How to Do a Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage takes a lot out of you so it is listed as moderately challenging. If you have good hand strength, finding the points to work and the depth to work without hurting the person is your only other obstacle. A good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology is helpful in that department.

Things You'll Need

• Cocoa butter (oil is not tacky enough and you can slide right off the area) Table or chair for person to sit in

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Instructions

• 1

  Set the table/chair up and have the person get on with the area being worked on uncovered. We will work on the shoulder in this example.

• 2

  Ask the person where she feels the pain and feel around for a knot or painful area. Have her tilt her head in the opposite direction to see how far she can go. Once you find the knot, slowly work some cocoa butter deeper and deeper into the muscle in a circular motion for a few minutes. Make sure to stay in touch with the person's pain tolerance and do not go deeper than her muscles will allow or you can bruise her.

• 3

  Add some gliding strokes to the area after the circular motions to move the blood flow to the surrounding area. You will see the area getting red as you work on it; the more blood flow, the better. This is removing the waste from the knotted area and into the bloodstream to be eliminated.

• 4

  Have the person stretch in the opposite direction of the shoulder you're working on and see if she can tilt further than before.

• 5

  Finish up with a few light strokes working into deep strokes to the neck area on both sides and get the blood flow going.