Class Notes Day 12, Fri 2/16 - Spinning, Esalen cornerstones, Supine Shoulder, prep to give massage Sun 7:am

"I choose to believe all things are possible."

I heard a table crack when one of the students sat on it in the middle!

   We've been told not to do that - they really are cheaply made tables

On "lab days" we don't need to do long strokes

next week's labs: supine shoulder and hip

"Spin until you pass through the doorway..."

Talked about Sufi Muslim "whirling Dervish" practice

we sat on the floor and did a sort of 3-dimensional spin

then got up and spun with a partner

then spun by ourselves with a spotter watching over us

Esalen massage cornerstones:

long slow strokes that connect the body, reintegrate

awareness of our own breath

attentive to the breath of the client

Goal for self and client - reach Maslow's hierarchy of needs top level

Remember to go from long strokes to specific work then back to long strokes

General to specific back to general

Whole body to segment back to whole body

[After (and before) the conversation about boundaries, I find it strange and difficult to be in a massage class of 30 people for a month and have no casual touch]

lighter strokes are faster

deeper strokes are slower

Supine shoulder work

Pec minor - coracoid process to ribs 3, 4 and 5

Pec major - clavicle, sternum, costal cartilage, aponeurosis to bicipital groove of humerus

traps go all the way down to T12

use "snake" to pick up arm smoothly

sit facing head of table

lay forearm on my thigh, hold hand with my outside hand...

   work pecs w/inside hand while rotating arm in cone shape with outside hand

   using sustained compression or short strokes

to go deeper, stand and use body weight

do long stroke down side of body with arm overhead

I definitely need to integrate more movement and joint mobilization in my work

stand at side of table

cross my hands

lay on sternum facing away from each other - push out toward shoulders

good way to move to neck work from there

[I ordered Pepes Ikan 145.000 and Flan 70.000 for Sunday night]

I really liked the simple, cool, foot wipe - want to add to my practice as prelude

tie a knot on four corners of flat sheet to keep it in place

when client is supine, neutral position generally put their hands on their belly

buy more and a variety of pillows for office

buy more flat sheets? use on top of fitted sheet if they don't slide around

buy scarf for neck work - about 6" x 36" - plenty, just put on table no matter if used or not

   can I find a slightly stretchy, very smooth fabric?

scarf work - at end of supine work before long strokes, finishing work

   otherwise, it falls off and gets in the way

   OR don't lay it over the eyes, just return it to the table

should cover suboccipital to entire posterior surface of head

hold about 6" above face

VERY slowly rock/move head (similar to head unwinding)

when finished, lay ends of scarf over client's eyes

forearm under client's neck (IF it fits easily) to opposite shoulder,

   draw back across shoulders and down arm to fingertips

when pulling arm across chest to other side, draw it under the breast, not above it!

   then draw the torso up onto its side and work posterior shoulder area

   keeping hips flat on table

   run fingers along intercostals

   traction shoulder up and toward feet

return arm, but before it's completely back on table, slip one hand under the scapula

work posterior shoulder area

rotate shoulder girdle from underneath and above together

snake client's forearm over mine while on cross-chest lift to keep it out of the way 

   while I work on the back of the shoulder and posterior ribs

With client in supine splayed position, set pillow on and between thighs to feel safer

Intention is to work away from center - create space where density exists

Interesting way to apply traction to a hand that's oily

Full moon Saturday 2/24 so supper out

Sat 2/24 may go to full moon Balinese/Hindu ceremonies during the afternoon post-class

Sunday 2/25 NO REQUIRED ACTIVITIES

Questions for massage recipient Sun 7:am - look in handbook for them all

any injuries or limitations?

areas of focus?

prefer deeper or lighter pressure?

anything you like or don't like?

use thumbs up, thumbs down, and stop gestures