Library · Self-Massage
Self-Massage & Percussion.
A class of preparatory practices used to wake the body before formal work and to settle it afterwards. Cheap, accessible, and effective when used regularly.
Three modes
- Tapping — open hands or loose fists along limbs, joints, and trunk; wakes circulation and proprioception.
- Rubbing — palms warmed by friction, then applied to face, lower back, abdomen, and joints.
- Percussion — heavier, rhythmic contact along long bones and large muscle groups; used sparingly.
Where it fits
Self-massage is most useful at the edges of a practice session: as a two-minute opening to bring attention into the body, or as a closing to redistribute warmth and signal the nervous system that practice is complete.