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Step 1
Have the person lie face down with her arms loosely at her sides and her palms facing the sky. Position yourself so that your belly button is at the same height (horizontally to the floor) as the patient's. Make sure that your arm is pressing straight down on the client from above and not at an angle.
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Step 2
Gently but firmly press evenly on the back, starting at the top, to stretch the muscles on either side of the spine. Do this by using the palms of your hands placed towards the spine and slowly increase the pressure. While pressing downwards, make sure that your fingers are pointing away from the spine in the same direction as the ribs. Never do these motions in a hard or jerky fashion, and make sure that the amount of pressure is just enough to loosen the muscle and not to cause harm to the client (the person you are working on). Start this process at the top of the back and work your way towards the toes. Repeat the process four times (or more, if desired).
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Step 3
Start at the top again and while rocking the patient's body to help you massage, place the finger tips of both your hands along the far side of the spine. Use the pressure to gently rock the client and walk your hands down the back in this position along the spine, moving first one hand and then the other. Use your thumbs to regulate the pressure and rock the body by resting them on the back closer to you as you progress down the spine. Without changing your position, do the same thing on the near side of the spine. Make sure to go all the way down into the small of the back.
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Step 4
Put one hand on the back side of the client's hip and make a circular motion that gently rocks his body side to side. As the body rocks side to side, use the edge of your hand where the pinkie finger is to apply pressure to the back. Start at the top and slide your hand down while simultaneously applying pressure with the hand, pausing to press at three-inch intervals on either side right next to the spine. Repeat this action four times on each side.
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Step 5
Place the palms of both hands on the client's back so that your hands cover her shoulder blade on the side opposite from you. make sure that your arms are straight and use a circular motion using only your palms to massage. Do this repeatedly, stepping down the back with overlapping areas. Do not forget to do this on both sides of the client. There should be no need (if the pressure is evenly applied) to switch your position during this action. The client's body should never stop the rocking motion as you message her.
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Step 6
Use the thumbs with the fingers turned outwards (but not fanned out). Press on either side of the spine with firmness (without rocking their body side to side). Remember to gradually increase the pressure each time. While pressing with the thumb, use the finger tips to gently stretch the muscles away from the spine. Start at the top and progress at 1-inch intervals downwards. Repeat this action with the thumbs/entire hand two inches out from the first pass along the spine.
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Step 7
Using your hands crossed at the wrists, gently put a slight pressure up and down the person's back to stretch the spine. Switch your hands so that the opposite wrist crosses on top and the spine is gently stretched from a different location. Do this four times.
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Step 8
Rest your hands at intervals along the spine to use the heat for loosening up the back and improving circulation. The session is complete.
