Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/790815
1. LOW-IN-THE-SADDLE I've lowered my table height over the years to be able to transfer my body weight into the client, rather than relying on my upper body to generate pressure. However, while a low table can be the perfect height for one area, it might be too low for other areas. There's an easy solution for a table that's too low in one area—bend from your legs, not from your back. When I'm working on a low-lying area, my legs are bent and my feet are roughly parallel to each other. I call this stance "Low-in-the-Saddle." ("High-in-the- Saddle" is when my knees are locked.) The Low-in-the-Saddle stance is a great time to reset your back to a neutral position because your weight is evenly distributed between your feet, and, when you sink into your stance, it's easy to maintain a neutral-back posture. In the image on page 78 (far left), I'm working the cervical erectors with double thumbs. My pressure is coming from my lean into the client's cervical erectors. When I lean, my weight shifts to the balls of my feet, and one or both legs lean into the table. The combination of being in a balanced stance and leaning into the table/ client allows me to be in a well-supported position. In this well-supported position, it's easy to reset and maintain a neutral back. 2. BREATHE IN AND LIFT When I get tired, I have a tendency to slouch. Though the flexion may only be slight, over long periods of time it's taxing to the back joints/muscles and may cause or exacerbate a back condition. To take my lower back out of flexion during the course of a massage, I breathe in while lifting my rib cage up. Next, I exhale while relaxing my stomach and lower back. C h e c k o u t A B M P 's l a t e s t n e w s a n d b l o g p o s t s . Av a i l a b l e a t w w w. a b m p . c o m . 79 3. BACK STRETCH WHEN WORKING THE OCCIPUT A new client, Juan, wanted deep pressure in his occiput. He was a big person and my thumbs weren't cutting it. I was in the early stages of experimenting with leaning and had my table low. I decided to lean into his occiput with my knuckles. It worked! My thumbs thanked me, and I could actually generate deeper pressure with my knuckles. With many deep-pressure techniques, I have two hands on the client, but with this move I couldn't. What was I going to do with the other hand? Hmm … I got it! Stretch.