Monthly Archives: February 2016

Foam Rolling: Self-care video for massage therapists and clients

Hey, how about a nice self-care video? Today, I show you how to use my favorite self-massage technology, the foam roller. It’s great for working out the back and shoulder tightness that can creep in after a long work week, and it really puts you in touch with that “ironing out” sensation that I talk about so much:

The use of a foam roller is also a skill, and it’s one that you can pass on to your clients. As I say in the video, a lot of your most athletic clients (your triathletes, for examples), will already have one of these things… and they’ll probably be using it to abuse their already painful legs. They’ll be digging in to their vastus lateralus in a vain attempt to lengthen a painful IT band, when really all they need is some work in their hips. We can help point them in the right direction! ... continue reading.

Massage Tutorial Video: Thumb-free massage techniques

Got hurt thumbs? Want to give an entire massage without using your thumbs, even once? Check out my new tutorial video:

You guys know that I’m a proponent of the “thumb vacation” when you’ve got pollex pain. If it acts like an injury, it needs to be treated like one: Rest, inflammation management, and rehabilitation. You wouldn’t tell a client with a hurt knee to “keep doing what you were doing,” so why do we treat ourselves with any less kindness?

The tricky part is implementation. How do I do petrissage? How will I apply deep pressure to certain areas, or scoop up muscles that beg to be scooped? In the video, I demonstrate some strategies that I’ve developed while my own thumbs were out of the game. ... continue reading.