Comment t’aimé-je? (French for “How do I love thee”)

By Sharon Lively

Can you think of a better way to tell your sweetie that you love them than the gift of a personal massage?

It can be a daunting experience to stand over someone’s back, and see only a lot of flesh and wonder how you are going to make this person melt under your touch.

You are going to learn in this course how to make simple and basic massage strokes that will not only induce pure physical bliss, but your sweetie will also see how smart and thoughtful you are.

Effleurage

We are going to start with Effleurage. Of the five strokes that make up Swedish Massage, it is the most commonly used stroke. The French translation means literally, “to skim”. It follows the contours of the body in unbroken, long and gliding strokes using the fingertips, palms, knuckles, and/or forearms. It can be lighter/superficial or with the correct body mechanics deep and penetrating.

When done on the back it usually flows from the neck down to the base of the spine. When done on the limbs, all strokes are performed centripetally, (toward the heart) to aid blood flow and lymphatic flow.

Effleurage is first used when applying lubricant, introducing touch, and it acquaints the therapist with the client’s body, and vice versa. It is a wonderful stroke for exploring the surface of the client’s skin and underlying tissues. It is commonly used to begin and end a massage, this is called “framing.” It is effective for moving blood and lymph, preparing tissues for deeper massage and flushing out the tissues after using other strokes. Finally it is the preferred stroke for transitioning to other massage strokes such as petrissage, vibration, or tapotement I will discuss these techniques in other lessons.

Information Section # 1: Basics and Safety

Hand position:

1.) Find a table and a pillow doing each step as shown

2.) Hold your hands in the following manner.

Hand is “L-shaped”

3.) Push downward and away; using a lean-and-drag delivery

Note: On extremities pressure is applied centripetally (toward the heart) to promote venous flow

4.) Once excursion is completed, drag hands back using no added pressure(only the weight of your hands)

5.) Maintain contact during each repetition

Guidelines:

Deeper effleurage is done by going more slowly
Extremities are worked proximally, then distally. Meaning: work the thighs before the calves
Apply more pressure when gliding toward the heart than when sliding away
Repeat about 6 times in an area or until tissues soften

Caution: Wrist position and alignment are important, keep your wrists straight

Practice Session # 1

View the following videos of arm and leg sequences. Follow along or watch a few times before attempting on your own.

Testing Session # 1

Try this simple and very effective effleurage stroke on someone’s arm….OR Grap a pillow!!

1.) Put 3 squirts of oil into one hand and warm the lubricant, rubbing your hands together.

2.) Standing at the side of the table in a lunge position with your palms down at their wrists.

3.) Place hands in L shapes, finger tips pointing toward their head, and just be still for 10 seconds.

4.) Lean and drag and with the common L-shape of the hand, very slowly toward their shoulder. Push toward shoulder keeping each arms straight and wrist relatively unbent. This first excursion should take about 10-15 seconds and you should feel the fullness of the arm in the heel of your hands as you push away from yourself.

5.) Drag only the weight of your hands back, never losing contact, as you come back to your original starting place.

6.) Repeat this 5 more times making each excursion last at least 3 seconds longer. The last and 6^th stroke should take 25-30 seconds.

Things to Notice:

Each stroke becoming deeper as you progress.

If you need to, close your eyes to focus and concentrate.

Compare the 1^st and 6^th stroke and describe how the tissues feel different.

Do this sequence again to their leg

Information Section #2: Effleurage Variations:

One-handed

Used for small areas, such as the hands or feet.

Utilizing fingertips held together or apart is referred to as “raking”.

“Ironing effleurage” may be done using fist, palm or forearms.

Two-handed

Heart effleurage is so called, because it follows a heart shape. Used on larger areas, such as the back, legs, or arms.

“Circular two-handed effleurage” uses both hands, one placed on top of or next to the other .

Alternate hand

Glide one hand or thumb across skin, lift up as other hand or thumb follows behind in succession—it resembles a paddlewheel.

“Alternate hand circular effleurage” can be performed as one hand circles & the other moves behind the first in half circle, also known as “the sun and the moon”.

Nerve stroking

Feather-light finer tracing over skin, usually done at the end of massaging a body area or at the end of a massage.

To avoid tickling your client, do not use too light a pressure, or too fast a speed. It may be used on skin, over clothing or through drapery.

A downward movement that proceeds proximal to distal is more relaxing.

Practice Session # 2

View the following videos of back. Follow along or watch a few times before attempting on your own.

Testing Session # 2

Try this simple and very effective effleurage stroke on someone’s back….OR Grab a pillow

1.) Put 3 squirts of oil into one hand and warm the lubricant, rubbing your hands together.

2.) Standing at the head of the table with your client face down lay your hands, palms down at the top of their back

3.) Place one hand on either side at their shoulders, finger tips pointing toward their feet, and just be still for 10 seconds.

4.) Lean and drag and with the common L-shape of the hand, very slowly beginning at the top of the back. Push toward their feet until you reach just below the waist at the top of the hips. You’ll be keeping each hand on either side of the spine in the lamina groove. This first excursion should take about 10-15 seconds and you should feel the fullness of the back’s tissue pressing back at you under the heel of your hands as you push away from yourself.

5.) Drag only the weight of your hands back, never losing contact, as you come back to your original starting place.

6.) Repeat this 5 more times making each excursion last at least 3 seconds longer. The last and 6^th stroke should take 25-30 seconds.

You should notice each stroke becoming deeper as you progress.

If you need to, close your eyes to focus and concentrate.

Compare the 1^st and 6^th stroke and describe how the tissues feel different.

Final Information

In summary, effleurage’s benefits are:

It warms body tissues and relaxes them in preparation for deeper strokes
Soothing to an area after deep work has been performed as well as soothing places too painful for deep work
Calms the nervous system when done slowly and stimulates the nervous system when done quickly
Aids in moving wastes (flushing)
Lengthens muscles if applied w/fiber direction
Increases blood/lymph circulation
Soothes tired, achy muscles
Relieves insomnia

Now that you’ve practiced those basic routines find a person or a pillow and try putting it all together for a complete Effleurage massage for the whole body. Enjoy making your loved ones feel amazing.

Back:

Posterior Arms:

Posterior Legs

Neck

Anterior Arms

Anterior Legs

Feet

COMMENT:

What is your favorite part of the receiving massage?

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REFERENCES

Community Care College Massage Therapy Resource Center; Community Care College Massage Therapy Department