When I heard the Rec Center was having another massage
presentation, I had to seize the opportunity. If you keep up with the blogs, you’ll know that I
wrote about massages last year. I felt it was time to take the next step and
learn some techniques. With the help of my trusty partner, we made our way to
the Rec Lobby to receive our first lesson. Therese Hostetter, the massage therapist at the Rec, went over some of
the dangers of massage and what potential hazards to look for. She used the
acronym “In Heaven Divine Therefore Bring Apples” to help us remember what to
look for. It stands for: Heart problems, Deep vein blood clots, Trauma, Brain
problems and Blood pressure. You must check to see if the person has any of
those problems before you massage them. If you don’t, you can cause serious
injury or even death.
After getting scared
a little bit, we eventually got into the fun stuff. Here are some of the
techniques we used:
Long stroke
It’s one of the
easiest techniques we learned. Let’s say you’re massaging someone’s back. To
perform a Long Stroke you simply press lightly, starting at the waist, and
gradually increase pressure as you get closer to the heart. Then, you lightly
lift your hand without completely removing it from their back, and move back
down to the waist. After that, you repeat the process. You can perform this technique
anywhere on the body as long as you start at the farthest point from the heart
and gradually gain pressure as you get close to the heart.
Kneading
Kneading was my
favorite technique. To put it simply, you basically grab a piece of the
person’s muscle and pretend that you’re trying to make meat balls or burger
patties with it. Move the muscle in our hands in a grabbing motion. It feels great and it’s fun to
do.
Strike
Strike is a type of Tapotement technique used
in Swedish massage. It involves using rhythmic strikes on the part of the body
you’re massaging. There are several ways you can do it. You can spread your
fingers and use the outer edge of your hand, you can cup you hands, or you can use the tips of your
fingers. This technique is really useful when you’re trying to wake up or
excite your nerves.
I might have to bring this technique out during finals....
Therese covered a lot of
techniques in the two hours I was there, and I’d recommend anyone try it. It's free, very informative, and the Rec created a friendly environment for learning.
If you are
interested in talking with Therese Hostetter or would like to get a massage
from her, walk in and schedule an appointment at the Rec Center admin office or
call 936-468-3507
-Just a thought, Devonte Hill
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