Lower back massage

Who are just starting out who may be needing help with gaining confidence with doing the treatment, or looking for some good advice about setting up a treatment room etc.. So if you are ready let us start at the beginning.

What are The Benefits of Lower Back Massage

• Relaxes the muscles.
• Improving circulation.
• Removes toxins.
• Removing waste.
• Improves your immune system by getting rid of toxins, and stimulates the lymphatic system etc...
• Helps to break down cellulite.
• Can help with improve toning muscle tone.
• Great for the mind as you just seem to drift of into your own wee world.

A great qualification is the one that I did, but in Beauty, although they do all sorts of courses is ITEC.

This is a great internationaly recognised qualification. Very indepth and you will learn how to do a massage with some fantastic massage techniques which will improve your performance on clents.

In no time at all you will achieve much better results with your lower back massage sessions. You will also go deep into anatomy and physiology. Also you must want to do this, it is not for the faint hearted...

Being a massage therapist is very rewarding, but also very hard work...sore on the wrists, elbows and your lower back. Having the right treatment couch is so important. I know been there...wore the tee shirt.

Okay first of all you really do need a good massage table or couch. Preferably one you can raise up and down to suit your height. I purchased an electric one from Darly Couches 9 years ago.

It was sturdy, and wide, so all clients were able to lie in it. It also had arm rests at the side and one at the top for your use. It also had an attachment for the clients to place their head and face in, great for lower back massage.

Okay once you have a good couch you will need the following for your clients:

• Clean towels, preferably bath size.
• Blankets to keep them warm.
• Pre blended massage oil. Or blend your own if you are qualified to do so.
• Relaxing Music.
• Soft Lighting.
• Record cards.

All the above tools if you like make a huge difference to the lower back massage session. You want your client to be totally relaxed and comfortable and warm.

If you are not warm you don't relax. The music is so important to as it can just chill them out even more and also you yourself. The soft light or candles make a big difference to as just gets the scene right to set the mood if you like.

Now you are ready to start the lower back massage. First of all do your consultation to find out more.

Now to start you get your client prepared as in ask them to remove their trousers, tights, tops, bra etc. Ask them to keep the underwear on, especially when you are a female massage therapist and you have a male client.

I have had some experiences with this, not pleasant as some male clients, no disrespect here try it on. But that is few and far between, most were relieved when I asked them to keep their underwear on...(he..he..lol) Also I left the room to give them privacy and went back in when they were ready, I also asked them to lie on the couch on their tummy. I then dimmed the light and had already lit my Indulgence Candle, so the room was smelling good and the dim light relaxed them even more...

Okay you do this so as they know exactly what is going to happen and also for them to see you are in control. After all you are the professional...

Now when you go to start the lower back massage assuming all is okay, tell them to relax and that you are not going to talk with them till after the session has ended. You only need to speak to them at the start when you will ask them how the pressure feels.

Now this is important, so many people who go to salons want to relax, they do not want to hear about you and what you have been up to. Some do, don't get me wrong but again few and far between. Actually it is beneficial for you both not to speak.

As a therapist you will be more focused and relaxed and they will receive a much better treatment. So apply your massage oil, now you may want to use an aromatherapy massage blend, or just plain almond oil.

For more information on this, you can visit my other page Aromatherapy Benefits.

Personally I used pre blended ones and Aromatherapy Associates was my favourite. Absolutely brilliant, smelled amazing and worked a treat...

Rub it in your hands and arms, from the elbow down. Then using both elbows do the effleurage movement starting at the lower back moving up to the shoulders.

Then slide out your hands and sweep across each shoulder and then bring them back into the center and swing them across to having both lower arms gliding back down the spine to the lower back.

Do this a few times, this is a great all round pressure, keep practicing the movement to get it flowing. It is also better for you to. Do this movement a few times.

Then you want to glide your hands to one side of the lower back and start soft flowing movements over the muscles to feel for any knots.

Doing small circular movements with one hand on top of the other. Still effleurage movement and really feel under the skin, then you want to do some kneading or petrissage.

When you find something you want to break down the tissue but not to firm, otherwise you can cause muscle spasms. Not good always be careful with your pressure when doing a lower back massage. The last thing you want is for them to be in more pain.

So work on one side using a combination of petrisage and effleurage, then move to the other side, always making sure you don't lose contact with the skin. Link all your movements, find you own ways to do this.

Glide up to the shoulders, sweeping across them when you get to the top, bringing them in to the center and then going back down to the lower back with a thumb on either side of the spine.

Do this a few times, then efflurage back up to the shoulders with your lower arms and start to work on each shoulder like you did on the lower back.

One movement I did was to use my forearms to slide the forearms across the back from one side to the other. Then you can also get both your hands in the center of the back and cross your wrist.

Keeping your hands facing down, then slide both hands apart, one hand going to the shoulders and the other going to the lower back them slide them both back to the center and repeat.

This really does stretch the spine and gives an even pressure. Very relaxing, then just finish the lower back massage with the same movement you used at the start.

As I said allow 30 - 40 minutes for the lower back massage. You can go to my other page where you will more information and be able to watch a Full body massage Video

So thank you for visiting and if you have some questions or experiences you would like to share on my massage stories page I'd love to hear from you...

Return to Top of Page Lower Back Massage

Return From Lower Back Pain to Health and Beauty Treatments Home Page

New! Comments