Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1191154
80 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 2 0 A More Effective Way to Use Lubricant By David M. Lobenstine LESS IS MORE In my continuing education classes, I see the same thing over and over again: too much. Too much lubricant, which then translates into something even worse—too much effort. As a group, massage therapists are an incredibly varied, diverse bunch of people, yet the challenges we have are so similar! We have the best intentions in the world, but when we use too much lubricant, those intentions literally slip away. During our practice sessions, I watch a roomful of well-intentioned massage therapists slathering their practice partner with oil or cream or lotion. The massages look like what I call "pump and dump." Or, if you prefer, "glide and slide." In other words, the way we usually apply oil hinders our ability to do therapeutic work and causes us to work harder than we need to—and harder than the client needs.