Everyone does massage in some way. When you’ve been sitting for too long on a wooden piano bench, scoring your musical thoughts, you squeeze your shoulder muscles. That’s petrissage. When your arm hurts, you rub it, working on the soft tissues. When your cat rubs up against your legs, and you’re in a giving mood, you stroke the cat. That’s effleurage. When your missionary companion has knots in his back, you can release them by applying pressure. Ischemic compression. When your back hurts mercilessly, you may ask your nephew to walk on it with bare feet. Ashiatsu. When your girlfriend wants personal attention, she might lift her blouse and ask you to rub her back. When your new bride has sciatica, or recurring pain in her low back, butt, and legs, you rub it any which way that feels good to her.

Been there, done that. All that happened to me BEFORE I became a Licensed Massage Therapist. My wife wanted, or needed me to get formal training. So I did it for her. After graduation from Milan Institute, I continued with CE bodywork in-person courses in Neural Reset Therapy, Myofascial Release, Cupping, Ashiatsu, and Muscle Release Technique.