Shiatsu Massage- the Beginner's Guide to Doing Massage

I cannot stress this enough. Weight transference, body mechanics and correct techniques are essential

It is time to learn how to safely apply more and less pressure so that you are in complete control and do not hurt yourself or your client/partner

Here I show you the different ways that I use my palms

This is a lovely way to start the massage or just use throughout the massage somewhere during your sequence. It is different and also very powerful in that it mobilizes the joints and also relaxes the client.

We should always use our thumbs sparingly. They are small joints and often get injured because of overuse from poor techniques and poor instruction.

Quite simply, this feels great!

Using the elbows and forearms not only feels great to the client but also saves your hands and thumbs.

Stretching is an important part of Shiatsu. It is done after we have loosened up the muscles and is a wonderful compliment to the massage when done correctly.

Now is the time to remove all distractions and , using the techniques that you have learnt, start the sequence

The back is the best place to start the massage sequence. It does not feel vulnerable like the front of the body can and also people love getting their backs massaged as it is the storehouse for so much tension.

Now that we have loosened up the back we work our way onto the buttocks and legs

Now you get the person to turn over onto their back and away we go again!

No we do the legs as the person is now face up. We continue with the same methods as before and will work the legs, then make our way up towards the head.

The chest I have kept super simple but make sure that you include it as it's important.

Here is how we do the arms and hands sequence

An easy neck and head massage that will have your client drooling.

OK! now that you know how to do the techniques, this is the section where you don't have to listen to me explaining everything anymore and you can just watch the video to music as you practice the sequence.( the background music is by bensound)

I had many students ask me if I could show the complete sequence without music so here you have it. You can now watch and play your own music if you would like as well.

Here are some more advanced techniques that you can add to your massage sequence if you are feeling confident

This is a more advanced move that I show you how to use on the backs of the thighs. Using your knees is another great way to help save your wrists, hands and thumbs and at the same time give the client a fabulous massage technique that feels great and completely different. If you do not feel safe or comfortable with this one then you may skip it. In the massage sequence I do not use it on my son because I can get enough pressure without needing to use my knees on him.

Now once that you are confident with the basic sequence you can add some stretches and joint mobilizations to your sequence for the lower back, buttocks and legs

Here are some wonderful stretches and mobilizations for the arms, hands and wrists 

Here I show you how to use your feet on many more parts of the body

Maybe you would like to massage someone but you cannot put them onto the floor-so a chair is perfect! Here is a great little sequence using the same techniques that you already know.

Like any massage,. the first thing to address is proper use of your body...but I guess by now you already knew that ;)

Here I show you some great little techniques to do a massage with a person sitting in a chair

Congratulations! You are now ready to get massaging!