The Wiltshire School of Beauty and Holistic Therapy
Body Massage Routine
Before you start your routine, wash your hands, carry out some hand exercises and
ground yourself. Prepare your client, ask them to lie on their front and cover them
with towels. Wipe their feet. Prior to starting the routine, ensure your client is
aligned correctly and in the correct position.
Order of routine
Back of clients right leg
Back of client left leg
Back, shoulders and neck
Turn client over
Front of clients right leg and foot
Front of clients left leg and foot
Abdomen
Clients left arm
Clients right arm
Chest and neck
Head and face (VTCT)
Back of legs
Top of leg
1. From the ankle up to the base of buttock (ease pressure over the back of the
knee – effleurage x6
2. From above the knee to the buttocks – effleurage x6
3. Kneading to the thigh area – petrissage x many
4. Hacking and cupping to thighs and buttocks
5. Deep heel of hand drainage to side of thigh
Lower leg
1. From the ankle to back of the knee – effleurage x6
2. Kneading to the calf area – petrissage x many
3. Raise the lower leg and using thumb apply pressure along gastrocnemius
4. Using inside of forearm, stroke down and in - x3
5. Light hacking to calf
6. Apply circular frictions to the Achilles tendon – many
7. Pull at ankle to stretch the whole back of leg
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Repeat with other leg
Back, Shoulders and Neck
1. Standing at the side of the client, place hands in centre of the back, and slide
one up to neck and one down to sacrum – x 3
2. With one hand either side of the spine, effleurage from sacrum, up and around
the shoulders and back down x 6
3. Working on one side, effleurage from sacrum up and around the shoulder, one
hand following the other x 6
4. Kneading to the side of the body, from shoulders to sacrum x many
5. Standing at side of client, kneading and knuckling across the top of shoulders
6. Swap sides and repeat number 3, 4 and 5
7. Standing at head, petrissage across the shoulders
8. Vibrations down spine from neck to sacrum
9. Stand at the side and carry out stretches across the lower back
10. Circular Petrissage to lower back area and sacrum
11. Standing at head, stroke down the spine, slowing down to finish x 3
12. Repeat number 1
Turn the client over
(Place support under the knee if needed)
Front of leg
Upper leg
1. Effleurage from the foot to the top of thigh x 6
2. From above the knee to the thigh area – x 6
3. Kneading to the thigh area - petrissage
4. Hacking and pounding to the thigh area (Petrissage)
Knee
1. Very gentle finger friction around the knee
2. Drain down to the popliteal region
Lower leg
1. Effleurage from the ankle to the knee – x 6
2. Bend leg up slightly, single hand scoop up the calf muscle
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3. Straighten leg and stretch, holding onto ankle
Foot
1. Effleurage to the foot from toes down to ankles
2. Circle and pull each toe
3. Thumb up sole of the foot
4. Circling around the ankle
5. Effleurage to the whole of the leg – foot to the top of thigh and finish at the
feet (hold) x 6
Repeat on other leg
Abdomen (Optional)
1. Effleurage to the abdomen in a clockwise motion using whole of one hand
depending on the area size
a. Up the ascending colon
b. Diagonally across transverse colon
c. Down the descending colon
Arm and hand
1. Effleurage from wrist to shoulder x 6
2. Kneading to forearm (Petrissage)
3. Bend at elbow, drain forearm using thumb
4. Squeeze and apply pressure to forearm
5. Raise arm and apply one handed kneading to upper arm
6. Knuckling to upper arm
7. Rotation of the shoulder
8. Thumb stroking over the wrist and top of hand
9. Circle and pull each finger
10. Kneading to the palm with thumbs
Repeat on other side
Chest and Neck
1. Fingers facing inwards, effleurage to neck and chest area x 6
2. One side of the neck – knead and stretch out x 6
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3. Repeat the other side of the neck
4. Kneading to the upper fibres of the trapezuis muscle
5. Stroking and knuckling around the back of the neck
6. Gently stretch out the neck
If doing a 60 minute massage, place a towel over the client and let them relax for a few
moments, offer them a glass of water.
Ask them to get dressed and then sit on the chair and give aftercare.
Head
1. Shampoo motion – carry out big, deep, slow circular motions so that you feel
the scalp move slightly
2. Ruffle hair – get your fingers inside the hair and ruffle it
3. Hair tugging from roots
4. Rain drops – light pitter patter on the head
Face
1. Smooth over – place your hands in prayer position at the chin and sweep up
to the forehead, twist hands and slide back down to chin - repeat x 6
2. Forehead stroking using thumbs
3. Finger pressure - starting at the top of the forehead in the middle. Using two
fingers of both hands, image lines across the forehead. Work from the centre
out to the side of the head. Follow down to the eyebrows.
4. Eyebrows – follow the eyebrows with the flats of your fingers, applying slight
pressure x 3
5. Eyebrow pinching
6. Eye sockets – apply light pressure around the eye sockets using the flats of
your fingers
7. Cheeks – apply pressure around sinus area x 6
8. Petrissage to jaw area
9. Pinch along jaw bone
10.Temples – apply tiny, light circular friction to the temples using fingers
11.Ear lobe – apply tiny, light circular friction to the ear lobes
