Body Part - Head/Face/Ears - Techniques

[dickydaddydynamite]

Hi.

I envision a sticky for this thread in the future (and the other body part threads I'll start!), if this goes well.

We could utilize this sort of like the "Massage Pearls" thread. Anything you find interesting within the MassagePlanetL forums regarding a specific part body and the work surrounding it, could be parked in this thread. Obviously we may end up with some thoughts duplicated from the Massage Pearls, but who cares!!!! The more, the merrier!

In addition, if you'd just be interested in posting some neat techniques you do for this particular body part, that would be wonderful too!

Consider items like:

• Amount of time you generally spend on this body part.
• Amount of time you can spend on this body part.
• Techniques you may use to stretch out a massage while working this body part (example: you need to pass a few minutes to get back on track -- swedish therapists may really appreciate this info).
• How you incorporate other bodyparts at the same time when you are working this area (example: long strokes in working the hip with one hand and the posterior calf with the other -- in unison).
• Techniques for specific problems or patterns.
• Draping/loose draping/non-draping information - the why & why-nots associated with this area.
• Tell us something that just feels good!
• Types of lotions/oils you would use for the technique and why.
• How to perform deeper work or lighter work in the region.
• Case Study Examples from your practice.
• Bonus thoughts that you may have that would be helpful to new and old therapists alike!

Without further ado .... it's all about the head/face/ears!!!!

 

[John S]

Sinus suggestions:

Pressure points and facial massage.

Apply pressure to all areas around the eyes, nose, and across the forehead (frontalis).
Apply pressure to the eyebrow area below the actual brow (orbicularus oculi).

You could have him try and apply a cold compress to his face or add that into your session with him.

 

[Sasafras]

It sounds like the QRT (Quick Release Technique) published in "Relief from Head, Neck and Shoulder Pain" by Don McCann might be a big help to you and your client. I got my copy of the book from amazon.com, but here it is on his website http://www.structuralenergetictherapy.com/Books_Tapes.htm. Finding this has been a treasure! It prepares the client for deeper work in a very relaxing way and I've found that at times, it resolves the issue altogether. The principal is the same as that employed by an occipital release. You do some waiting but their body weight does all the work. It took my fingers a little time to get used to it. I've never tried to explain this in type so if something is unclear, give me a holler.

Client supine, MT at the client's head kneeling or sitting in a chair. This can take a little time so be kind to yourself and be comfortable. Slide your hands under your client, when you find the trigger point, curl/hook your fingers (use all four fingers) to hit the trigger point and surrounding area. At each point, just hang out until you feel your fingers sink in and get the release. This appears to work best in the specific sequence suggested in the book. And here that is:

#1 SI-10
#2 SI-14
#3 UB-38
#4 SI-16
#5 UB-10,GB-20,TH-16

That's all there is to it. I use this often for just about anything in the upper back, neck, head area. It's easy on the client and on me.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I always end with a nice scalp massage. People LOVE scalp massage. And I dont get any oil in their hair because after I fininsh with the neck and shoulders, I put a hot towel on their upper chest and around the neck and do circles on the pecks and work out any leftover kinks in the neck and wipe off any oil on the upper torso and neck, this in turn wipes my hands off too, so I dont have to worry about washing my hands and breaking continuity.

(I keep the hot towels in a crock pot near the bed. Run them under hot water, wring out, place in microwave for 2-3 minutes then put in crock on warm with lavender oil.)

 

[The Beast Unleashed]

Since my primary technique is the application of Vibrational Attunement Massage (VAM), I always try to close with the application of feathering touch on the face, neck and scalp.

 

[SnowWebster2]

A MT that I know ends each massage by ringing a wind chime. I think that sounds nice

 

[vacant]

I have re-edited about 4 posts of puamaeole's in order to get this post readable in one chunk. I think we'll find it to be well worth it!

From: puamaeole http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1993

I use a mango or papaya oil and massage that into the scalp and people love it.

I have a bottle of papaya oil that I use and I just use 4 to 6 sprits per side of head. I tilt the head from one side to the next. My strokes depend on what I pick up from the body. I cant explain it but some heads need slow rhythmic movements and others is a fast scalp almost like scratching a scalp. This is something i just do intuitively.

I do stretch the hair from the scalp and i pull from the roots my focus is releasing tension from the under the scalp. A lot of times I dream of techniques and then use them on my clients.

Clients love it and it almost acts as a conditioner to their hair. It really is lovely. It makes it smell delicious and I feel it is easier to massage. Clients just love the extra that you give them. With just a few sprints it almost acts like a conditioner nothing to heavy that you have to wash out.

It's cool because they really like it.