The Finesse Factor

I’ve mentioned being a different kind of therapist.  One of the things people tend to notice is the lack of lotion, cream, or oil that I use.  Just the other day, I massaged another therapist and they mentioned they were shocked at being comfortable with my technique when I hardly use cream.  They noticed because they don’t like friction.  I can’t blame them at all.  Friction sucks when applied in the incorrect way.Massage is my art.  Finesse is my favorite brush stroke.  I tend to move slowly.  Sometimes actually, I’m waiting for the fascia, muscles, and other tissue of your body to move my hand.  By working this way, I’m engaging deeper levels of muscles and tissues, and they are releasing their tension under my pressure.  Your breathing is really what is moving my hands.  I’m not forcing them to go anywhere.  I’m not barging in the door; I’m knocking and waiting for a proper invitation.If I use too much cream or oil, my hands, forearms, or elbow glide over your skin.  That’s it. There is no engagement of the deeper tissues.  No release in the deeper muscles.  No correcting the imbalances in your body.  Gliding has some great benefits, helping you feel relaxed and increasing your sense of well-being.  It’s comforting.  I’m not knocking it.  It just doesn’t require the same finesse.I would rather perform a stroke slowly once or twice than quickly three or four times.  That’s my personal style.  I would also never be called a “digger”.  I don’t just go after a knot or trigger point.  Using your body and breathing, I try to resolve them with finesse, slowly and within your comfort.I’m not sure what brought me to this style as a therapist.  It may have been my school and its focus on myofascial therapy.  Although even in my massage class there was a wide variety of personal techniques developed and not everyone used finesse.  It may be the additional classes I’ve taken that also focus on myofascial therapy or orthopedic massage.  It may be it’s simply how I prefer to be worked on so I’ve tried to emulate the techniques I love over time.  Whatever the origin, I love that it makes me different.It’s a very effective approach to massage therapy, and I believe it’s one of the things that people interpret as “good” about my massage.Post #20 of 20 in the February Challenge, check it out!  I made it!  Thank you to colleagues, friends, family, and my clients for your encouragement and support.  I would not have completed this challenge without you!!!