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# Massage Sloth: Tips and Tutorials

Massage lazy. Get results.

## Posts

- [New workshops for early 2025](https://massagesloth.com/new-workshops-for-early-2025/) - Here are my CE classes coming up in early 2025! I'm excited about the new spots in Dallas, St. Pete, and Albany, and I'm always happy to return to KOP and Kansas City. For a full list, and to sign up right online, go here: massagesloth.com/ce What is it? My one and only workshop is
- [Spontaneous Combustion, Massage Linens, and You](https://massagesloth.com/spontaneous-combustion-massage-linens-and-you/) - If you're on massage forums for more than a few months, you'll occasionally see something pretty scary: A picture of burnt sheets, and a post describing the smell of smoke followed by a quick evacuation. There are even news articles every year or two of building fires caused by massage linens. This issue is underdiscussed
- [Video: Working with ticklish massage clients](https://massagesloth.com/video-working-with-ticklish-massage-clients/) - New video! This one's about working with ticklish massage clients in a tickle-free way: https://youtu.be/MRJG0iRbwzE This might not seem like a big deal, but to especially ticklish clients? This is a huge deal. Let me explain why. The phenomenon we're discussing here is called "gargalesis," which is the type of tickling where intrusive contact is
- [Video: Myofascial release for iliacus and psoas](https://massagesloth.com/video-myofascial-release-for-iliacus-and-psoas/) - Here's how I work with the hip flexors. While I show some variations for clients who prefer more direct contact, my usual approach for iliacus and psoas is one of broad contact and slow sinking. My reasoning: First, these muscles are rarely touched, and so it doesn't take a lot of stimulus for them to
- [Video: 5 Confidence-Building Exercises for Massage Therapists](https://massagesloth.com/video-5-confidence-building-exercises-for-massage-therapists/) - In this video we do some bear walking, we tear phonebooks in half, we throw fireballs... it all makes more sense in context. Basically, I want everyone watching this video to try to find the outer boundaries of what feels good, and then step back, at least when working with friends who will give you
- [Video: Myofascial release for "tech neck"](https://massagesloth.com/video-myofascial-release-for-tech-neck/) - We're talking posterior neck pain and tension, and the protracted posture that might develop from years of working with computers (or cleaning teeth, fixing cars, painting tiny models, etc.). This isn't so much about "fixing" as it is about helping clients feel a sense of freedom. As they stand up from the table, I'd like
- [Video: Myofascial Release for "That Damn Spot"](https://massagesloth.com/video-myofascial-release-for-upper-back/) - My goal with this session is for the client to stand up from the table feeling ease and freedom in their posture. If they say something like "I feel an inch taller," I know I did it right. Why not just "dig out the knot"? Because I don't think that spot is to blame. This
- [I Wrote a Book about Massage!](https://massagesloth.com/my-massage-book/) - It's called "Massage Is Weird," and it's about massage, communication, treating pain (and dealing with it yourself), and beating burnout.
- [Video: How to Sit More During Massage](https://massagesloth.com/video-how-to-sit-more-during-massage/) - New massage video! This one is on how to sit more during your sessions (yes, I'm serious about the whole "massage lazy" thing): The benefits of sitting more: Less time on your feet, which is also kinder to your low back than a full 6 hours of bending and lunging. More variety for you AND
- [Massage Continuing Education... Coming Soon!](https://massagesloth.com/ce-mailing-list/) - 2020 is the year that I do some travelling and teaching around the US. Join my mailing list to find out when and where!
- [How to (safely!) use your thumbs for massage](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-safely-use-your-thumbs-for-massage/) - I know there's been a movement to reduce thumb use in the massage world, but I think that there are a lot of effective ways to use them without risking injury.The secret? Follow your natural ergonomics rather than trying to force your thumbs to do movements they don't want to do: Find positions of power
- [New Massage Sloth CE Workshops!](https://massagesloth.com/new-massage-sloth-ce-workshops/) - I'm back to teaching! I'm offering my 16 credit hour course for massage therapists called "Myofascial Swedish" twice in the coming months: In Pensacola, FL on August 5-6, and in Huntsville, AL on September 9-10. You can find out more (and sign up right online) by going here: https://massagesloth.com/ce/ This course is NCBTMB, Florida, and
- [Guided Meditation for Sleep (with soothing massage voice)](https://massagesloth.com/guided-meditation-for-sleep-with-soothing-massage-voice/) - Let me know what you think! More like this? Stick to massage, for Heaven's sake? These are the questions that keep me up at night.
- [Video: Self-massage for Singers](https://massagesloth.com/video-self-massage-for-singers/) - I've spent the last year going slightly mad, and also watching lots of vocal coaching on YouTube. Over that time I've been using self-massage to keep my throat happy and healthy, which I talk about here: Mostly this is an excuse to get back into gear with an easy video, but I'd love feedback from
- [How to Use Facebook Boosting to Get New Massage Clients](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-use-facebook-boosting-to-get-new-massage-clients/) - So you have a Facebook page for your business, you're making regular posts, but you're not seeing new business. What gives? Is it broken? Should you keep trying? To start, let's go back over the basics, which you can find in much greater detail in my last business post, "How to Use a Facebook Page
- [Dealing with Self-Doubt as a Massage Therapist](https://massagesloth.com/dealing-with-self-doubt-as-a-massage-therapist/) - Do you deal with self-doubt as a massage therapist? When you work with a new client, do you spend the whole time convinced that it's the worst massage ever? Then this video is for you: This is an edited version of a previous livestream, now with 75% fewer tangents and pauses. There's also a nice
- [Video: Abdominal self-massage (and self-acceptance)](https://massagesloth.com/video-abdominal-self-massage-and-self-acceptance/) - This is ostensibly about abdominal self-massage (it even includes 5 different techniques!), but it's really about getting back into the therapeutic headspace. As you might imagine, I made this one for myself. I haven't started back yet thanks to some resurgence here in the South, but every time I get back to the planning phase
- [How to End a Massage Session (With Cranial Cradle Demo!)](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-end-a-massage-session-with-cranial-cradle-demo/) - In this video I talk about "floating" a lot. This is something that you'll need to experience to appreciate. Have a friend or colleague apply some deep static pressure somewhere on your body (I demonstrate this on the low back), and then either swoop out, or take about 10 seconds to gradually decrease their pressure
- [Video: 6 Tips for a Better Massage](https://massagesloth.com/video-6-tips-for-a-better-massage/) - Here it is: A distillation of everything I've learned about massage since massage school, and how to really nail down that feeling of "flow." These tips might seem rather simple, but I invite you to take them, one at a time, into your upcoming sessions and see what changes happen. These are all really about
- [Tutorial Video: Shoulder Massage With Arm Manipulation](https://massagesloth.com/tutorial-video-shoulder-massage-with-arm-manipulation/) - This is one of my favorite things: cradling the arm while working with the shoulder girdle. From the client's perspective, it feels floaty and stretchy and satisfying. For me, it means working with the traps, pecs, and rotator cuff from lots of angles with varying degrees of stretch. Once you're done, the entire region should
- [Massage Technique Video: Alternating Shoulder Press](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-video-alternating-shoulder-press/) - This is a great way to start out your neck work, or to start your session. It's a gentle way of introducing movement to the neck without saying a word, and it creates some myofascial stretching that feels really profound! A couple of quick tips: Keep the palmar surfaces of your hands close to the
- [Overcoming the Inertia of the Body](https://massagesloth.com/overcoming-the-inertia-of-the-body/) - I'd like you to try a quick thought experiment: Imagine doing one intense workout in the course of a month. You charge yourself up, you break through your mental block, and you finally go to that fitness bootcamp you've been dreading. You lay it all on the line, and you kick butt. What effects will
- [Massage Technique Video: The Lumbar Steamroller](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-video-the-lumbar-steamroller/) - Massage therapists, I present to you one of my favorite techniques. Why do I like it so much? Well, it's easy to apply once you get the hang of it, and it gets me more "oh wow" comments than just about any other move. Give it a try, share with your colleagues, and let me know
- [Video: Massage for Fibromyalgia (With Interview and Demonstration!)](https://massagesloth.com/video-massage-for-fibromyalgia-with-interview-and-demonstration/) - If you've worked on more than one client with fibromyalgia, you know that this isn't a matter of saying, "if the client has X symptom, do Y technique." It's more a matter of knowing what questions to ask, which alterations might help, and knowing when to err on the side of caution. The most important
- [Massage Technique Video: The Sacrum Shaker (SI Joint Mobilization)](https://massagesloth.com/378-2/) - Today I share with you my weirdest massage technique: The Sacrum Shaker. The technique itself isn't hard, and there's really no wrong way to do it; when I was contemplating making a video about this, I realized that the most important aspect would be demonstrating how to communicate it. How can we work near the
- [Video: Self-massage for TMJ Pain/dysfunction](https://massagesloth.com/video-self-massage-for-tmj-pain-dysfunction/) - Want to try some massage for your own jaw? Follow along with me as I demonstrate an easy myofascial release technique that takes just a few minutes! Do you feel that sense of ease and freedom afterward? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to share with friends and massage clients!
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Talking to Clients On the Table](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-talking-to-clients-on-the-table/) - New video! This week we're talking about talking. More specifically, what can you do to maximize your time with a client on the table? Especially in a time-crunch environment, finding little nooks and crannies to fit client education into can be invaluable. I find this especially useful when I'm dealing with areas of heightened sensitivity.
- [Massage Sloth Presents: Maria Natera's Favorite Techniques](https://massagesloth.com/massage-sloth-presents-maria-nateras-favorite-techniques/) - New massage technique video! I invited Maria Natera of Massage Therapeutics to make a video for us about her favorite massage techniques, and she knocked it out of the park. She demonstrates active engagement techniques for the wrist and forearm, big beautiful forearm carving techniques for the scapula and sacrum, and some lovely posterior neck
- [Massage Tutorial Video: 4 Myofascial Stretches](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-4-myofascial-stretches/) - Want to make your massage client "feel taller," all while delivering some feel-good meditative contact? Check out my new tutorial video: Really, these are all just simple table stretches; the trick is in their delivery. They feel good done briefly, but interesting stuff starts happening when you slow down and let your hands do some
- [How to Make a Massage Demo Video to Get New Clients](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-make-a-massage-demo-video-to-get-new-clients/) - I've recently done something revolutionary for my massage business: I made a video of myself in action. My new clients increased substantially, my Facebook business page started getting a lot more views and likes, and my advertising dollars suddenly stretched a lot farther. The days of describing your style and hoping people got the picture
- [Video: Does Massage Flush Toxins?](https://massagesloth.com/video-does-massage-flush-toxins/) - Does massage flush toxins? Does it break up lactic acid? Check out my new video on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXqzo3F9ktI If you've followed me for a while, you know the ending. The whole "toxin" thing is a persistent myth, and it's based on a misunderstanding of our internal environment. It assumes that there are areas of
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Working With Fully Clothed Clients](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-working-with-fully-clothed-clients/) - New massage tutorial video! This one's on how to work with fully clothed clients: https://youtu.be/cZXgw-eGb_8 This can seem a little intimidating if you always work with oil, or if you don't have much experience with chair massage. The trick is to embrace the traction rather than trying to replicate the glide of your usual technique.
- [How I Interview New Massage Clients](https://massagesloth.com/how-i-interview-new-massage-clients/) - The first ever intake you have with a massage client can set the tone for your entire therapeutic relationship. How can you open up lines of communication and get plenty of useful information to boot? Here's how I go about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQdLpExy2fA One thing you'll notice is that I'm... really thorough. My initial interview can
- [Massage Video: Full Back Massage Routine](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-full-back-massage-routine/) - This week I demonstrate my general back massage routine: https://youtu.be/jIEo-m9WiiQ I did something a little different with this video. I start with my usual lengthy explanation as I show techniques, but I also include a real-time demonstration (with obligatory relaxing music) afterward. What do you think of this format? What's your typical back routine like,
- [Massage Video: Deep Tissue Massage Basics (Working with the Whole Body)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-deep-tissue-massage-basics-working-with-the-whole-body/) - This week's video is another deep tissue basics tutorial: How to work with the body as a whole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieMl13ILJXw One thing I love about massage is how it can make me feel more deeply connected to my body—and, as a client, an occasional frustration I have is leaving a session feeling cut into pieces, or
- [Massage Tutorial: Serratus Anterior (and its friends)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-serratus-anterior-and-its-friends/) - Does your massage client have rib pain? Would you like to work with the thoracic region more thoroughly? Here's how I go about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrqW3RrZHM0 Something that I hope to demonstrate with this video is an approach that was years in the making—instead of working on specific muscles, or stripping longitudinally or transversely, I've started
- [Massage Video: 8 tips for working with low back pain](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-8-tips-for-working-with-low-back-pain/) - I hope I’m not alone when I say that I’ve had more than one client stand up with more low back pain than they started with. I reduced the frequency of this over the years, but it took a lot of fiddling and small changes. More importantly, I found that some clients would respond well
- [Massage video: How to keep clients from helping with limb movement](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-how-to-keep-clients-from-helping-with-limb-movement/) - It can be hard to work with a massage client's limbs if they're trying to help you move them, or if they're unconsciously holding them in place. Here are a few strategies for dealing with this phenomenon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJXzfjJCRFQ I think that communication is key, which brings me to an important point: The word "relax." This
- [Massage Video: Working with Shoulder Pain After Surgery](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-working-with-shoulder-pain-after-surgery/) - Here's a new video about how I work with postsurgical shoulder pain. I talk about my strategy, and I demonstrate specific techniques for working gently from a myofascial perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF7oX0bYU30 I'd like to highlight something that's changed for me in my practice: While I do explore the client's range of motion, I do my best
- [Massage Technique Video: The "Mother Hand"](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-video-the-mother-hand/) - This week I have a deep tissue massage technique video for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9dUy8dGb-0 This is about using a "mother hand": A broad and comforting hand applied while doing other techniques. But that's easy for me to say. For new massage therapists, having two hands doing two different tasks can be quite the juggling act. I
- [Massage Video: Deep Tissue Basics (Applying Pressure and Making Contact)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-deep-tissue-basics-applying-pressure-and-making-contact/) - This one goes back to the basics. How to apply pressure during a deep tissue massage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd2XcsRq3TY I'd like to talk a bit more about that "first contact" that I mention in the video. This is something that I discussed at length in my live Facebook video from yesterday: That first contact is an opportunity
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Abdominal Massage, the Vagus Nerve, and Belly Breathing](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-abdominal-massage-the-vagus-nerve-and-belly-breathing/) - New massage tutorial video! This one has an abdominal massage demonstration... but it's really about interacting with the parasympathetic nervous system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbccu5N464s It's pretty common to abandon abdominal massage after massage school. After all, we have to deal with chest draping, clients sometimes feel self-conscious about the area, and it's rarely requested. All this is
- [How to Get Reviews for Your Massage Business](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-get-reviews-for-your-massage-business/) - Getting reviews for your massage business is important. It gives you instant credibility during those crucial first seconds when a client is deciding, "should I explore this therapist's page further, or should I go back to looking at cat memes?" It lets curious clients see how other people perceive you. Are they praising your ability
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Sciatica Myofascial Release Techniques](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-sciatica-myofascial-release-techniques/) - Today's massage tutorial video is on sciatica pain and how to deal with it from a myofascial perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EULz6GWlDwg You'll notice that I don't spend much time focusing on piriformis or any of the hip rotators. I don't target the lumbar paraspinals or the sacrum. Instead, I encompass all of these areas in broad "steamroller"
- [For Massage Clients: Your Body is Just Right](https://massagesloth.com/for-massage-clients-your-body-is-just-right/) - Your body is exactly as it should be. It's perfectly fine for your body to be the way it is, and to do the things a body does. That means that you can be any shape and size, and that's how it should be. Your skin can have hair, and stretch marks, and cellulite. Your
- [Fibromyalgia and Massage: How to Help without Hurting](https://massagesloth.com/fibromyalgia-and-massage-how-to-help-without-hurting/) - What is fibromyalgia, and how should we deal with it as massage therapists? Should we press directly on tender points, or avoid them? Should we use deeper pressure, or only lighter work? If you're completely unfamiliar with this condition, it means widespread pain that isn't related to injury or overuse. If you've got fibromyalgia, a
- [Video: 4 shoulder/neck stretches for your massage clients](https://massagesloth.com/video-4-shoulderneck-stretches-for-your-massage-clients/) - Do you offer self-care to your clients? I've always been a big proponent of a little homework, and over the years I've come up with stretches that seem to help with pain, and that clients will actually follow through with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ascz2whmczs And that's what I'd like to talk about today—how to get clients to actually
- [Building Your Massage Business (With a Little Help From My Friends)](https://massagesloth.com/building-your-massage-business-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/) - People ask me about business stuff a lot, but... I stink at business stuff. I don't promote myself often, or answer phones, or leave my house. I basically maintain a Facebook blog, advertise, and let clients come to me. This works for me and my social nopeness, but there are ways of tapping into your
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Reflexology basics, techniques, & routine](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-reflexology-basics-techniques-routine/) - This week's massage tutorial video is on reflexology basics. Now, I should point out that this is my version of reflexology—I've long since forgotten most everything about meridians and organ reflex zones, but I've been using the techniques for a decade now. This routine feels great, and it seems to create a more profound client
- [So Your Massage Client Has an Anxiety Disorder](https://massagesloth.com/so-your-massage-client-has-an-anxiety-disorder/) - Clients have many different goals when it comes to bodywork, and a perfectly valid one is the management of their stress/anxiety. What are the different types of psychological disorders you might encounter? What do you need to know about anxiety as a massage therapist? This article, "Worrying About Worrying" by Ruth Werner, is a good primer
- [Massage Therapist Self-Care Video: Wrist Pain](https://massagesloth.com/massage-therapist-self-care-video-wrist-pain/) - This week's video is on self-treatment for wrist pain. It's specifically for massage therapists, but I imagine there's some good info in there for other people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_maOxcNEJkc The information in this video should be pretty safe for any non-traumatic wrist injury, whether it's a persistent ache after increasing your daily workload, or pain following a "tweak" during
- [Reading Your Client's Mind: The Art of the Follow-up Question](https://massagesloth.com/reading-your-clients-mind-the-art-of-the-follow-up-question/) - When I'm interviewing new massage clients, there's a trick that I do that makes me seem psychic. It goes a little something like this: They'll mention that they have headaches, and I'll ask where. They'll point to their temples, and I'll ask if they also have jaw pain/dysfunction. "Yeah, I do! How did you know?"
- [Massage Technique Video: Myofascial neck spreading/stretching](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-video-myofascial-neck-spreadingstretching/) - This one's a simple myofascial spreading technique for the neck and chest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQAHhg9qTCQ I use two hand tools for this—a loose fist to glide up the neck, and a palm to spread the upper chest tissue laterally. Make sure to use broad, slow pressure with both, and to conform your tools to the changing landscape
- [Massage Video: 5 Massage Methods I've Abandoned](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-5-massage-methods-ive-abandoned/) - New instructional video! This one's on five massage practices that I no longer make use of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOvhjD8t4J8 Why? Some of them were a little more trouble than they were worth. As much as I love psoas work, for example, it takes a good 10 minutes of my session if I give it the time and
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Side-lying techniques and demonstration](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-side-lying-techniques-and-demonstration/) - Today's massage tutorial video is on side-lying massage. While it's not a comprehensive course, it should be a good refresher for those of you who haven't given one in a while, and it should have some useful tips for the long-time therapists in the crowd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEVpPsZmL7c If you haven't given a massage like this is
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Working with Mature Scar Tissue](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-working-with-mature-scar-tissue/) - How do you work with a client with older scar tissue? Here's a video about my strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOlKW0cbtV4 I talk about some myofascial-inspired techniques for working with scar tissue, but mostly I discuss my general approach. When I work with an area with extensive scarring, my primary concern is with the client as a whole.
- [Massage Tutorial Video: How to massage a "crick in the neck"](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-how-to-massage-a-crick-in-the-neck/) - New massage tutorial video! This one's on working with stiff necks, or "neck cricks." As always, I come at this from a myofascial perspective, rather than trying to stretch the kink out or "break up knots." I do a quick anatomy review of levator scapulae, and then I demonstrate my protocol on a client: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQlPuGJdmU4
- [Is Your Massage Practice Sending the Wrong Message?](https://massagesloth.com/is-your-massage-practice-sending-the-wrong-message/) - Here's an important article about a negative experience that a client had while on the table: https://danceswithfat.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/dealing-with-a-fat-shaming-massage-therapist/ In a previous rant, I said that massage therapists causing pain—and making their clients think it was necessary—was one of the only massage-related phenomena that truly made me angry. Well, this counts as causing pain. If someone comes
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Myofascial release for TMJ/jaw pain](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-myofascial-release-for-tmjjaw-pain/) - This one's on easy myofascial release techniques for TMJ pain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glACOuj9voA As you may have noticed, I don't do any intraoral work here. In fact, I don't spend much time focused on any one muscle, let alone seeking out trigger points. Instead, I approach this broadly, using slow fascial traction to "iron out" the entire
- [Foam Rolling: Self-care video for massage therapists and clients](https://massagesloth.com/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
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Thumb-free massage techniques](https://massagesloth.com/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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAEww8u8Aok 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
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Myofascial Release Basics (sloth-style)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-myofascial-release-basics-sloth-style/) - What is myofascial release, anyway? In this new massage tutorial video, I talk about the philosophy of MFR (as I see it), show you a self-demonstration...
- [Massage Product Review: StrongLite Curve face cradle](https://massagesloth.com/massage-product-review-stronglite-curve-face-cradle/) - https://youtu.be/_v43d-SwRPE That's my video review of StrongLite's Curve face cradle. It came with my massage chair, but I liked it so much that I started using it for everything. Pros: Thinner memory foam pad that doesn't squish your face. Easy height/angle adjustments with just one lever. The cross-bar doesn't smash into your chin. Cons: It's
- [How to Use a Facebook Page to Build Your Massage Business](https://massagesloth.com/how-to-use-a-facebook-page-to-build-your-massage-business/) - Most massage therapists I know don't have a Facebook business page and, frankly, it blows my mind. Facebook is how I get 50% of my new clients, and the other half is from word-of-mouth... originating from people who probably found me on Facebook. It's a shiny new era, my friends, one that doesn't require you
- [Massage Tutorial Video: "I threw my back out!" (Low back spasm)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-i-threw-my-back-out-low-back-spasm/) - https://youtu.be/tZN-OxxpsB4 What do you do when a massage client comes in with an "out" lower back? In this new video, I demonstrate a gentle myofascial release protocol to reduce spasm and guarding over the course of about 20 minutes. While I do eventually incorporate direct work, the name of the game is slow and broad.
- [Massage Video: Wrist/Forearm Warm-Up for Massage Therapists](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-wristforearm-warm-up-for-massage-therapists/) - https://youtu.be/pJptibzfm2M Want to keep your wrists happy and healthy as you massage? Start your day with a quick warm-up! In this video, I demonstrate two easy exercises that engage everything from your wrists to your elbows. In the first, stay superficial. Think of moving and warming the skin, keeping in mind that you'll be having
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Subscapularis](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-subscapularis/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y_jAGV4T2I New massage tutorial video! This one's on the subscapularis muscle, the most mysterious of the rotator cuff muscles. Sandwiched between the scapula and the rib cage, it's not easy to access. It is, however, worth the effort to address it thoroughly. Why work with subscap? Well, it's an internal rotator of the humerus, so
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Ankle Pain](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-ankle-pain/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3KdZicI1vo New massage tutorial video! This one's on ankle pain, but it's also about communication and massage strategy. I included my client interview process, and I discuss how I go about working with clients who have severe pain (I don't just dive in!). There are also plenty of techniques in there. As you work with
- [Massage Technique Video: "Finger Jiu-Jitsu"](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-video-finger-jiu-jitsu/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CcAIdDYfYs Technique Tuesday! Today we're doing some finger jiu-jitsu: manipulating the fingers in such a way that you can seamlessly transition between them during your massage. I also demonstrate a few different ways of gripping the hand to facilitate passive stretching during techniques. Fun! Let me know what you think in the comments.
- [Massage Tutorial Video: Pectoralis Major and Minor](https://massagesloth.com/massage-tutorial-video-pectoralis-major-and-minor/) - https://youtu.be/-pUY0NrEtnE New massage tutorial video! This one's on the chest, specifically pectoralis major and minor. We do some anatomy and kinesiology review, and then I demonstrate some techniques for working with each muscle. It's not strict myofascial release, but I definitely have the fascia in mind. The major point that I want to get across
- [Dealing With Your Massage-Related Injuries](https://massagesloth.com/dealing-with-your-massage-related-injuries/) - You may have heard me make the claim that I'm injury-free. "I've been using my weird body mechanics and low tables for a decade, and I don't have any pain to show for it." How could that be possible? How can a massage therapist avoid all injury? It... may have been an exaggeration. What I
- [3 Rules for Reducing Chronic Pain](https://massagesloth.com/3-rules-for-reducing-chronic-pain/) - I was sedentary for the first, oh, 20 years of my life. My only exercise was lugging my backpack, dense as a neutron star, from class to class because I was too lazy to make the detour to my locker. I had back pain. Man, did I have back pain, and it was ever so
- [Massage Technique: The Head Turner](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-the-head-turner/) - https://youtu.be/Z8vocnOVl7w A quick, easy way to return a client's head to neutral while delivering a feel-good stripping technique. Let me know what you think!
- [Massage Video: Strategies for the Trapezius](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-strategies-for-the-trapezius/) - https://youtu.be/ItyemAJArJ4 New massage tutorial! This one's on the trapezius, everyone's favorite kite-shaped muscle. While I do discuss some specific techniques, this one's more about strategy. What pain is associated with the trapezius? How can we work with it thoroughly, and in ways that other massage therapists might not consider? When I get a client with
- [Massage Malady #5: Cervical Sadism](https://massagesloth.com/massage-malady-6-cervical-sadism/) - If you've read my writing or watched my videos, you know that I love the neck. I fearlessly grasp sternocleidomastoid, I'll draw the scalenes in as I work the traps, and I'll happily give the local fascia a stretch with a slow, soft fist. I know there's a lot of nervous, vascular, and lymphatic tissue
- [Massage Technique: The Shoulder Accordion](https://massagesloth.com/massage-technique-the-shoulder-accordion/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmbWriyBDs This is a quick one! Just a tiny alteration to shoulder petrissage that can make a big difference in client perception and (possibly) the physiological effects. By creating fascial traction or slack, plain old trapezius squeezing can feel new and interesting. Let me know what you think!
- [Massage video: How to give longer sessions (90+ minutes)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-video-how-to-give-longer-sessions-90-minutes/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYSCDASZT4U This one's on how to give longer massages without being bored to tears. In fact, once you start "exploring the space" that longer sessions give you, you might never want to give an hour-long massage again. In the video, I talk about slowing down (my favorite thing, as you may have gathered), reintegrating large
- [Massage Malady #2: "Distractor Spinae"](https://massagesloth.com/massage-malady-2-distractor-spinae/) - Today's massage malady: Distractor Spinae. This is the unfortunate condition in which massage therapists become SO ENTHRALLED by the spine and the surrounding tissues that other structures are all but ignored. Latissimus dorsi? What's that? Rotator cuff... that's in the ankle, right? This happens for a reason, of course. There is a ton of feel-good
- [](https://massagesloth.com/56/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YySHolwpDyc New video, finally! This one's just a quick product review, but I think it's a neat one: the T-wedge breast bolster from DevLon Northwest. If you've got massage clients who have breast discomfort while prone, this thing can be a godsend. Have I mentioned my 80 Videos in 80 Weeks Slothathon? Because this is
- [Massage Malady #1: Invisible Jean Shorts Syndrome](https://massagesloth.com/massage-malady-1-invisible-jean-shorts-syndrome/) - Let's talk about some common massage problems. First up: Invisible Jean Shorts Syndrome. This is where a massage therapist conspicuously stops massage techniques far before their logical conclusion, as if the client were wearing a pair of jean shorts from the 1990s. Your massage therapist starts a lovely stroke down your back, your spine starts to
- [Massage Techniques for Posture (with video and gifs)](https://massagesloth.com/massage-techniques-for-posture/) - Do you have clients who complain of pain related to poor posture? While we can't directly fix how they stand (this is largely a function of their nervous system), we can give them the freedom to make gradual changes more easily. This is a guide to accompany my video on massage techniques for posture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hvMVQXCIGU A quick
- [For Clients: How to Prepare for Your First Massage](https://massagesloth.com/for-clients-how-to-prepare-for-your-first-massage/) - Massage is scary. There, I said it. I should know: When I went into massage school, I was terrified of the touching, the vulnerability, the possible nudity, the drum circles, the... man, how did I make it? Anyway, I stuck with it for one reason: Massage is awesome. Let me tell you about my first

## Pages

- [Massage Sloth Continuing Education](https://massagesloth.com/ce/) - Here are the upcoming massage CE workshops from Ian Harvey. Click through to read more about the workshop, and to sign up online!
- [Policies and FAQ for Myofascial Swedish](https://massagesloth.com/policies-and-faq/) - Description of the Myofascial Swedish workshop Register for upcoming classes Join the CE mailing list Cancellation and refund policy: Refunds will be available to any student who needs to withdraw from the workshop for any reason, minus a $40 cancellation fee. This fee increases to one quarter of the class fee for cancelling within 4 weeks
- [Massage CE Workshop: "Myofascial Swedish"](https://massagesloth.com/myofascialswedish/) - Register for upcoming workshops Policies and Frequently Asked Questions Join the CE mailing list Myofascial Swedish is a 16-hour live continuing education workshop for massage therapists. It's NCBTMB approved, with additional approvals in Florida and New York. Click the links above to sign up for an upcoming class, or keep reading to learn what this
- [My Book: "Massage is Weird"](https://massagesloth.com/book/) - I wrote a book! It's about massage, communication, treating pain (and dealing with it yourself), and beating burnout. If that seems kind of broad... it is! This book is everything I know about being a massage therapist, with a special focus on living a life of quiet satisfaction. Click here to order (eBook and softcover
- [About Ian](https://massagesloth.com/about-ian/) - I'm Ian Harvey, know-it-all. I've been a licensed massage therapist since 2006, and I graduated from the incredible Florida School of Massage. I teach massage on youtube, and sometimes at a real physical school. I have an MA in psychology for reasons I can't explain. No, I'm not a psychotherapist, and no, I can't read
- [Workshop: Myofascial Swedish](https://massagesloth.com/workshop-myofascial-swedish-cromwell2025weekend/) - June 21-22, 2025Cromwell, Connecticut Location: Cortiva Institute (map)16 Live CE hours, NCBTMB approved, also eligible for New York and FloridaTime: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM each day, with one hour for lunchPrice: $460 (paid in full, or in two installments) Instructor: Ian Harvey has been a massage therapist since 2006, and is a graduate of

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