The Complete Essential Oils Sourcebook: A Practical Approach to the Use of Essential Oils for Health and Well-Being

STEP 3

Petrissage: kneading movements (#ulink_7297310c-0041-5fa1-b2e6-9e77c77d4612)

THESE TECHNIQUES INVOLVE picking up and slightly squeezing or twisting the muscles and are used on all muscular and fatty regions of the body. Using the whole hand, or just the fingertips, the muscle is first squeezed and then released in a rhythmic fashion. As it is released, the muscle relaxes. The overall effect is to pump the vessels of the muscles, so that circulation is improved and lymphatic activity increased. It is an effective technique for easing muscular tension and bringing warmth to an area. Always relax a muscle with effleurage before attempting petrissage.

Kneading

The hands are placed on either side of a muscle, with the palms slightly facing each other. The movement is an alternate downward pressure, then a picking up, rolling and squeezing of the muscle. The basic kneading technique is a bit like kneading dough (see illustration on below). It is applied on muscular areas, such as the shoulders, back, and limbs. Picking up, which involves lifting up the muscle and stretching it as far as possible from the bone, and rolling, which involves lifting up a section of muscle and rolling it transversely in both directions, can also be practiced as individual movements.

KNEADING TECHNIQUE

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

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Wringing

Like kneading, this movement involves squeezing the muscles and the soft underlying tissue adhesions connected to the muscle, in this case with an additional twist. This technique is extremely warming and stimulating, but it is only applicable to the limbs.

WRINGING TECHNIQUE

1Place the hands side by side on a limb.

2Grasp firmly with the fingers, start to work the hands in opposite directions as if wringing out a cloth.

3 Work your way up the limb and down again methodically, squeezing the flesh between the hands a little at each stroke.