3. Alternate palmar kneading over abductors and adductors (avoid massaging over the femoral triangle)
Massage routine for front of legs
6. Picking up – reinforced or double handed(double-handed picking up illustrated here; follow with tapotement if
appropriate)
Massage routine for front of legs
7. Tapotement (optional) – hacking. The movements in steps 7–10 will depend on the type of massage the client needs.
Massage routine for front of legs
1. Effleurage to back of leg and buttock (lighten the pressure over the popliteal space)
Massage routine for back of legs
4. Reinforced or double-handed kneading to top of thigh and buttock
Massage routine for back of legs
14. Effleurage to back of leg and buttock (lighten the pressure over the popliteal space)
Massage routine for back of legs
2. Alternate palmar kneading over deltoid. Work down the deltoid to the point of insertion on the anterior and posterior fibres, as shown above,
then work up the middle fibres. Repeat the movement.
Massage routine for the arms
7. Wringing to triceps (if suitable). If the movements shown in steps 7–9 are suitable for your client, support the client’s arm with a bolster pillow
or rolled towel
Massage routine for the arms
11. Effleurage to forearm. Change over handsand effleurage the flexors of the lower arm
Massage routine for the arms
12. Thumb kneading to flexors of wrist (anterior aspect). Your hands support the client’s arm. The client’s hand should not rest against you
Massage routine for the arms
16. Thumb kneading to fingers (it is more comfortable for the client to support their arm below the styloid processes)
Massage routine for the arms
1. Effleurage to abdomen. Place a bolster pillow or a rolled towel under the upper legs to relax the abdominal area
Massage routine for the abdomen
5. Digital kneading around colon. When working over the colon pressure is applied on the upward movement over the ascending
colon; across on the transverse colon; and down on the descending colon
Massage routine for the abdomen
1. Stroking over the back. Use this movement to palpate and sense the tissues as you move over the area
Massage routine for the back
8. Digital or thumb kneading to upper fibres of trapezius. Be aware of your client’s body language; ensure the depth of pressure is
comfortable
Massage routine for the back
12. Alternate palmar kneading all over back: work down the back then on return stroke work up close to the spine.
Massage routine for the back
13. Double-handed kneading over back (one side to other and back in four strips)
Massage routine for the back
2. Effleurage. Place fingertips at the side of the neck. Slide under the clavicle onto the sternum, fingers overlapping above the breasts. Pull
hands apart, apply suitable pressure towards the axilla, on and around the shoulders, over the trapezius, up the neck and stretch before
reaching the occipital bone
Massage routine for the décolleté/chest area
3. Repeat Step 2, using finger kneading over the trapezius, up the back of the neck, stretch before reaching the occipital bone
Massage routine for the décolleté/chest area
4. Knuckling. Place fingertips at the side of the neck. Slide under the clavicle onto the sternum, with fingers overlapping above the breasts. With knuckles facing, knuckle across the pectoral muscle in circular
movements towards the axilla, slide around the deltoid, over the trapezius up the neck and stretch before reaching the occipital bone
Massage routine for the décolleté/chest area
5. Alternate finger stroking. Place the fingertips at the side of the neck, slide around the clavicle onto the pectorals. Work on the right side,
fingers of the left hand point to the axilla, fingers of the right hand point towards the sternum. Work across towards the right axilla with short
overlapping strokes. Repeat movement three times. Work on left side three times
Massage routine for the décolleté/chest area
6. Lymph drainage. Left hand in fist at axilla, fingers of right hand point towards the fist. Move fist lightly over pectorals on left side, apply
pressure with fingers and first as they move over pectorals on right side, draining lymph into right axilla. Change over right hand in a fist at right axilla, fingers of left hand point towards the fist. Move lightly over
the right pectrorals, increasing the pressure over the left pectorals, draining lymph into the left axilla.
Massage routine for the décolleté/chest area
1. Effleurage. Place the right hand at the base of the neck on the left-hand side. Place the left hand on the jawline on the left-hand side. Six
alternate strokes across the neck draining into submandibular submental lymph nodes. Left hand finishes at right-hand jawline. Slide along the jawline to the left-hand side and repeat movement. Position
the fingertips under the chin area ready for the next movement
Massage routine for the face
2. Knuckling across the neck in three rows, starting at the top of the neck either side of the windpipe, working out until in line with the ear lobes. Repeat with two more rows, working down to just above the
base of the neck
Massage routine for the face
3. Double-handed picking up along the jawline – centre to left; left to right; right to centre
Massage routine for the face
4. Finger kneading up the labial nasal folds – pressure on the upward movement. Repeat movement
Massage routine for the face
5. Levator lifts. Place the index fingers together (tips only) above the top lip and tips of the middle fingers under the bottom lip. Pull Fingers
apart beyond the corner of the lips. Turn and lift the index fingers, holding the muscle with the middle and ring fingers. Move up the sides of the nose without pressure and lift the corrugator. Move fingers still pointing downwards, across the forehead to the temples (avoid lifting the eyebrows). Slide down the face along the jawline with ring finger
and repeat movement
Massage routine for the face
6. Masseter lifts. Take the right hand down the side of the face along the jawline, on the left side, with the fingers pointing towards the ear
and wrist above the chin lift the masseter muscle. Hold in position for a count of two; still in contact, turn hand so fingers are pointing down
towards the neck. Hold in position for a count of two. Release muscle and slide hand up and over the forehead to the right temple. Repeat on
right side
Massage routine for the face
7. Finger pressures (index, middle and ring fingers) to cheek area in three lines. Starting either side of the nostrils work out, slide in. Repeat
the movement under the zygomatic bone and ridge of eye sockets, following the lines as shown in step 8
Massage routine for the face
8. Lymph drainage over cheek area. Place index, middle and ring fingers either side of nose under zygomatic bones. Slide out towards
the parotid lymph node to drain area. Repeat on other two lines
Massage routine for the face
9. Lymph drainage over forehead. Place fingers at temples and thumbs side by side on the corrugator. Slide thumbs with pressure to the
hairline and place overlapping hands on the forehead. Draw fingers outwards towards and drain to parotid lymph node. Repeat the
movement
Massage routine for the face
10. Eye circles. Place the fingers at the temples and slide the ring fingers under the eyes and in towards the nose; just above the corner
of the inner eye lift the corrugator towards the eyebrow, releasepressure and return to the temples. Repeat the movement
Massage routine for the face
11. Thumb frictions. place thumbs together just above the eyebrows and, working in a clockwise direction, apply pressure in a small circular
motion, release and move up the forehead and repeat themovement
Massage routine for the face
12. Forehead stroking. Position the hands horizontally, slide the right hand over the forehead closely followed by the left hand. Contour hand and fingers to the area. For the last movement, place one hand on top
of the other and slide out to the temples
Massage routine for the face
13. Effleurage. Slide index fingers down the jawline, heel of hands to stay in contact with the chin. Cup the chin by overlapping hands or
linking fingers, pull apart, slide over the cheek area, up either side of the nose, pull up on the corrugator with the fingers and slide out to
temples and apply pressure. Repeat movement
Massage routine for the face
1. Stroking. Place thumbs in front of the ears and fingers lightly on top. The pads of the thumbs trace the hairline in a stroking movement to the centre of the forehead. Draw the fingers of both hands through the hair from roots to tips; pull at the roots to stimulate hair growth. Repeat the
movement
Massage routine for the scalp
2. Stroking movements. The right hand works over the left side of the scalp and vice versa. Place the fingers of the right hand on the left side of the scalp at the hairline above the ear. From the hairline slide over the scalp and draw the fingers through the hair, from roots to tips; pull slightly at the roots to stimulate hair growth. As this movement finishes
follow with the left hand. Slide fingers through the hair covering the right side of the scalp. Work with alternate hands to cover the scalp
Massage routine for the scalp
3. Reinforced thumb frictions. Circles in a clockwise direction down the centre of the scalp from hairline to crown. Ensure thumbs move the
scalp and do not move over the scalp
Massage routine for the scalp
5. Finger and thumb friction movements to the entire area (digits move the scalp and do not move over the scalp). Use small circular
movements
Massage routine for the scalp
6. Palmar kneading (static movement). Place hands at each side of the scalp above the ears with fingers covering the temples. Circle the scalp
in a clockwise direction twice. Move slightly towards the midline and repeat the movement twice. Place the palms over the crown, thumbs
touching, and repeat the movement twice
Massage routine for the scalp
7. Rake through the hair using fingertips. Place fingers on the hairline above each ear and rake over the scalp from roots to tips. Repeat the
movement, each time moving up towards the midline
Massage routine for the scalp
8. Knuckle and pull. Start above each ear and work towards the midline in lines. Grasp the hair near the roots, turn the knuckles in towards the
scalp and hold for a few seconds before releasing and moving on
Massage routine for the scalp
9. Turn the head to the left. Place the hands over the ears with the fingertips pointing downwards towards the shoulders. Gently turn the
head to the left. Work the right hand
Massage routine for the scalp
10. Stroking. Start at the base of the skull and work medially to laterally in three lines, following the contour of the skull to the crown (each line is similar in shape to a segment of an orange). With the fingers of the right hand, work up the first line contouring the skull and at the crown
pull the fingers through the hair from roots to tips. Repeat the movement on the other two lines
Massage routine for the scalp
12. Palmar kneading (static) to the scalp (see Step 6). Contour the right hand over the skull with fingers pointing to the neck. Hand moves the
scalp in a clockwise direction. Release move up towards the crown and repeat movement
Massage routine for the scalp
13. Rake through the hair using the fingertips (see Step 7). Start at the base of the skull and work medially to laterally in three lines following
the contour of the skull to the crown
Massage routine for the scalp
14. Knuckle and pull (see Step 8). Start at the base of the skull and work medially to laterally in three lines, following the contour of the skull
to the crown
Massage routine for the scalp
15. Finger kneading (index and middle fingers). Place fingers in the indentation behind the mastoid process and perform finger kneading
following the line beneath the occipital bone
Massage routine for the scalp