Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1488451
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 19 natural environment, enjoys a slightly angled projection forward from its articulation with the clavicles so that the bottom of it lifts anteriorly. The breath that raises the sternum into a comfortable position makes room for a bigger heart. From here, the world of the sternum is your metaphorical oyster. Highlight your handiwork into the subclavius, the intercostals, the platysma, the sternocleidomastoid, the transversus thoracis, and of course, the pectoralis major. Blending breath into each stroke, follow the fibers from origin to insertion to gradually give grandiosity back to this stif led section of self. Start superficially and lean into the platysma and the pec major like a child who needs a loving but firm hand of guidance. As you and your client slowly melt the armor, perhaps you will become inspired to write a poem of your own. Allison Denney is a certifi ed massage therapist and certifi ed YouTuber. You can fi nd her massage tutorials at YouTube.com/RebelMassage. She is also passionate about creating products that are kind, simple, and productive for therapists to use in their practices. Her products, along with access to her blog and CE opportunities, can be found at rebelmassage.com. position of their head, the lift of their shoulders, and the situation of their arms. Ask your client to notice these too. Bolstering your client under their spine is optional, but great if possible. The reverse arrangement of thoracic parts lends to easier work. Begin with breath. Place your hands, palms down, just below either clavicle with your fingers pointed toward each other. Ask your client to breathe into your hands. You can hold this moment, both physically and metaphysically, for as long as you like. There is nothing quite like an awareness exercise, and this is a good one. With your client's exhale, sink down with the rib cage and add to the pliability you are asking them to find. After you lift your hands, and as their breath re-enters their lungs, the play of awareness from external to internal is one that should not be overlooked—because we all know how easy it is to be unaware of what might be right under our noses. Repeat this a couple of times, but not for the sake of repetition. Repeat this with slight shifts that will produce the ripple effect you want your bodywork to have. For one breath, have your client rotate their head to the left. And then for the next, have them rotate their head to the right. The next breath, have them laterally rotate their arms so that their palms are facing up toward the ceiling. For the next breath, have them abduct their arms to 90 degrees so they look like they might f ly away. With each breath and each variation of perspective, ask your client to breathe into different parts of their lungs. The sternum, in its VIDEO: "PECTORALIS MAJOR: A BODYWORK TUTORIAL" 1. Open your camera 2. Scan the code 3. Tap on notification 4. Watch! The breath that raises the sternum into a comfortable position makes room for a bigger heart.