Principles of touch as they relate to massage therapy

Establishing Therapeutic Touch

 * Get yourself into a good psycho-emotional state before establishing contact
 * Warm hands before establishing body contact
 * Establish touch within safe boundaries of body contact
 * Body contact should be established using the full palmar surface of your hand
 * Initial contact should be firm
 * Massage should begin with holding, or slow massage strokes.

Maintaining Therapeutic Touch

 * Stay relaxed. Maintain awareness of yourself in the massage
 * Maintain awareness of your body mechanics
 * Maintain contact with the client wherever possible.
 * Keep the massage flowing and rhythmical
 * Seek and respond to client feedback

Breaking Therapeutic Touch

 * Indicate to the client that the massage is finishing by moving to more general, superficial strokes, and slowing down the speed of your massage strokes.
 * Having a finishing ritual is another way to indicate to the client that the massage is finishing.
 * Gradually remove your hands.

Contributors
David McQuillan 2008