How to Use Effleurage With a Massage

Effleurage is a term used to describe a certain stroke used during massage. It's typically done in light, rhythmic strokes across the body. Some pressure is applied, but effleurage isn't a kneading massage. It's intended to stimulate circulation and relax the muscles.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lay your client face down on a massage table or a mat on the floor for the sake of comfort. It is easier to perform effleurage massage on bare skin, so have your client remove their clothing on the area to be massaged.

2. Rub your hands together briskly to warm them. Apply massage oil to your hands if desired.

3. Place your hands on the clients back to begin the massage. You want to keep your entire hand in contact with the back, but place most of the pressure in your palm rather than your fingertips.

4. Stroke slow and steady, maintaining contact the entire time. This is called a connected stroke. As one hand is finishing its downward stroke, the next hand is beginning at the starting point.

5. Release some pressure over tight and sore areas. Too much pressure on a knotted muscle can be painful for the client. Ease into these areas, performing very light effleurage until the muscle is warm and relaxed. Once it's relaxed, you can move onto stronger effleurage massage.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not perform any kind of massage on an area that has recently been operated on, is swollen and red or has any kind of skin condition on it. Massage can make these conditions worse.
• Effleurage can be performed on most muscles, but avoid the back of the knees, front of the neck and the back in the kidney area.

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