to the session, he/she pays attention to his own physical comfort, and quiets down internal chatter to welcome inner guidance, or intuition. As he massages, the practitioner responds to the signs of relaxation: deepened breath, enhanced circulation, a sigh, perhaps flutters of the eyelids. Each session is unique, tailored by personal requests, comfort level, physical tension and release, the felt sense of intuition.

but i'm unclear as to how different that is from what we learn to do in a regular swedish session. this part here...

emphasizes the need for grounding of the practitioner; of nurturing intent; the quality of contact; listening, feeling, and seeing with your hands; and the long, lengthening, integrating strokes with full hand contact which can bring awareness to the body. It explains how the long strokes are also a way to assess the client's body and to learn where to direct attention during the session

sounds like a wonderful effleurage where the MT is present. very similiar to what we were taught through our MT program at CCMT.

am i missing something?

also what is Lomi Lomi?

Mike Hinkle said:
http://www.esalen.org/

Lisa said:
sad...i have NO idea what that is. :(

Mike Hinkle said:
Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
So true, that is the true essence of the work! :)

Stephen Jeffrey said:
All you knead is love, love, love is all you knead.
I also do a lot of kneading. I love it and so do my clients.
Hi Lisa,

I was reading through this string and even though I haven't studied Esalen, I believe I might be able to help here. What is described is similar to something I have instinctively been doing for years now. It seems that Esalen teaches the therapist to be present in the moment of the massage on an energetic level. There is a bit of preparation for the therapist before the session when incorporating energy work. The therapist is mindful of keeping grounded through the session. A positive, relaxed state a mind is self induced knowing that whatever mental/emotional state of being we are in will automatically transfer to the client. Then, during the session the therapist "listens" to the body and spirit of the client on an energetic level and works to harmonize all aspects of the being instilling a deeper sense of calm and peace.

I was originally trained in Reiki and then studied massage. The foundation of Reiki has always been there in my massage sessions and has had a great impact in how I work a session. I did not know that there was already a massage system that incorporated what I do. I guess I'll have to rethink developing my own system. :)



Lisa said:
Hey Mike...

I took a quick look at the link you provided. I'm still a little unclear. i'm gathering there are ocean sounds during the massage to mimic the heartbeat as well as where the method comes from. but is Esalen a modality or a technique? I read this...

The practitioner brings a knowledge of strokes (many have roots in Swedish Massage), of muscles and bones, of movement, of listening to the body as well as the words. Prior to the session, he/she pays attention to his own physical comfort, and quiets down internal chatter to welcome inner guidance, or intuition. As he massages, the practitioner responds to the signs of relaxation: deepened breath, enhanced circulation, a sigh, perhaps flutters of the eyelids. Each session is unique, tailored by personal requests, comfort level, physical tension and release, the felt sense of intuition.

but i'm unclear as to how different that is from what we learn to do in a regular swedish session. this part here...

emphasizes the need for grounding of the practitioner; of nurturing intent; the quality of contact; listening, feeling, and seeing with your hands; and the long, lengthening, integrating strokes with full hand contact which can bring awareness to the body. It explains how the long strokes are also a way to assess the client's body and to learn where to direct attention during the session

sounds like a wonderful effleurage where the MT is present. very similiar to what we were taught through our MT program at CCMT.

am i missing something?

also what is Lomi Lomi?

Mike Hinkle said:
http://www.esalen.org/

Lisa said:
sad...i have NO idea what that is. :(

Mike Hinkle said:
Esalen for me, with Lomi Lomi close behind!
Thanks Gloria and Gerry...in our schooling we too were taught about being present. we had Energetic Foundation, and in Personal Potential we were taught how to meditate and take care of ourselved before and after a session. We used forearms and long slow strokes. i can actually hear one of my teacher's voice in my head as i type about speed and being aware of the client. I guess i just naturally thought these things were all taught in school. it's only now that i'm realizing the differences in what we were taught compared to other schools in other states.We even had a class in Accupressure. So when i read about Esalen, i didn't really see anything different in what we were taught under our MT program.
XFF and sustained static pressure using elbows for deeper tissue work. Significant release is attainable if you can stay on the good side of good/bad pain. This is my go to for both giving and receiving.
Hey Marissa, to be present at the point of release, is the most beautifull, uplifting, addictive thing in what we do......You just has to feel sorry for them chiros and osteos a quick HVT and its all over. Where is the presence in the moment?

Gerry your intuition is already marking the way ahead for you, time and again you will go to learn something new only to find you are already doing it. We already been doing it this for thousands of years and many many lifetimes. There is absoluteley nothing new to be learned because we already know ...... nuture this connection and you will excell.

Love

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