If you’re a massage or bodywork therapist or you’ve done your research you know what I’m talking about. If you’re not, you’re probably thinking… ‘effleur-what?!”.
It’s the first stroke of a massage and how almost every therapist will begin work on any part of the body. It’s that long, soothing technique as the first point of contact that introduces touch, established the relationship between the therapist and the client, introduces the the massage medium to the skin and starts to warm up the soft tissue ready for deeper work. It is also used as a linking move between different areas.
And that’s the power of it, the simple effleurage stroke is what is used to establish trust, warmth and safety between the therapist and the client. It tells the client that they have come to the right place.
It’s a move not to be taken for granted of skimmed over and whilst the deeper work of firmer pressure and kneading is hugely powerful and needed, this part has equal value and can even impact how successful and effective the deeper work is when administered.
