Holistic Massage Diploma

Full Body Massage Routine

© 2012 Essentially Holistic / Fleur Aromatherapy

Not for reproduction in any form without prior permission of both Essentially Holistic and Fleur Aromatherapy
Massage Sequence Back
The following massage is carried out mainly with palm of hand. Fingers should be relaxed and
moulded to the clients body shape.

Body Analysis
Assess the client’s posture and spine (client standing)

1 Give spinal stretch once and hold for 10 seconds

Apply oil over whole of back

2 Stand at head of bed and with hands shaped as a fir tree Reverse Effleurage
give reverse effleurage lightly down the centre back either
side of the spine, down over the buttocks and up the sides of
body, (fingers touching bed) back to the top using pressure

Repeat 4 - 5 times

Finish the movement by lifting the head hand off the body
and without a break in continuity, turn the foot hand on the
body as you walk round to the right side of your client

3 With reinforced hand and fingers pointing towards the head Figure eight
give firm effleurage in figure ‘8’ over shoulder blades.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Finish by relaxing the fingers and walking back to stand at

the head of the bed.

4 Deep thumb circles with friction movement applied between Deep Thumb Circles
the shoulder blades working in the triangle where stress is
stored. Deeper pressure can be increased in gentle stages

When completed walk around to the side of the body and

return hands lightly to the base of the spine.

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5 With fir tree hands effleurage over whole back, Effleurage Whole Back

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Finish at the top of the back with your thumbs at either side
of the spine.

6 (a) Thumb pressure up spinal channel (one side only)

The pressure must be done while the client is breathing out,

and the client breathes in while you release the pressure and
move your thumbs. When you reach the top of spine return
to the starting point.

(b) Thumbs in same position as for (a) but use slide and
meet technique.

Apply pressure to both thumbs and keep the pressure while

moving thumbs up the body. Push one thumb 1" up and
push the other to meet it.
Thumb Pressure

7 Repeat 6a and 6b on other side of spinal channel

Finish the last slide and meet movement at the top of the
spine, then turn both hands so that they are pointing straight,
towards, the client’s head.

8 Firm effleurage starting round shoulder blades and in Increasing Circles

ever-growing circles until whole back is covered in one
circle

Once only

Every circle goes to top of shoulder blades, moving a little

further down the back on its return.

Finish with one complete circle, which slows down to normal

speed by the time you reach the base of the spine.

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9 Lymph effleurage up back, directed to the various lymph
glands, each gland area twice.
Lymph Effleurage
Push firmly with whole hands (palms and fingers) up either
side of spine letting fingers take over the main pressure as
shoulder is approached. Push fingers over shoulders into
cervical lymph nodes and hold. Relax fingers and hands and
return lightly to base of spine. Continue same movement to
the axillary lymph nodes, (armpit). With the thenar muscle to
the ileocolic lymph glands, (bra-strap level). The fingertips
should go straight down to bed and not bend into client’s
side). Repeat to the waist and directly to iliac lymph glands,
making a fist when reaching the bed. Finish by swinging your
fingers out from the base of the spine towards the sides of
the body, with pressure, using the thenar muscle to take the
movement firmly onto the bed, towards the inguinal glands.
Hold, relax and return lightly. Repeat each movement twice

Take your hands gently towards the top of the spine stopping
level with the armpit

10 Hands at right angles to spine, lift connective tissue, moving

Squeezing & Draining
out to side of body along the thoracic nerve pathways,
starting at armpit level and finishing at waist

Complete one side before continuing on other

Use whole length of index fingers for each lift. Return to

spine a little lower down and repeat.

Over the same area drain with firm pressure from the spinal
channel, using finger pads, towards side of body.

Make sure finger pads are lined up in a straight line in the

spinal channel in which you are working. Press into the
channel, and with pressure, push out towards side of body,
returning very lightly to spine a little lower down back and
repeat

11 Deep thumb pressures stroking along lumbar and sacral 4 rows rainbow archways
nerve pathways.

Four to five lines covering the whole of the sacral region

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12 Fan effleurage up each side of back, with pressure on side of
hand nearest spine.
Fan Effleurage
Do 3 - 4 rows of 6 - 8 strokes.
Head
Hand
Start with 'foot' hand on side of body nearest to you at the
base of the spine. Push up with the whole hand, keeping
fingers pointing towards the head of the client and the ulna
border going up the spinal channel. Swing out to the side of
the trunk with open fingers and bring your head hand where
your foot hand left off. Your index finger will be positioned
along the spinal column, continue the fan movement up the
spinal column.
Foot
Hand
Repeat fan effleurage on opposite side of spinal channel.

Finish with the head hand so that the foot hand can go
straight to the buttock crease as though to repeat another fan
– but instead it is ready for movement 8 and is joined by the
head hand to make a W with both hands.

13 Push up from buttocks to waist with thumbs and out to sides Deep Thenar
Effleurage
with pressure, using thenar muscle.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

14 Effleurage as in Sequence No. 5

Finish back by gently relaxing fingertips down the spine to pick up the towel and cover
client.

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MASSAGE SEQUENCE BACK OF LEG
Give support under feet. Apply oil to both legs. Place towel over one leg.

1 Upward effleurage firmly with whole hand alternately,

fingers lightly relaxing over leg. Head
Hand
Head hand goes to the top of the thigh, foot hand to
the back of knee

Repeat 4 – 5 times Foot

Hand

Finish movement with head hand reaching knee and

foot hand picking up foot so that lower leg is at right
angles to the bed.

Alternate Effleurage

Vertical Effleurage
2 Effleurage from ankle to knee firmly, using whole palm,
with pressure.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Finish movement at ankle, laying leg gently down, and

keeping contact, walk round to the foot of the bed.
Lift
foot

Massage to Popliteal
3 Stand at the foot of the couch and with sliding pressure
effleurage from ankle to crease of knee Pressure firm
and use whole thenar muscle and thumb

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Return to side of bed, taking off head hand and

bringing three fingers of foot hand at right angles to leg
on ankle.

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 4 Start with foot hand and use flat palm stroking with
alternate hands up whole leg.

Reaching the buttock crease place foot hand on top of

head hand and press firmly against the hip bone

Once only

Finish movement by taking foot hand off at crease of

bottom and place over ankle to start next movement.

Flat Palm Stroking

5 Repeat movement 1. Head

Hand
Upward effleurage firmly with whole hand alternately,
fingers lightly relaxing over leg.

Repeat 4 – 5 times Foot

Hand

Alternate Effleurage

6 Repeat 1 - 5 on other leg.

When back of leg massage has been completed remove the rolled up towel from under the
feet and with towel control turn client over.

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MASSAGE SEQUENCE FRONT OF LEG
Give support under knees. Apply oil to both legs. Cover other leg with towel.

Palm behind Palm

1 With palm behind palm and draped fingers over leg
effleurage whole leg including foot.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Reverse Effleurage
2 Walk to the top of the leg and stand at the waist.
Reverse effleurage from top of thigh to knee.
Top
of leg

Repeat 4 – 5 times

Diagonal Stroking
3 Alternate diagonal stroking from inside leg across to
outside leg, starting at knee with foot hand.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

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 4 Leaving your foot hand in position under the knee and
using the ulna border of the head hand with palm down,
effleurage the outside of the thigh to the hip firmly.

Repeat 4 – 5 times

On the last stroke finish with both hand coming together

and cupping the knee

Outer Thigh Effleurage

Effleurage kneecap
5 With hands slotting together open your first finger and
thumbs to make a bridge below the kneecap. Palm
behind palm, effleurage up, over and under the knee-
cap

Repeat 4 – 5 times

6 Effleurage whole leg as in No.1

7 Massage Foot

1. Massage with fingers or thumbs around ankle bones

2. Make thumb circles between the metatarsals down towards the ankles
3. Slide back up towards the toes
4. Hold foot with both hands and scissor with thumbs down behind the foot
5. Slide back up towards the toes
6. Knead and stretch the toes
7. Effleurage the whole foot
Gentle foot sandwich and release slowly coming off at toe tips

With towel management cover client with towels remembering to keep feet warm

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MASSAGE SEQUENCE ABDOMEN

1 Place head hand over foot hand to form a mini fir tree
shape. Effleurage from sternum down towards navel Arrowhead
and turn fingers out towards spine at waist level; lift
and stroke to below navel
Repeat movement 4 times
Last stroke finishes at pelvic bone

2 Swing head hand over foot hand, starting in a Reinforced

clockwise direction and keeping palms flat against diamond
abdomen effleurage to under waist, follow inside rib
cage to sternum, continuing following rib cage draw
palms down to waist nearest you. Turn hand so that
the fingers are able to grasp under waist, take palms
towards pelvic bone. Turn to begin again.
Repeat movement 4 times

3 Keep hand reinforced and without using finger Circle of Circles

muscles, make clockwise spiral in a circle around
navel using light palm pressure
Once

4 Tan Den Pressure Point

Tan Den

Take time to wish your client well

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 Colon Stroking
5 Remove head hand from the Tan Den position and
sliding foot hand forward an inch begin alternate palm
stroking up right side of body (ascending), continue
by stroking across upper abdomen (transverse), and
again down left side of body (descending). Fingers
remain facing away from you throughout movement.
6 strokes

6 Lift up from the waist, and then place both thenar Lift and Depress
muscles to meet at navel and take them with
pressure out to sides of body.
Repeat movement 4 times
After last movement lift head hand to begin next
movement.

Alternate Lift
7 This movement is carried out from hips to rib cage. 3
– 4 lifts, depending on length of client.

For other side of body turn to face clients head and

start the movement with foot hand.
Repeat movement 4 times

8 Starting with fingertips, place palm of foot hand at the Alternate Aeroplane
base of the abdomen and move it firmly to the
sternum. As the fingers take off replace with head
hand and continue the alternate hand ‘take off’
movement continuously
Repeat movement 4 times

9 Repeat effleurage as in movement No.1

Using towel management cover the body and keep warm

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MASSAGE SEQUENCE ARMS
Apply the oil

1 Hold hand firmly and effleurage whole of arm from back of

hand to shoulder and relax on the way down.

Finish movement by stopping at elbow on the 5th return

stroke to continue next movement

Effleurage Arm

2 Lift hand to opposite shoulder, and effleurage from elbow to

shoulder

Finish movement by stopping at elbow and letting hand

relax back down on to the bed

Lift

Upper Arm Eff.

3 Starting at wrist and working towards elbow. Inner arm

frictions. Use both thumbs to do inner circles up the inner
arm.

Inner Frictions

4 Open palm and cup hand between your own hands, do

inner palm frictions using thumbs

5 Turn hand over and massage wrist, back of hand and

individual fingers

6 Repeat effleurage as in 1

Repeat on other arm

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MASSAGE SEQUENCE CHEST FACE AND SCALP
Chest

Apply the oil over whole of shoulder, neck and face

1 Effleurage moving out from mastoid across

chest to axilla around shoulders, up trapezius Effleurage
and to occiput

Repeat movement 4 times

2 Slow knuckling in circles moving out from

mastoid across chest to axilla around Knuckling
shoulders, up trapezius and to occiput

Repeat movement 4 times

3 Effleurage as in 1
Effleurage

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Face

1 Using alternate hands sweep from shoulder to

jawbone starting at the left side and finishing at the Sweeping Strokes
right side of the jaw

Repeat movement 4 times

Finish when right hand meets the jaw and the left
hand is ready to begin next movement.

2 Starting with left hand cup the jaw and sweep to the
opposite side of face then repeat with right hand to Cup Jaw
cup the jaw and sweep to other side

Repeat movement 4 times

3 Finish movement with both fingertips at each end of

jaw with fingers resting lightly under ear lobe. Draw Cheek triangle
fingers down to chin following jaw line, bring fingers
up the side of nose, across cheekbone, to form a
triangle of the cheeks.

Repeat movement 4 times

4 Finish movement by drawing fingers from chin Stroke Nose

towards nose and continue to stroke nose towards
forehead

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5 Continue up to the forehead. Forehead stroking with Stroke forehead
alternate palm of hand. Movement from right to left
side of forehead.

6 Continue the movements by circling round the eyes

using ring finger. Circle eyes

7 Keeping fingers on the temple place overlapped

thumbs and do pressure movements up the centre
of the forehead to the hairline, releasing the
pressure in between each pressure
Once

Stroke the same area with alternate thumbs

Repeat movement 4 times Thumb Pressure and

Drain up Forehead

8 Keeping your fingers on the temple, place your

thumbs side by side, one thumb width above centre
of eyebrow and give pressure point movements to
the temples. Cover the whole temple area

Finish the movement by Thenar stroking across the

same area
Pressure and Drain
Across Forehead

9 Rest your thumbs on the forehead and with your

index and middle fingers press on the cheekbone
immediately underneath the eyes. Press outwards
and continue until whole of cheek area covered
(approximately 3 rows)

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 Complete the movement by finger draining the same Finger Pressure on Cheeks
area

10 Use thumb for pressure point (a) and the ring finger
for all other points Facial Pressure Points
d
a) Facial and mouth tension
b) Facial tension, stomach ache e
c) Toothache c
d) Headache, tired eyes
b
e) Eye problems, headache
a

11 Effleurage over whole face as in movements 1 – 6

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Scalp

1 Effleurage moving out from mastoid across chest to

axilla around shoulders, up trapezius and to occiput Effleurage

4 times

Last movement continue up into the scalp

2 Light pressure, using thumbs and fingers, glue

fingers to occiput and move the scalp over the bone
in a slow circular movement. Alter the position of
the hands and repeat through the whole of the scalp
area. Repeat again so that whole scalp has been
covered.

Deep Scalp Frictions

3 Stroking and Pressure Points

Governing vessel
a) Lightly stroke down the governing vessel with
overlapped thumbs from the centre hairline to
the couch, mentally taking them down to the
Bladder
base of the occiput. Keeping thumbs meridian
overlapped give firm pressures down the
governing vessel
This relieves head tension
b) Place separate thumbs on the bladder meridians Stroking & Pressure Points
on the hairline and stroke very lightly to the
couch, mentally taking your thumbs to the base
of the occiput. Return to the hairline and give
firm pressure down the same bladder meridian.
This helps headaches and stress

4 Occipital Pressure Points

Pick up the head and place overlapping ring fingers

on the governing vessel just under the occiput. With
index fingers find gall bladder meridian. Your middle
fingers when bent will automatically locate bladder
meridian. Place firmly into all five points. This can
be painful for your client, but it will feel good.

These pressures help to relieve stress, tension and

congestion. Five Finger Pressure Point

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 5 Effleurage moving out from mastoid across chest to
axilla around shoulders, up trapezius and to occiput Effleurage
and effleurage through the scalp catching the hair Include
and gently pulling through fingertips scalp and
hair

5 times

6 Finish the completed massage by stroking through

the hair

7 Wrap client up to keep warm

CLIENT CARE

At the end of every treatment:

 Give your client a glass of water

 Explain that they should drink 2 – 3 glasses of water in the next few hours
to break down toxins
 Explain that they may feel tired as the circulation eliminating the toxins
uses energy
 The client should not indulge in anything energetic immediately after the
treatment or they may feel very tired
 All benefits are felt in the next few days
 Since the carrier oils are beneficial to the clients skin and can take time to
penetrate, ask the client not to bath or shower for at least 4 hours after the
treatment
 Offer home treatments to include bath oils, treatment oils or lotions as the
client would benefit from continuing your treatment at home
 Arrange future appointments

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 © 2012 Essentially Holistic / Fleur Aromatherapy 19
Not for reproduction in any form without prior permission of both Essentially Holistic and Fleur Aromatherapy