The Book of Massage

1. Massage, Shiatsu, and Reflexology: A Trio of Touch Therapies

Remember, life may take it out of you, but massage can put it back.

Three distinct approaches. The book introduces three distinct yet complementary touch therapies: massage, shiatsu, and reflexology. Each offers a unique approach to promoting relaxation, healing, and overall well-being. Massage involves flowing strokes and kneading, shiatsu focuses on pressure points along meridians, and reflexology targets specific reflexes on the feet and hands.

Holistic benefits. These therapies work with the body's regenerative capacity, promoting self-healing. They not only address physical ailments but also enhance understanding of oneself and others. The book encourages readers to explore the therapy they feel most drawn to, recognizing that each has its own unique appeal and application.

The power of touch. The book emphasizes the importance of touch as a fundamental human need. Touch provides reassurance, warmth, pleasure, comfort, and renewed vitality. It is a common language that can be used to heal, reassure, relieve pain, and convey care.

2. The Foundation: Environment, Posture, and Centering

Care and sensitivity, a little time and energy, and a good pair of hands – this is all that’s needed to begin practising massage.

Setting the stage. Creating a relaxed environment is crucial for effective touch therapy. This includes ensuring warmth, quiet, and comfort with pillows, cushions, and blankets. The giver's comfort is equally important, requiring loose clothing and a balanced posture.

The giver's role. The giver's posture and breathing are essential. Whether sitting, kneeling, or standing, the body should feel balanced and relaxed. A straight back and movement from the belly and pelvis allow healing energy to flow freely.

Centering the mind. Centering involves focusing on the present moment and bringing a feeling of genuine caring, consideration, and respect to each session. This state of balance and presence allows the giver to be guided by intuition and sense the receiver's tension or energy imbalance.

3. Massage: The Art of Intuitive Touch

A caring massage creates feelings of well-being, trust and joy.

Holistic approach. Holistic massage treats the individual as a whole, focusing on the communication between giver and receiver. It involves systematically stroking, kneading, and pressing the soft tissues of the body to induce total relaxation. Oil is used to lubricate the skin, allowing smooth and even movements.

Basic strokes. The massage consists of gliding, medium-depth, deep tissue, and percussion strokes. Gliding strokes are gentle and rhythmic, used to begin and end a massage. Medium-depth strokes involve kneading and pulling, relaxing the muscles and aiding circulation. Deep tissue strokes use thumbs, fingertips, or heels of hands to reach hidden tensions. Percussion strokes are brisk and rhythmic, stimulating soft-tissue areas.

Intuitive adaptation. Once the basic sequence of strokes is learned, the giver can adapt the techniques according to the receiver's needs. The goal is to create a continuous sequence in which the strokes flow rhythmically from one to the other, allowing the body beneath the hands to suggest possible movements.

4. Shiatsu: Balancing Ki Through Pressure

For such “half-healthy” people, or as a preventive against sickness, shiatsu is the ideal home remedy since it simply rebalances the ki so that the body can heal itself.

Oriental roots. Shiatsu is a Japanese system of physical therapy that involves pressure on acupuncture points to balance the body's energy and promote good health. It combines classical Oriental medical theory with a tradition of folk medicine. The name "shiatsu" means "finger pressure," but it is also applied with other parts of the hand, as well as with the elbows and knees.

Ki and meridians. Shiatsu is based on the belief in a vital force known as ki, which flows in connected channels or "meridians" throughout the body. Each meridian is linked to an organ or psycho-physical function, and its ki can be contacted at certain points along its path – the acupuncture points known as tsubos.

Kyo and jitsu. In shiatsu, the aim is to treat not only the symptoms but also their cause. Diseases are caused by an excess or deficiency of ki. Areas with excess ki are called jitsu, while those with deficient ki are called kyo. Treatment involves concentrating on kyo areas to rebalance the ki and allow the body to heal itself.

5. Ki: The Vital Force of Oriental Medicine

All things are backed by the shade, faced by the light and harmonized by the immaterial breath.

The essence of existence. Ki is the "immaterial breath" that harmonizes all things. It is the vital energy that flows through the body, connecting the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of being. Ki manifests itself as five different aspects of energy, known as the Five Elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.

Yin and yang. Yin and yang are the two opposite yet complementary aspects of existence. Yin corresponds to that which is dark, cool, moist, soft, receptive, and feminine, while yang corresponds to that which is light, hot, dry, hard, active, and masculine. The balance between yin and yang is essential for health and well-being.

The five elements. The Five Elements are the different qualities of ki energy, each with its own particular quality or "flavor." Each element governs a meridian or organ function in the human body and also an aspect of the personality or emotions. Understanding the elements helps diagnose and treat imbalances in the body and mind.

6. Reflexology: Mapping the Body on Feet and Hands

By working on these reflexes, the reflexologist reduces tension all over the body.

Zone theory. Reflexology is based on the principle that there are areas, or reflex points, on the feet and hands that correspond to each organ, gland, and structure in the body. These reflex points are connected to different parts of the body through zones. By working on these reflexes, the reflexologist reduces tension all over the body.

Basic techniques. Reflexology involves using special thumb and finger techniques to work on small areas, or reflexes, on the feet and hands. The main techniques are thumb walking, index finger walking, hooking, and reflex rotation. These techniques are used to stimulate the reflexes and break down blocks in the energy flow.

Benefits of reflexology. The main benefit of reflexology is relaxation. In reducing tension, it also improves the blood supply, brings about unimpeded nerve functioning, and re-establishes harmony among all body functions. Reflexology can be used to address a wide range of conditions, but it is important to consult a doctor if you are unsure whether or not it is appropriate.

7. The Language of the Body: Body Reading

The shape of our bodies is a graphic expression of how we feel and think.

Body as a map. Body reading involves interpreting the visual clues that reveal our patterns of feeling, thinking, and acting. The shape of our bodies is a graphic expression of how we feel and think. Our structure is molded by our individual experience of life.

Splits and asymmetries. When reading a body, it is important to look for splits and asymmetries. These can be top/bottom, left/right, or front/back. Top-heavy bodies may indicate a feeling of insecurity at the base, while bottom-heavy bodies may indicate a lack of assertiveness. Left/right splits may reflect conflict between reason and emotion, while front/back splits may indicate aspects of our personality that we are hiding from the world or from ourselves.

Feet to face. The feet and legs reflect our relationship with reality, while the pelvis is linked to our sexuality and elimination. The belly is the seat of our gut feelings, and the chest is related to our emotions. The shoulders and arms are associated with work and action, while the neck, head, and face relate to self-expression and communication.

8. Touch for All Stages of Life: Maternity, Babies, and Later Years

Of all the senses, touch is the first to develop.

Maternity. Massage is a wonderful way of preparing a woman for childbirth and helping her to feel more at home with her changing body. It can combat tension and fatigue in pregnancy and soothe and reassure a woman in labor. Shiatsu is also fine during pregnancy, as long as you avoid deep pressure on the abdomen and go easy on the leg meridians.

Babies. Touch is vital to babies for both physical and emotional well-being. Baby massage can strengthen the bonding and communication between parent and child and help babies to sleep and feed better. It can also relieve colic in the first few months.

Later life. Touch is essential for our well-being at all ages, but at no time do we receive less than in later life. Massage, shiatsu, and reflexology can enhance the quality of life and combat many of the commonest problems of aging. All three therapies are calming, relaxing, and companionable, helping to relieve high blood pressure, depression, and loneliness.

Last updated: March 7, 2025