Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/77400
q & art BY ART RIGGS ADD SUBSTANCE TO YOUR WARM-UP Q A DEAR ART, I've been taught that I need to warm the body before starting a massage. How much time is sufficient so I can get to work? —TIME URGENCY DEAR TIME URGENCY, Actually, your question brings up a crucial issue: a warm-up is not something to do before you begin real work. Warm- ups are, indeed, work and require a definite therapeutic focus, albeit with more emphasis on evaluation. A broad and general warm-up is certainly beneficial, as long as it doesn't entice you to cut corners in the body of your massage because you lost time with preliminaries. Time management is crucial for a smooth session. Even five minutes of superfluous preliminary work may have more downsides than benefits because of lost opportunities for concentrated focus in the core of your session. That's why I try to educate my clients on the benefits of longer sessions. Let's look at the main reasons for doing a warm-up: Introducing yourself. Particularly with new clients, this can be a good way to introduce yourself to the whole body, rather than an isolated part, and to prospect for areas of hidden tension. However, some therapists aren't clear with their intention. This doesn't accomplish much in getting to know each other and can seem like superficial conversation at a cocktail party: "Nice weather we're having." "So … are you a Taurus?" Calming your client. We want to release the client from the emotional stresses of life before performing deep work. This is certainly a worthwhile goal, but may not always be necessary. By starting your work with a slow and focused intention on the shoulders or other core areas of holding, you may initiate an even deeper relaxation and leave more time for detailed work. earn CE hours at your convenience: abmp's online education center, www.abmp.com 31