This month, I can proudly say I have completed 20 years as a massage therapist, and I’m feeling very grateful to have found this path that I consider my calling. My passion to continue learning about the body, and how to help others transform their lives keeps getting greater with every passing year. My hope is that our new clinic in Vinings affords my team to help you on your path of well being.
My goal is to share more massage techniques for you to use in between sessions so you can continue making an actual change in your body. This month, I’m sharing a couple videos on my new YouTube channel (Click Here). I consider these my most widely suggested recommendations, so I hope you or a family member can benefit by watching. Please like, subscribe and share!
I was introduced to the fabulous “Pinky ball” during my training as a prenatal yoga instructor. I like this tool because it has more give than a lacrosse ball or a tennis ball, and goes as gentle or deep as you want with fluctuating pressure. Click to watch.
Breakdown of top 3 pinky ball moves:
- Rhomboids/ Traps/ Erector spinae: Place pinky ball between shoulder blade and scapula. Take a few steps away from the wall and lean into the wall placing the the ball between you and the wall. Hold it in the place where the tension is. Take a moment to breathe and feel the tension dissipating. Try rolling the ball with your body on the points of tension. Now try moving your arm to get different angles of the muscles.
- Glutes/ hips: place Pinky ball below the hip bone (iliac crest). Again take a few steps away from the wall and lean into the ball where you feel tension. Take a few moments to breathe and feel the tension dissipate. Try rolling other parts of your hip against the ball on the wall. You may also try moving your leg if that feels good.
- My favorite is rolling your foot on the ball while standing. This really relaxes the fascia that connects the sole of your foot all the way to the top of your head. I have even seen this technique help with shoulder mobility in just one treatment. It has also helped women with pelvic floor discomfort. Start out with a few minutes then increase the time to 5 minutes on each foot. Make sure you have good balance and hold on to something while you crush the ball to the level that feels right for you.
I also want to share a favorite of mine called “The Mermaid.” Click to watch
Breakdown of “The Mermaid”
- Get a yoga mat or a few towels, depending on the intensity you need. The more padding, the less intensity.
- Sit up with legs together extending to one side as you lean into your hip as a mermaid would sit on a sunny rock. Hold this pose on a point of tension as you breathe and feel tension diminish.
- Roll your hip around using the head of the femur bone as your tool to massage the glutes. Keep taking deep breaths!
- Repeat on the other side.