My massage stones

As I wrote last week in "The good, the bad and the ugly hot stone", it's important to choose the right stones for your hot stone massages. Therefore I think it's only appropriate that I show you the rocks and stones I use in my LaStone therapy, as well as my Creative Stone massages.

Please allow me to introduce my massage stones to you.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

These are my twelve massage stones. I use them for general and overall massage of the entire body. They're smooth to the touch and keep their temperature for a nice long while. The tingsha have a diameter of 7 centimetres to give you a comparison.

There are six pairs ranging from large to medium in size (compared to my hand at least). Once you're used to the stones, it's easy to pick and feel which stone pairs with which stone. It's like they just fit together as a team and work in unison.

The larger stones I typically use on the legs and the back, while the two smaller pairs are used for the arms and hands. The more pointy the stones are, the more in depth and detailed work I can do.

I use my massage stones the most, along with my worker stones.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

The worker stones are generally pointy so they can work deeply into the tissue. They can have odd shapes and you quickly find out which stone is best for what type of work. For instance, the long inward curved stones are great for shoulder work, where the more round ones are good for details on feet for instance.

There are small humps and points on the worker stones that allows for one stone to do several different types of work. Stretching, pressure, precise massage and so on.

It is important that they are comfortable in your hand and you can get a good grip around them.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

The spinal layout stones are much more specific and great care has been taken to find the right stones for the right positions.

The layout on the photo is not how the spinal layout is.

When starting an Original Body LaStone treatment, the client lies face up and a bed of hot stones is arranged for them to lie on.

All the stones are paired, but otherwise different. Some round and lumpy, some oblong and flat and so on. Each stone has a precise position in the Spinal Layout, and it'll feel uncomfortable for the client to lie on a layout that's wrongly made.

In spite of how it sounds, it's surprisingly comfortable to lie on the hot stones. And also when a couple of cold stones are added for balance and treatment.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

Special stones are used for face massage. The two largest stones in this picture are the face stones. They're very smooth and soft so they feel like baby skin. They're a pleasure to feel upon your face and are a special experience.

The eight smaller stones, again paired two and two, are used between the toes of the client. The smallest stones go between the smallest toes and the largest stones between the biggest toes.

Those flat warm stones between your toes feel very grounding and comfortable. They're placed after the feet have been massaged and represent a nice way to keep them warm while the rest of the body receives treatment and attention.

I also tend to use them during my Cocoonings, once the feet have been massaged. They sit between the toes while I smudge the client or massage hands or head.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

Grandmother and grandfather are the largest stones in my collection. He weighs 1,41 kilo, while she weighs 680 grams.

He is a wonderful, heavy black stone that really helps with grounding. The time he keeps his heat is incredible. I've with great success also used the grandfather stone to massage the stomach. That extra layer between the client and my hands is a reassurance which allows the recipient to relax and receive the massage with a more open heart.

She is beautiful with her deep red colour and is a wonderful stone to lie on when your back is being massaged. You adjust it under your stomach to the most comfortable position and soon you'll only notice a deeply relaxing warmth and not at all that you're lying on a stone. I have people who when they turn around have completely forgotten about the grandmother stone.

The small greenish stone is the third-eye stone which is placed upon the brow during an Original Body massage. Often it's replaced with a crystal, depending on the client.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

The Heart stone, made of sardonyx, is placed on the heart. I find it so beautiful and vibrant that I have a hard time giving a massage without it.

The four chakra stones are used during the Original Body treatment. They're placed along with the Grandfather stone, on the front of the body and the chakra points there.

They have a nice heavy weight and keep their heat for a long time. They're also wonderful stones to use during the Cocoonings.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

The top stones are inguinal stones which are used in the chakra placement as well.

The middle pair are the hand-stones which the client holds during the Original Body and Cocooning. They are warm and safe, and it almost feels like you're holding someone in their hand. When you hold them, you're never alone even if the therapist walks away from you to get more stones from the heater.

The bottom stone is the pillow stone which is used along with the Spinal Layout. It goes just under your nape, lightly pressing against the edge of the skull.

When the weather is warm, it's often replaced by a cold stone to help cool the brain and leave the client feeling refreshed and alert after the massage.

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

Finally, meet the cold stones. These are made out of marble and are kept on ice until they're used.

While cold and ice sounds unpleasant, they bring in the balance in the LaStone. They help cool the body when it has become too warm from the hot stones, they help freshen you up so you're not all sluggish after a treatment, and then they're great therapeutically.

The hot and cold combined works like a pump for the soft tissue. The heat makes veins expand and muscles relax. The cold makes the veins and muscles contact, creating a pumping effect which increases circulation in that area.

Again, the cold stones are paired to work together. The different sizes are used at different places on the body. The big flat squarish stones are for under the shoulder blades for instance, while the oblong ones are often used for hands or stretching the nape. The bigger stones on large muscles.

Now you know my 56 hot stones, my 12 cold stones and my one heart stone. This is a basic set for the LaStone Original Body and Cocooning. I'm certain I over the coming years will collect more stones, both  hot and cold during my travels.

The good, the bad and the ugly hot stone

Image by Caro's Lines via Flickr

Not that any stone is ugly, but there are good and bad stones when it comes to Hot Stone Massage.

It matters what size and shape the stones used for a Hot Stone Massage are and what they're made from. Energy-wise it matters how the stones were harvested and how they've been treated. Once you've held good stones and worked with them, or received a massage by them, you'll begin to feel sorry and pity many of those stones you can find on eBay or see at alternative health fairs.


So what makes a good massage hot stone?

Basalt

The stone is made of basalt as it keeps the heat for a long time. But there are differences between types of basalt, all depending on how the lava the rocks are made from cooled.

Weight
Basically, the longer time it took for the lava to cool, the more dense the stone is and the better it can keep the heat. So the rocks created by lava running into the sea like on Hawaii contains a lot of air pockets inside, which doesn't keep heat well. It's easily felt as the rock is much lighter than the slow-cooling ones. The heavier a basalt stone, the more compact it is.

Colour
The colour is less important than the weight. Some stones have a reddish cast, while others have a green cast. This is merely a sign of what other minerals and metals are found in the stone. Though the darker a heavy stone is, the more likely it is to keep heat well.

Size
The purpose of the stone dictates its size. For overall massage, the stone should be the size of and fit your palm. It should be so large that you easily can cup it without curling  your fingers around the stone. This way the stone becomes an extension of your hand and you can hold it effortlessly.
For the stones that go between the toes you want small flat stones, while for chakra-work and passive stones you want them as large as your hand if not larger. The weight adds its own dimension, and the size allows for the stones to keep their heat longer.


Shape
Good massage stones are flat, but not thin, and have a oval shape.  They essentially have the shape of your palm without any rough edges.
For detailed in depth work, a stone with pointy ends serves best. This way you can work into depth and in detail. The stone should have a size and shape that allows you a good grip and ability to do different types of work. As you become familiar with using the stones, you'll quickly pick specific stones for specific work, but not be limited by them.
For the face a smaller flat and thin stone is useful.
The shape of the big chakra stones is less important, as long as they can rest on the body without rolling off.

In general, flat roundish shapes work the best for the massage stones, with the exception of pointy stones for deep tissue and detailed work.

Texture
Any stone that's used to massage with should be smooth and soft to the touch. Not polished to a sheen where it feels like it's been lacquered, but smooth so there are no rough edges or nicks which can scratch and hurt the recipient. The more sensitive the area massage is, the smoother the stone should be. The stone should feel pleasant and enjoyable to the touch.
For the stones which are used passively, such as chakra-stones, the texture is less important. Again, make sure there are no rough edges or nicks.


Harvesting
The best massage stones have been harvested with respect for nature and the place they've been taken from. Riverbeds and breaches are good places to find massage stones. The best stones have been fully shaped by nature over thousands of years. To take the last rough edges, they're sand-polished. You can easily find your own massage stones this way. Just make sure you respect nature and environment when you harvest them. Be critical, go for the stones that already have the right shape and size and weigh each one in your hand asking if it's the right stone for hot stone massage.

Unfortunately, there are big commercial interests in spas and wellness and as result you have many stone-producers who harvest stones in quarries, where-after they polish these stones in big machines, creating some very random shapes, even cubes. No need to say that these producers have no idea of how the stones will be used or what their purpose is, nor do they think about respecting nature in their production.

Maintenance
Massage stones should be treated properly, just like other tools you use when you massage. Between each client they must be sterilized, as I wrote about in Hygiene in Massage. Ideally, if there's time, the stones should be washed with soap after each massage, removing the oil and grease on the surface. At least, do this by the end of every day, while they're still warm after their last use. If they're not washed, a layer of oil and fat will build upon the surface of the stones, making them feel greasy, sticky and unpleasant to the touch.

The stones should be respected and thanked for their work. The Native Americans consider them living beings, the Stone People, who're here to help us in our journey and help us with our work. It is said that stones which have been mistreated will stop working. Either they won't keep their temperature no matter how long you heat them, or they'll be too hot and burn the clients.

There are many ways you can pay your respect to the stones. Allow them time to recharge in the sun and moon light, place them in patterns that has meaning to you. Play with them and become familiar with them, appreciate them and love them. They're the extension of your hands and a tool of healing. Treat them as you would yourself and your own hands.

Finally
So do yourself a favour and don't buy the first and cheapest set of hot stones you can find on eBay, but take your time to find a stone supplier who treats the stones with respect and provide stones of the right size and shapes. Or even better, go on a field-trip and harvest your own stones. This way you know they suit and fit you. You, your clients and the stones deserve it.

If you want a hot stone massage, take a moment to ask your therapist about his stones, or even better, see them and feel them before you decide upon the massage. Receiving a massage with good stones  instead of cheap stones, is like eating at a good restaurant compared to cheap fast food.

Hygiene in massage

Image via Wikipedia

Hygiene is very important when you massage, especially in these times where the threat of the new flu is hanging over us. We as therapists are very aware of the situation and take our precautions.

For a normal massage we do the following:

• Wash our hands before and after a massage.
• Change sheets and towels, so a client will always have fresh clean sheets and towels.
  
• Wash towels and sheets at minimum 60 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature normally recommended to avoid the spreading of sickness.
• Change t-shirt if it's been in contact with the client.
• Wiping massage table/chair with an antibacterial cloth between clients.
• Making sure the environment is clean and tidy, as well as ourselves.

When using tools for a massage, these also needs to be disinfected and cleaned properly between massages to avoid the spreading of especially skin-related diseases. For hot stone massage this is even more important as the hot water can provide for a very good environment for bacteria.

Most bacteria and viruses related to human health thrives at a temperature around 37 degrees Celsius. This is why the body induces fever to raise the temperature to get rid of the enemies. Some can withstand higher temperatures and the official Danish recommendation to wash the clothes of sick people in households, is minimum 60 degrees. For hospitals and the like, the temperature need to be 95, close to boiling, to be certain.

Fortunately, sick people normally don't get massages, so the risk of spreading any disease is small to begin with. There can be undiscovered skin-conditions, not to mention, we all carry a load of bacteria on our skin through our daily interaction with our environment. These bacteria can be transferred onto the stones and when placed in warm water, some will die and some will begin to thrive.

Depending on the temperature of the water, more or less of the bacteria will die. The normal temperature range for a LaStone, around 54 degrees Celsius, is hot enough to kill most bacteria, but not all. This is why it's important to ensure proper hygiene with the stones and the water that heats them. For the cold stones, the cold only serves to put the bacteria to sleep, and once they get into contact with the warm skin, they'll wake up and thrive.

To ensure proper hygiene of the stones used in massage, we do the following:

• Sanitation tablets or other antiseptic products is the water of the heater. This way we ensure that bacteria can't survive in the warm water and be transferred onto the next client.
• Sanitation of the cold stones before they return to the cooler. Ethanol (pure alcohol) is one of the best, but other products with antiseptic properties can be used.
• By the end of the day, all the stones are carefully washed with dish washing soap, including the cooler and heater, and left out to dry out during the night.

If you're in doubt if your therapist has changed the water in the heater or use antiseptic products, do ask to be shown what he does and ask into the routines. There are cases in the past where bad hygiene has closed down spas, without it being the fault of the therapy form, but rather the therapists not being aware of the risks and bewares.

Any well trained massage therapists knows these hygiene rules and follow them, keeping the well-being and health of their clients first in mind. It is part of their training and will be incorporated into their daily routines.

Effects of hot and cold

Physiotherapists and medical professionals have long used both hot and cold for treating injuries and pains. Sports people apply cold packs on muscles after heavy exercise, they use hot packs to reduce tightness and pain in muscles. Hot and cold is a very effective treatment method of muscles and the body.

The effects of heat:

• causes blood vessels to expand, increasing blood supply
• increases circulation, bringing fresh blood to the heated muscles
• helps the body get rid of waste products (increases the lymph function)
• increases the metabolism
• makes muscles and tissue relax as they expand
  

Too much heat isn't good either - and I'm not talking about burning - as it makes the body try to get rid of the excess heat, including taking blood away from the central organs and the brain. This leads to a feeling of being relaxed, woozy and light-headed, just wanting to sleep so the body can recover and find its balance again.

The effects of cold:

• causes blood vessels to contract, sending blood and fluid away from the cooled area
• the body's pain relievers are released, numbing pain
• constricts blood-flow to areas exterior to the cooled area
• stops muscle spasms and relaxes the muscles

Too much cold makes the body send warm rich blood to the area that's cold, eventually taking heat from the internal organs.

Combining the two and alternating between hot and cold creates an even more powerful reaction. The effect is something called vascular gymnastics, a sort of roller-coaster effect between the two different effects. The outcome is greater than the effect.

Massage oils blends

Image by Taunaki via Flickr

I use different massage oils depending on who I massage and what extra effects I want added to my massage. Sometimes I mix oils specifically for one client. Most often though, I use one of my standard blends and from session to session pick the one I feel will be the best in the current situation.

As a rule of thumb, only use about 1 drop of essential oil per 10 ml of carrier oil. This is more than enough to gain the benefits from the essential oils and create a pleasant scent. And by using mild concentrations, there's less risk of allergic reactions.

My carrier oil is typically safflower oil, as it's inexpensive and has a good texture which the skin absorbs easily, but not too fast. I find almond oil to be too thick and greasy to use for massage. The best oil, I find, is coconut oil, but has to be refined in order to be liquid at room temperature, making it less attractive. It is a very thin and smooth oil which gives a wonderful experience to the massage.

For normal skin and greasy skin I use coconut or safflower oil. For dry skin safflower mixed with avocado or wheat-germ or almond oil. A times I add some wheat germ oil, e-vitamin oil or avocado oil to nourish the skin. Especially avocado oil is good on very dry skin.

Some of my typical blends could be:

Relaxation and de-stressing for women:

• 1/2 lavender
• 1/2 camomile

This oil is also safe for children and people with sensitive skin, if there's no allergies involved. To make the mix more gentle and compassionate, add a few drops of ylang ylang oil to the mixture.

Relaxation and energy for men:

• 1/3 lavender
• 1/3 rosemary
• 1/3 cedar

Again, the lavender is great for relaxing muscles and mind. Both the cedar and rosemary are refreshing and helps increase the blood-flow and energy. If used on women, the cedar could be replaced by a citrus oil or sandalwood which both 'gentle' the blend.

Romantic and sensual:

• 1/3 rose
• 1/3 ylang ylang
• 1/3 jasmine

This is a very feminine and sensual blend. To make it more masculine, replace one of the oils with patchouli or sandalwood.

Generally when mixing a good massage oil, less is better. 2-3 different essential oils are usually the best. If you look less at the therapeutic aspect and more at the scent, employ some of the techniques from perfume production. Use 3-4 oils oils, of which at least one has a top-note, one a heart-note and one a base-note.

As top note various citrus scents are generally good to use. Lemon, lime, orange, neroli and so on. As heart note lavender, geranium or jasmine. Base notes are normally the woody notes like cedar, patchouli and saldalwood.

Mixing a good scent is a time-honoured science and there are plenty of resources available on the net. A good resource is:http://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/default.asp with profiles of essential oils and other useful information about aromatherapy.

Breathing

Image via Wikipedia

When you use the chest instead of with the stomach (diaphragm) to breathe, you can cause trigger points and tensions the upper chest and back. This can result in headaches, numbness and pains in chest, arm, shoulder and hand.

For instance the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by tensions and trigger points in some of the muscles which lift the chest (scalenes). The tensions can come from something as simple as a bad cold which makes you breathe differently.

Breathing with the chest is for many a habit that they don't think about. For people who suffers from asthma, illnesses which makes them cough, emotional tension and hyperventilation are all prone to trigger points in the scalenes and in the sternocleidomastoid. Sports and activities which makes you breathe quickly can cause trigger points as well, due to the effort of breathing.

The muscles primarily affected by poor breathing techniques are the sternocleidomastoid, the scalenes and serratus anterior. Trigger points found in the sternocleidomastoid is one of the main reasons for headaches, as described in my article Dealing with headaches. From the scalenes comes pain and numbness in the shoulder, arm and hand, as well as upper back and back pains. Pain from the serratus anterior is felt in the side and at the lower edge of the shoulder blade.

When you breathe correctly, the stomach is moving in and out and the chest barely rises. The lower in your stomach you draw your breath, the better. It will take conscious effort for a couple of weeks before you will begin to breathe automatically with your stomach.

Please make the effort to teach yourself to breathe with your stomach. It can prevent a range of issues, and it's good for your health, your stress and general well-being.

Improving your massage

The aim of a massage is to make the recipient relax so the muscles can be normalized and stress leave the body and mind. There are several things that you can do to improve your massage.

Move slowly. Keep in mind that you want the other person to relax completely, so slow smooth non-jerking movements, especially in the beginning, will help them relax and get used to your touch. Sudden movements and jerks will startle and trigger a brief stress in response. It's important that you're always calm and balanced when you massage so no gesture will surprise the one you massage.

The oil must be warm. Make sure the oil is the same temperature as your hands before you apply it. Or for even better relaxation and enjoyment, heat the oil to the temperature of warm bathing water (not too hot or you'll burn yourself). Warmth makes the recipient relax, while cold oil will make them tense up and possibly even freeze.

Oil the entire body at once, preferably in one movement which means oiling the hands and underarms thoroughly before starting. This way the massage becomes flowing and smooth, and you don't have to interrupt what you're doing to apply more oil, as well as you avoid the risk of sudden cold oil pulling the recipient out of a deep relaxation.

Don't interrupt the flow, keep contact all the time. By keeping constant contact, you enable the recipient to know where you are at all times, and thereby you won't startle the one you massage. By always knowing where the hands of the masseur is, it's easier to fully let go and relax. Try to always have at least one hand on the body, even when you shift positions or need to apply more oil.

Be predictable. Predictable doesn't mean boring. Rather, if the one you massage has an idea of what comes next, it's easier for them to relax and receive your touch. This way the body's protection mechanism doesn't have to be in high alert, and no fight or flight response is triggered when you massage. A sudden change that wasn't indicated beforehand, will surprise the recipient and raise stress even if it's only for a very short time. So, for instance when asking them to turn over to the other side, make sure that the first side is finished and the one you massage can sense that you've concluded that part of the body.

Work systematically. This is connected to the above of being predictable. Working systematically is finishing one part/aspect of the body before moving on to the next. A bit like building with LEGO, where you put the massage together in a series of small systematic building blocks. This doesn't mean that you can't massage a body part after you've finished it, but the main work should be done, and the return be more of a connective nature. Again, this allows the recipient to have an idea of what comes next and thereby easier let go and relax.

Connect the body parts. When you go from one area to another, spend a bit of time on connecting the two parts. If you've massaged one leg and want to massage the other, do a brief intersection of massaging lower back for instance and then go to the other leg. Instead of just jumping from one leg to the other. This will bring the body together as a whole, and not just a bunch of LEGOs that are put together.

Only talk if necessary, preferably leave it to the recipient to initiate conversation. For most people it's easiest to relax and let go if they don't have to talk. It's a chance for the mind to drift and sort out all those thoughts which go through our minds all the time. By not talking to the recipient unless necessary, you aid them to relax fully and help them de-stress. Some people have a need to talk while they're being massaged and it's of course all right to accommodate them. A massage can be very releasing and some have the need to speak about their experiences. Here it can be an idea to suggest to them that you'll take the time to talk to them after the massage over a cup of tea, while you can give them your full attention to what they say. Keep in mind too that some people tend to talk to avoid opening up and feeling what's going on inside, as a protective mechanism so they don't have to let go.

Make sure the room is hot enough. This is really simple. If you freeze while you receive a massage, you can't truly relax. Muscles tense and spasm when they are very cold, and when you lie and relax you're more prone to freezing.

Light candles and put on some relaxing music. Anything to create a special and relaxing mood is useful. Music can be a good tool, though some will find it distracting, so listen to the wishes of the recipient. Candles create a warm mood and has a lot of good associations for many people. Keep in mind that the air doesn't get too stiffling from too many candles, and that parafin candles aren't that good for the health. It's better to use soy-candles or bee-wax.

Finish the massage with a hot towel. Often after a massage people need a bit of time to return to relality, or they might just want to lie and enjoy the feeling of relaxation. Placing a towel over the one massaged helps tell them that the massage is finished and helps them stay warm while they lie on the table. To add an extra experience, heat the towel so they remain very nicely warm and are reminded of your hands.

What ideas and suggestions do you have that can improve a massage? Do you employ these tips already or don't you find them necessary? Share your thoughts and opinions and let's together improve our massages.

Trigger points

Trigger point therapy is becoming increasingly popular, and more and more massage therapists incorporate the techniques in their treatments. It is not the same as acupressure, though some trigger points corresponds with acupressure points.

A trigger point is defined as; "A highly irritable localized spot of exquisite tenderness in a nodule in a palpable taut band of (skeletal) muscle." Their sizes vary from tiny lumps to large lumps and can be felt beneath the surface in the muscle fibres. They can be found in all muscles of all ages, even children and babies.

Nobody knows precisely why or how a trigger point forms. It's clear though that stress and strain to a muscle will trigger their formation and prolonged muscular strain can increase their size and number. Those which are just slightly tender can be a forewarning of potential problems building and a good sign that a muscle or muscle group is strained and treatment might soon be needed.

Poor posture, wrong use of muscles and joints, strain and stress to the body can all form trigger points. As with all things, it's important to maintain your body and keep it in good shape. Exercise, strength training, stretching and keeping a proper posture are all steps towards this goal. Active painful trigger points are a sign that your body needs maintenance and care.

The mark of trigger points is the referred pain patterns. The referrals comes from how the muscles and tendons attach and connect to various parts of the the body. The muscle and tendons connect to other areas, sometimes spreading out. Sometimes a muscle attaches to another muscle, sometimes it control a tendon which runs far from it's point of origin. Muscles cross each other in layers and there are clear patterns in how one muscle can affect others even in complete other parts of the body. Sometimes via direct connection, other times because of how the muscles work together.

For instance can a trigger point located in the calf refer pain in the big toe. The calf muscle is strained, which causes the trigger point to form. The referred pain comes as the muscle controls the movement of the big toe. As such, in order to truly understand and use trigger point therapy, it's important to understand anatomy and how the muscles are attached and what their functions are.

Trigger point therapy is in its essence rather simple. A muscle has a trigger point which is pressed until a release happens. The soreness subsides, the nodule loosens and the referred pains disappear. In practicality it takes knowledge and skill to find the primary trigger points, know what causes them to form (for instance poor posture) and understanding how pain in the forehead might be caused by a trigger point in the shoulder.

It's an interesting field to study and certainly bound to become a discipline most massage therapists will integrate in their treatments.

Massage books reviews II

Below are a few good books to read if you want to get deeper into massage and beyond intuition and general touch.

	A very good introduction and workbook for chair massage. It gives an introduction to seated massage, advice on equipments, talks about hygiene and safety, contraindications, communication, documentation and treatment plans, descriptions of body mechanics and injury prevention. Then the book covers strokes and stretching techniques. There is a good relaxation routine described and then in depth description of therapeutic routines for back, neck, forearm, wrist, hand and shoulder. It's good at describing actual problems, explaining what causes them and how to treat them. Finally it covers creating a business, though aimed at the US market. A really good and useful book that any massage therapist can benefit from, even if seated massage isn't a major part of the business.
	As the title says, an introduction to clinical massage therapy. It's a good learning book which gives a brief introduction to massage therapy, muscles, body mechanics, posture, client assessments, draping etc. It's strongly aimed towards the massage therapist diagnosing and treating a client, and I personally find the above book better when it comes to learning about posture and other things behind giving massages. The strength of this book is the in depth descriptions of each muscle and how to treat it with massage therapy. It's a good referral book and even wellness massage therapists can learn a lot from it and enhance their massages by gaining a deeper understanding massage.
	If you're interested in a deeper understanding of the major muscles of the body and how they work, this book is for you. It's a great introduction to muscles, not making things overly complicated or scary like traditional anatomy books. The book describes each muscle, explains what it does and what problems might arise. The benefit is the added strength and stretching exercises for each muscle. A very useful book for anyone wanting to understand muscles better and how to strengthen and stretch them.

Related article: http://www.starkeys.com/blog/2008/06/massage-books-review.html

Signals sent via the massage environment

When decorating a treatment room and other areas a client might enter, it's important to consider what signals that might be sent. One thing is the subconscious signals via colours, plants, music and scents which affect our emotional state. But there is also the more obvious signals to take into consideration. The types of paintings, statues, religious symbols etc.

Before starting to decorate a massage room you must consider your client base and what type of people they are. The decoration must be appealing to them to have them feel secure, safe and return for more appointments. The decoration must not be offensive to the clients in any way, or they will certainly not return for further appointments.

With the international and multicultural world we live in, it is especially important to give a neutral expression. Unless of course you know your clients will only belong to one group and none from other groups will come. Then you can cater your decoration to suit and fit the group.

Traditional religious symbols are easy to recognize and avoid. A therapist should never impose his or her own religious and spiritual views upon the clients, unless such is obvious from the name, type of massage offered or announcements. A massage therapist is a health professional, even when not officially recognized as such. The same rules apply to massage therapists as to doctors, nurses and dentists. You keep your views, philosophies and religions to yourself and speak generally about matters if they are brought up by the client.

It's also good to keep in mind that many new age and eastern symbols can be offensive to traditional western religions. Some Christians might find the use of crystals and talk of energy and divine love offensive, while a pagan would find a prayer on the wall offensive. There is even the question of cultural norms in regards to how you dress and speak to the client. Some cultures do not allow for a man to see a woman undressed, or finds it inappropriate to shake hand or have naked shoulders.

Even as innocent things as paintings can cause discomfort and be offensive. Typical new age paintings in a very conservative society could cause things to become awkward. Dali's surrealism could offend other groups, pictures of holy places or religious symbols offend those of opposing beliefs and so on.

You have to be critical of what you decorate with. Often things like nature scenery, plants and flowers are safe and universally accepted as pleasing to the eye and mind and non-offensive. Lack of statues, religious symbols and writings is another.

This of course takes away a lot of your individuality if you can't put your personal touch on the place where you work. It is important though to put yourself in the shoes of the client and try and predict and understand what can cause them issues. Then find a subtle way to decorate. And in an inoffensive manner to add your touch to the place and give it the energy and symbolism you wish to convey to your clients.

If you are uncertain, then don't do it, or ask your clients for feedback. It can be as part of a general feedback asking them to list what they like and enjoy about your massages and place, and what they would improve if they could. Let the decoration be a small part of a generally inquiring form for customer feedback and use that as an indication if your decoration is appealing and pleasing.

Related articles:
Décor and Room, Setting the Mood, and Colours and Moods

Massage music

Finding the right massage music can make a big difference in how a massage is experienced by the client. The music played will of course depend on the type of massage given, but in the following I will discuss music that is relaxing and aids the client in letting go and receive the massage.

For the Massage Créatif I like to use music that is flowing and soft, but still a bit rhythmic. Music that supports the strokes and gestures I make. Celtic inspired music such as Loreena McKennit, Enya and Clannad is very good. The music is soft and relaxing, and the voices of the singers add an almost dreamlike quality to the sound. Their voices become another instrument in harmony.

For the first session I often use this playlist for a one hour massage:

1. Loreena McKennit - The Mystic's Dream
2. Sort Sol - Let Your Fingers Do the Walkin
3. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
4. Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance
5. Enya - On My Way Home
6. Jeff Beck - Declan
7. Gus - Don't Fear The Reaper
8. Clanned - I Will Find You
9. Loreena McKennitt - Skellig
10. Porcupine Tree - Collapse The Light Into Earth
11. Enya - A Day Without Rain
12. Secret Garden - Nocturne
13. Era - I Believe
14. Dream Theater - Eve
    

The tracks are ordered so the music will match the part of the body I likely will be working on. Of course, since all clients are different I might spend more time on one part than another. The tracks are not set with a specific part of the body, but rather a general mood suiting the entire massage.

The backside will often benefit from a more rhythmic style of music, something more energized. While soft slow music is best suited for the front. This is where the client will reach the most relaxed state and the music should support that. The two last tracks are very suited for the conclusion, floating away on thoughts, drifting and dreamy while the client slowly returns to the present.

I have more than one playlist so there is variation for the client during a Massage Créatif. I add more tracks by Loreena McKennit, Clannad and Enya, but also tracks like Jade Or - Bielka Nemirovski, Ishtar - Comme Toi, Frédérick Rousseau - La Fille De Pékin, Tibet Project - Tibet and Emma Shapplin - La Notte Et.

As alternative I also enjoy using Vangelis' sountrack to 1492 - The Conquest Of Paradise or just putting on CD's with my favourite Celtic artists. For a more quiet and slow massage Jean Michel Jarre -Waiting for Cousteau and Kitaro's Silk Road series are good options. While for a more energetic massage Era and Enigma are good artists.

The music played during a massage session should match the type of massage and the aim of the massage. Energetic music for a massage aiming at energizing the person and quicken the bloodflow. Slow relaxing music when the aim is to bring the client to complete relaxation.

The music will also be a reflection of the massage therapist and her personality and style. A sort of fingerprint and clue to her philosophies and ideas about relaxation and massage.

Massage oils

Massage oils are used during table massages to ease the passage of the hands over the skin. It is necessary to lower friction as well as to work the muscles properly. The massage oils also nourish the skin and softens it so feels nice afterwards. Essential oils added to the massage oil can give the massage an extra sensory dimension as the scents affects the mind and body in different ways.

I always use natural oils since it's the most healthy for the skin and I am no supporter of using products from the oil-industry (such as baby-oil). My prefered base oil is safflower oil, which is light and easily absorbed by the skin. A thicker oil is almond which is prefered by many. Coconut oil is also very good to use, but to be fluid at room temperature it has to be refined. Pure coconut oil is solid at room temperature, though melts as soon as it's rubbed on the hands or skin. For extra dry skin I add avocado oil, which is highly nourishing or an oil containing a lot of e-vitamin.

For a massage oil I also add essential oils. Various oils have different properties which can aid the massage and the person receiving it. Lavender oil is highly relaxing physically and mentally, citrus oils energizing and positive, sharp oils like rosemary and eucalyptus are invigorating, sensual oils like ylang ylang, rose, sandalwood and jasmine helps the person relax, let go and trust. Especially on the mental level the essential oils can make the difference between a good massage and an outstanding massage. Scents affects our mood and psyche, which in return affects how we relax and feel.

Various scents appeals to women and men. For women I generally choose the softer and more sensual oils while for men I pick the sharper and woodier notes. Sometimes mixing a good massage oil can become like creating perfumes, finding the right balance of scents while keeping their properties in mind.

The blend of essential oils are rarely 1:1:1, but a mix depending on the strength of the scents and of what my aim with the massage oil is. For a deep relaxation massage oil I would use most of lavender, a smaller amount for the topnote, and even less again of the basenote.

A typical general relaxation oil could be lavender, geranium and lemon. Lavender for the general relaxation, which will be the major part of the blend, geranium for it's rosy scent and balancing properties and lemon for it's refreshing and positive effect. It is a mix that is suitable for both women and men.

For a massage for sore muscles due to sports, I would pick a mix of rosemary, cedar and lavender. Sharper oils that helps increase the blood flow, invigorating the the tissue, while relaxing the tense muscles. It is an energizing mix effectively supporting the massage and the goal of it.

For a woman before her wedding, I would choose a blend of rose, jasmine, patchouli or sandelwood, ylang ylang and possibly geranium or bergamot. Rose and jasmine are some of the most romantic and sensual oils there are. A message of love. Patchouli and sandelwood create a good base scent and are sensual as well, the choice would depend on the tastes of the receiver. The choice between geranium and bergamot would depend on the mental state of the woman. Geranium is balancing and slightly roselike in scent, and the bergamot is uplifting and vibrant. Should the oil be really luxurous, neroli (orange flower) would be chosen as the top-note.

Mixing a good massage oil with essential oil takes skill and knowledge and talent. If you want to be safe when you mix your own massage oils, start with just one or two scents, and see how they work together. The essential oils might have one scent when alone and you think they go well together. But once you mix them you might notice that they change character completely and the result isn't as you expected it to be.

I normally use three essential oils together, trying to find a basenote, a heartnote and a topnote in my blends. Like good perfumes are made. I only rarely add a fourth or fifth oil to the blend since it then becomes almost impossible to take all their effects and uses into account. They might even counter eachother, reducing the effectiveness of the oils.

When using essential oils, always be certain that the client don't suffer from any allergies. Even if essential oils are natural products, you can get allergic reactions from contact with them. If you're in doubt, apply a bit of the mix to the wrist or inside of the elbow and ask the client to report the reaction to you after 48 hours. This is the only way you can be certain there is no allergic reaction. Do also keep in mind that some people are allergic to nuts and using a nut-based massage oil might trigger a reaction.

This is an interesting aspect of massage to get involved with, though it can be rather time consuming to learn about all the different essential oils and experiment with blends until you find those appealing to you and your clients. There are many providers of pre-mixed massage oils and it can be a jungle to see through. Read the labels and product descriptions carefully, be certain that the base oil is a natural oil and that the scents used are real essential oils and not synthetic replacements. It will take time and effort to find a provider you can trust, but it is worth the work. The same is true for a provider of essential oils and base oils.

Related articles:

Aromatherapy and Aromatherapy in Massage.

Massage books review

Some useful books for massage and wellness.

	This is my first aromatherapy book, or rather, booklet. Since it's a quick overview of a number of essential oils and their physical and mental properties.
	A very useful book on aromatherapy focusing mostly on the psychological aspects of aromatherapy. It works from Chinese medicine point of view, involving the five elements, chi-energy, temperature and combining them with Western approaches. There's also a brief introduction to a light aromatherapy massage. It describes 40 essential oils in depth and is very useful for choosing the right essential oils for a good massage that has a holistic approach.
	Having a rather scientific approach with lots of analysis of the oils, it can be a dry read. There are a lot of chemical naming, scientific expressions and systematic organisation of the descriptions. A book for those who wants to really get into depth with aromatherapy and treat it as a science.
	A beautiful book with many photos introducing the reader to aromatherapy and the most commonly used oils and their properties. The second half of the book teaches the reader the basics of classical/Swedish massage with plenty of photos to illustrate the techniques. There are also a few chapters upon self-massage. A good overall introductory read for those interested in learning how to massage and wanting to try things out before attending classes.
	An easy accessible book teaching the basic massage gestures body part by body part. It also covers massages for seasons, water and cleansing, some stress management as well as a very brief introduction to essential oils and their uses in massage blends. Another good book for beginners wanting to be introduced to massage and try out some basic techniques.
	A very thorough book on whole body massage, head, feet and body. It teaches the reader about various massage techniques, as well as speaks about the physical and spiritual aspects of the body giving a quick overview over various systems and energy points. It goes into detail on all three massage types (head, body and feet), with very elaborate descriptions and photos. The book also gives self treatment exercises as well as touches upon aromatherapy. This book is recommended to those who wish to learn how to massage and also as a companion to those who already know the basics and would like a brush up and more inspiration on classical massage.
	A well written and in depth introduction to and textbook in reflex zone therapy, also known as reflexology. It covers the various zones of the feet and how to treat them as well as brings a collection of case-stories serving as educative examples. A good tool for those who implement reflexology into their massages.
	A good practical introduction to Shiatsu, going step by step through a basic full body Shiatsu treatment. It introduces the reader to the energy concept, as well as covering diet, simple health problems and their treatment, accupressure points, methods of oriental diagnosis as well as shiatsu self-exercises to balance your energy. A good read to get introduced to Shiatsu and learning some basic methods.
	An in depth guide of Shiatsu written by son of the founder of the Japan Shiatsu College which covers many aspects of Shiatsu. Pressure points, meridians, treatments for a wide range of problems, muscular groups, energies and so on. It is a good teaching book.

Aromatherapy in massage

In many massages massage oils are used. The oil makes the massage more fluid and reduces the friction against the skin so the work on the muscles becomes deeper and better. The massage oil also nourishes and moisten the skin.

Massage oils often use aromatherapy. The essential oils not only serves to help relax sore muscles and aid skin conditions or digestion, but also affect the mood, relaxation and feelings during and after the massage.

A good massage oil will not contain much essential oil. It is not needed, and too strong a solution might irritate the skin and enhance the risk of allergic reactions. 10 drops of essential oil is normally enough for 100 ml carrier oil. Double amount can safely be used, but is rarely necessary to create a nicely scented massage oil.

To further use essential oils during a massage, an infuser can be employed to give the room a fragrance that correspondents with the massage oil used. Scented candles are not recommended since they burn the oils instead of evaporate them.

It is mostly for the mental and psychological aspect that aromatherapy is used in massage. By choosing the right scents for a person a certain mood can be set and the fragrances can aid the relaxation.

When paying attention to the mental effects of scents, a massage oil can be created which not only eases muscular tensions, but also releases psychological pain and stagnation. A massage then becomes a holistic treatment healing both body and mind. By using essential oils in your massages, you create not only a physical treatment, but a holistic massage, working on body, mind and emotions as a whole.

Since the essential oils can affect a person very strongly emotionally and cause irritations and skin issues, it's important to be careful on how they are used and follow the safety guidelines there are for essential oils.

It is a wonderful world to explore and can make a large difference in a massage.

Further reading:
Aromatherapy and Massage: Achieving Health and Well-Being the Natural Way with Simple Massage Techniques and Aromatic Treatments
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance Through Essential Oils
Aromatherapy: A Guide for Home Use
Essential Oils for Lovers
Aromaterapi - Sumo Lutos

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy isn't a massage form as such, but rather a tool used with various massage techniques. The therapy can also be used with baths, inhaled, as room fragrance, compresses, skin care, and internally. Though massage is probably the most commonly used method to employ aromatherapy and use essential oils.

In essence aromatherapy uses essential oils distilled and extracted from various flowers, plants and barks with the aim of using them to heal the body and mind. Aromatherapy isn't a cure in itself, but rather used as a complimentary medicine with other therapies and methods.

The theory is that small concentrated amounts of the essential oils can work on the body and mind. The essential oils contain the essence of the plant and aromatherapy can be seen as a branch of herbalism. Many of the oils have the same properties and functions as infusions and extracts plants as used in traditional herb medicine.

Some oils have antibacterial and anti fungal properties, as well as antiviral. Others help relax the muscles, ease sores or burns. Some oils increase blood flow, reduces pulse, helps with skin problems or aid with digestion while others are useful for the respiratory system. Just as herb medicine has a wide range of conditions it is useful for, so does aromatherapy and essential oils.

Essential oils are also attributed a wide range mental and psychological benefits such as relaxation, aid in meditation, sleep, energy, aphrodisiac, depression etc. A scent can be very powerful and affect our mood easily. It brings back memories, gives us associations with certain situations or things, makes us feel relaxed, happy, romantic or hungry.

Aromatherapy should be used with caution since some oils can have undesired side effects. Each oil must be studied carefully before it is used to avoid complications. Since essential oils are very concentrated it is essential to keep a close eye on possible allergic reactions as well as consider allergies and skin conditions. Aromatherapy shouldn't generally be used during pregnancies and or on babies and small children, unless by a trained aromatherapist.

There are not many regulations around the world when it come to aromatherapy. In some countries anything can be called aromatherapy as long as it contains essential oils or extracts from plants with scent. In other countries there are stricter rules and not everybody can use the term freely. It is still an alternative medicine and scientific studies are lacking on many of the oils and their effects as well as on their uses.

There are schools that educate aromatherapists, though mostly found in the UK, Canada, some in the US and Australia. And associations of aromatherapists around the world are trying to bring about standards to provide security and standards for practitioners and clients alike.

Further reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy
http://www.aromatherapy.com/
http://www.aromaweb.com/
http://www.aromatherapycouncil.co.uk/
Aromatherapy and Massage: Achieving Health and Well-Being the Natural Way with Simple Massage Techniques and Aromatic Treatments
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit: A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance Through Essential Oils (Alternative Health)
Aromatherapy: A Guide for Home Use
The Practice of Aromatherapy: A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines & Their Healing Properties
Essential Oils for Lovers
Aromaterapi - Sumo Lutos

Colours and moods

Colours can affect our mood and influence our well-being, not to mention that studies have shown a clear connection between colours and health when used in hospitals.

It is accepted that colours affect our mood and can be used to increase energy or make us relax. Colours also hold a high symbolic value and send clear messages to people. The meaning and symbolism of colours vary from culture to culture and this must be considered as well when decorating a massage room.

For most massage rooms you would want colours which are warm, comfortable, encouraging trust, relaxing and peaceful. One colour can easily become dominating and counter-productive, which means to consider complimentary colours which can break the dominating colour and add to the messages that are sent.

When a colour is muted by either adding white or black it still has the same energy, but acts on a less dominating level.

As a quick reference the following keywords can be attached:

• Red - Activity, energy, movement
• Orange - Happiness, enjoyment, play
• Yellow - Objectivity, liberty, thought-patterns
• Green - Balance, hope, healing
• Cyan - Cool, comforting, immunity
• Blue - Relaxation, calming, security
• Violet - Dignity, meditation, mental activity
• Magenta - Letting go, completion, self respect

Many colours used for painting are composed of several basic colours and this must also be taken into consideration when paints and decoration is chosen.

Inspiration: The Book of Colour Healing - Theo Gimbel

Setting the mood

Lighting, candles, scent and music plays a great influence when setting up a room for your massages.

Candles and lighting can make a big difference to a room. Candles provide a warm light that increases the temperature of the room both physically and mentally. There has been a primitive acknowledgement in the fire element of protection, warmth and survival since the earliest days of man. Controlling and using fire is one thing that truly set us apart from the other animals, and even today fire tends to captivate us and embrace us.

With modern lighting it is possible to create this atmosphere of protection and warmth without the risk of live candles. Coloured light bulbs and special lamps further expand the possibilities.

Scented candles can serve not only the purpose of providing light, but also to give the room a fragrance. You need to be careful in choosing which candles you buy as some are very perfumed and will become overwhelming for the client, as well as yourself. The larger a room is, the more strong scents can be used as it'll be diffused. Incense and aroma lamps of various sorts can also be used.

Fragrances affect us much more than we're aware of and moods can be changed rather profoundly. Just think about how the scent of fresh bread can make your mouth water, the fragrance of a flower make you remember a romantic situation, how the scent of foods or washing powder make you recall your mothers home, or how the smell of sewer can make you feel ill.

I'll cover scents and aromatherapy at a later time and explain more about scents and their affects on our mind and mood.

Finally music is important for the setting as well. It serves several purposes. First off, it helps shut out all outside sounds that might disturb a massage session. Be it a car passing by, a child shouting, rain on the windows, a door slamming. All these are sounds that can distract the client from letting go and accepting the massage fully. They can bring the client out of her relaxed state and make her unconsciously tense her muscles or even become stressed.

Music also aids in setting a mood. It can support the massage in several ways.

Music helps finding the best rhythm for the massage and the techniques employed, it supports the massage style you use (for instance Hawaiian music for the Lomi Lomi massage), and give you an idea of how long is left before the time is up (provided you know the compilation/album you're using) and allow you to focus on the massage instead of watching the clock.

Lastly, there's a lot of music out there which aids with meditation and relaxation. As such the music can help the client with relaxing fully on all levels as well as helping you obtain and maintain a balance of positive energy and calm mood. This will ensure that the client gets the best massage possible.

All in all, there are many things to take into consideration when giving a massage, and the environment is at least as important as your health or the massage oil you use.

Related articles:

Décor and Room and Colours and Moods

Décor and room

Setting the mood is important when you give a massage. The surroundings influence how we feel and is the first step in creating a good massage for your client.

The room in which a massage takes place should be warm and welcoming. It should be so warm that the client can lie naked on the massage table without feeling cold, but cool enough that the practitioner doesn't get too hot and is incapable of performing a good massage. In general this means a room with a temperature around 25-26 degrees Celsius.

Tidiness is another important aspect to creating a welcoming atmosphere. The room should be clean and ordered. Cleanliness increases your credibility and professionalism. It supports the statement that it's a proper business you're running and that there's nothing dirty going on behind the scenes.

By having your room tidy and ordered you give the impression that you have the situation under control, that you're organized in your business and you remove unnecessary distractions that might cause unease or confusion for the client.

There is a practice originating in China called Feng Sui which has now spread to the rest of the world. It deals with how to arrange objects in order to create harmony and improve the energy of the room. Though common sense does take you a long way and it's not necessary to become an expert in Eastern philosophy to create a welcoming environment.

What furniture and objects you have in your practice depends on your personality, the types of massages you give as well as which signals you wish to give to your clients. The decoration should match who you are and reflect yourself at least on a professional level.

Giving a massage is a very personal exchange and your credibility and trustworthiness will be questioned if you clash with your surroundings.

The same is true for the massages you give. It is hard to set the mood for a nice Oriental massage if all the décor is Manhattan style. If you offer several different massages which doesn't fit into one style, you should look at your overall theme instead. Do you work with a holistic approach or a more physical one, are they inspired greatly by Eastern or Western ideas, is there a lot of alternative health in your massages, or are they more beauty and wellness minded etc.

Finding what your general massage theme is will aid you greatly in choosing a decoration and set-up that corresponds with what you offer to your customers.

Related articles:
Setting the Mood, Signals sent via massage environment