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getting_ready_for_massage [2015/11/11 16:16] – created emilygetting_ready_for_massage [2015/12/22 16:03] (current) – [Precautions and Contra-Indications] emily
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 ====== Getting ready for Massage ====== ====== Getting ready for Massage ======
 +
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 ===== Set and Setting ===== ===== Set and Setting =====
  
-Create a nice space and time for massage, where you won't risk being interrupted. Make sure neither of you will have to rush anywhere after +Find the appropriate space and time for your massage. Ask not to be disturbed. Make sure neither of you will have to rush anywhere afterwards. Switch off your mobile phones and laptops; take off your jewelry. Both of you should then wash your hands; ideally you should have short, clean nails. You can quickly warm up your hands before you start! Your emotional state is just as important as your physical surroundings. Receiver and Giverplease take a moment to notice how you are feeling before starting. Are you having a good day? Are you nervous? Tired? Upset about somethingand pretending not to be? Acknowledging your own emotions before receiving or giving a massage will help you find the rightcomfortable place to be with yourself and the other. You will be aware of your limits and, most importantly, you will be able to avoid mistaking your emotions for your friend's and vice versa; this will contribute to a successfulpleasant experience for you both
-Switch off your whatever, take off your jewelrywash hands.  +
-You may like to do a small warm-up of your body and hands before starting: Loosen and rotate your neckshoulderselbows, wrists, hipsknees, ankles... Shake (the stress off) your arms and legs... Breath into your abdomencenter yourself...Smile :)+
  
-As important as your physical surroundings, is your emotional world+{{:tumblr_mhjcstd0kf1rsfvxno1_500.jpg?300|}} 
  
-Both of you should take a moment to notice how you are feeling before the massage. You too, the Giver. Are you having a good day ? Are you nervous ? Tired ? A little upset about something, but pretending not to be ? Acknowledging your own emotions before you receive or start giving a massage will help you find the right, comfortable place to be with yourself and the other. It will help you respect your limits and boundaries, and importantly, it will help you not mistake your emotions for your friend's and vice versa. All of which contribute to clear intentions, emotional safety, and a massage that will be good for both.  
  
-===== Precautions and Contra-Indications =====+===== Precautions and ContraIndications =====
  
-Massages affect the circulation and communications within and between all systems in the body (muscularcirculatorynervousetc.)it is how they can achieve their really nice effectsHoweverfor the same reasonsthey should be exercised with caution or avoided (totally or partially) in cases of : +Before the session, take a moment together to consider possible precautions (where you should exert caution) and contraindications (where you should not massage). You can consult the list in the annex to this document.  
 +Ask your friend a few very basic questionsstarting from more general questions like  “HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?”“Do you feel any pain?” to then move to more specific onesfocussing in on the hand and armRegarding possible illnessesbe as little intrusive as possible. Inviting your friend to read the list of contraindications can be a good alternative to direct questioning, and will be more considerate with regards to their privacy 
 +Alsouse your common sense: What do you see? Are there any bruises, cuts, signs of a rash on their hands and arms? Does the skin look fragile? Are there any signs that might point to your friend having a fever?  
 +You might have to avoid a particular spot on your friend's hand or arm, or keep a very light pressure throughout the whole sequence (even if otherwise indicated in this manual!), or to avoid any massage altogether for now.  
 +In any case, do not improvise yourself a therapist, and always make sure the dialogue is open between you two, so that your friend will feel comfortable providing your with  feedback as you proceed.  
 +Always keep feeling, and adjust your movements in real time in response to the “information” you pick up; this way, the massage will be adapted to your friend's needs and condition. 
  
-  * Recent surgery +  * [[Massage precautions & contra indications sign]]  
-  * High/low blood pressure, Cardiovascular conditions, Circulatory problems +  * [[Detailed massage precautions and contra indications table]] 
-  * Cancer +
-  * Infectious disease +
-  * Osteoporosis, pathologies of the bones and skeleton, +
-  * Inflammatory conditions, +
-  * Skin diseases, +
-  * Diabetes, +
-  * Certain allergies, +
-  * Pregnancy (especially less than 3 months), +
-  * Psycho-pathologies+
  
-Best cancel massage altogether if your friend is +See also
-  * With a fever, contagious  +
-  * Intoxicated (alcohol or other psychoactive substances), +
-  * In an altered or extreme state of consciousness +
  
-(more details on the why and how surrounding these in a our table coming up soon)+  * [[A few words on ethical conduct in massage]] 
 +===== Define intentions: What do you wish for with this massage ? =====
  
-Ask your friend a few basic questions about their general health, starting with HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY Do you feel any pain ? Regarding possible illnesses, try not to be too intrusive. Inviting them to read the list of contra-indications can be a good alternative, as it will preserve more privacy. +{{:cosmichand.jpg?300|}}
  
-Also, use your senses and common sense: What do you see before you ? Are there bruisescutssigns of rash on their hands and arms ? Does the skin look fragile ? Do they look like they are with fever ? +Ask your friend what they wish to get out of this massage. Invite them to express their wish (it could be to ease pain, relax, stop worrying, feel loved, etc). Defining an intention together, even a simple one (actually, the simpler the better), sets the massage on a good path, and helps you bond and build trust. It can also be an opportunity for your friend to express something importantan emotiona state of mind, in the comfort of your presence. Whatever comes, welcome it. You don't need to have an opinion, nor do you have to have something reassuring to say. Having nice moment together, welcoming your friends words and feelings is all that matters.
  
-Observe the partial or total precautions and contra-indicationsif any+And you, do you know what you want to achieve with this massage? Again, the simpler and humbler the goal, the better (for example, I want to help my friend relax). Don't, for exampleinsist on wanting to be some sort of “savior” 
 +===== Making a basic massage plan =====
  
-Some conditions will require that you adapt your pressure (no strong pressure for example in case of osteoporosis), avoid a specific zone (injury, open wounds) or avoid massage altogether, especially if untrained (infectious or acute inflammatory disease, cancer..), or the use of essential oils (allergy, for example)...+{{:kelvin_temperature_jcitarella.jpg?200|}}
  
-Later as you start touching, keep feeling and adjust in real time to the “information” you pick up, so the massage will be adapted to your friend'needs and condition.  +Observing your friend'aspect (by looking, asking/talking, feelingcan give you a sense of the general directions with which to work in order to best support your intentions.  
- +Is your friend's face flushed or pale ? Are they hotcold ? What's hot and what's not in their body ? What's open and loose or tight and closed ? Where ? The jaws ? The knees ? Where does some sort of power seem to need some sort of releaseand where does some sort of little joy seems to need encouragement ? Is your friend agitated ? Talkative ? Is their voice exasperatingly highor strangely low ? There would be many observations possible hereand of course more knowledge to add in to make sense of themAgain, keep it simple. The one thing that can help you is to know that massage is about //circulation//it'about restoring / sustaining freeharmonious //flow// of fluidsmattermind... Don't give yourself headache over this, do what seems natural to restore or sustain "flow". If the upper body is hot while the lower body is cold, you can choose to work from head to toe to “redistribute”. If your friend is coldyou can warm them up with frictionsblankets, water bottles, soulful music. If their mind is confused or agitatedtheir eyebrows frowned, you can clear the clouds on their forehead... If they need grounding, you can go to their feet.. If they're agitatedyou might want to work slow and steadywith calm confident hand...Etc. 
-===== Define intention(s): What do you wish for with this massage ? ===== +
- +
-Invite your friend to say what they wish for with this massage, in their own words and imagesaccording to how they feel, here and now. Invite them to make a wishIt could be to ease painrelax, stop worrying, feel safe, loved…  +
- +
-Focus more on receiving your friend'information and impressions rather than on interpreting themavoid overthinking thingsand keep the communication lines open.  +
- +
-Defining an intention togethereven very simple one (the simpler actually the better)sets the massage on a good path, and helps bond you together in trust. It can also be an opportunity for your friend to express something importantto release an emotiona state of mind, in the comfort of your presenceIt will help you intuit and adjust betterWhatever comeswelcome what iskeep it simple. +
- +
-===== Making basic massage plan =====+
  
-Observing your friends aspect and feel a bit further (by looking, asking, touching) will give you clues as to the general directions with which to work in order to best convey (and achieve) your intentions. Is your friend's face flushed red or pale ? Are they hotcold ? What's hot and what's not in the body ? What's open or tight and closed ? Where ? What/where does some sort of power needs some sort of release and where does it need encouragement ? Is your friend agitated ? Talkative ? Is their voice exasperatingly high or strangely low ? There would be many remarks and observations to be made here, and of course always more knowledge to add to make sense of them. Again, keep it simple. The one thing you need to know is that massage is about circulation, it's about free, harmonious flow of fluidsmattermind... Don't give yourself a headache, do what seems natural, common sense, to restore or sustain "flow". If the upper body is hot while the lower body is cold, you can choose to work from head to toe to “redistribute”. If your friend is cold, you'll feel like warming them up with frictions, blankets, water bottles, music. If their mind is confused or agitated, their eyebrows frowned, you can clear the clouds on their forehead... If they need grounding, to be brought back to earth, you go to their feet and legs.. If they're agitatedyou might want to work slow and steady, with a calm but firm hand...Etc+In the enda good massage is a mystery mix of knowledge-skillintuition, and improvisationall coming together in love
  
-In the end, a good massage is a mystery mix of skill, intuition, and improvisation, all coming together in love. The more you practice and receive it, the better it becomes. Whatever your knowledge and experience of the art, there is always something good one can do, for when there is the Heart, there is a way, and massage is all about pathways+{{:adventure-quotes-dao3b63c.jpg?300|}}
  
  
getting_ready_for_massage.1447255010.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/11/11 16:16 by emily