Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1492048
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 55 CONCLUSION Finding the right products to suit your bodywork and your individual clients will not just make your healing work more effective—the perfect products will also lengthen your career! Dianna Dapkins, CMT, is the founder and president of Pure Pro Massage Products, a company that has focused on providing the highest quality products to massage therapists and bodyworkers since 1992. You can reach Dapkins at diannad@purepro.com. drops). Then use 2–3 drops of this synergy mixed into 1 ounce of lotion. Pay close attention to your body mechanics, as the tendency is to lean forward. Work as slowly as possible and hold their tissue until it relaxes into the support of your hands, more than working and pushing into it. Do not strain your arms while working from this seated position. Use your feet, which are set squarely on the ground, to initiate all motion and use your core to lean back with the movement to the end of each stroke. Athletic Clients Athletic clients are usually in excellent health but often present with muscle- specific overexertion and/or minor neuromuscular strains or injuries. Contact is key! Use the lightest oil or lotion you can find. Experiment by using different products with the same client over the course of several massages to find what works best. Use minimal amounts of product so you don't have to overtighten your own muscles to stay on the tissue. Do not be afraid to stop working, take a small towel, and remove some of the oil or lotion if you find yourself moving out of good alignment due to too much "slip." Aim for grip and slide, not slip and slide, to serve your own body best. Put just enough product on to mitigate friction and slowly palpate. Let their tissue "tell" you what is needed. Try a concentrated, natural arnica lotion or oil as a finishing touch for any sore areas. Arnica gels work but they tend to feel sticky and absorb too quickly to be used for massage. Arnica gels are water- and alcohol-based and typically do not have a large amount of arnica in them. Arnica oil or lotion is much more effective as a professional tool. TATJANA ZL ATKOVIC/STOCKSY