How to Massage the Lower Back

Vicky Letch: We have done the upper part, the shoulders and now we are going to move to the lower back. Nicola Doe: Exactly. A lot of people get a lot of tension in the lower back area, especially those who have more of a job that they have to do a lot of driving. So again, just warming up the area and then we are going to go up to the spine. So, either side of the spine, take about an inch either side and again, do circular movements. Vicky Letch: Right. Now you are looking for knots again, when you do that? Nicola Doe: Not particularly. I am just looking to how to relax the muscle tissue. Between the spine and the muscles it gets quite tight sometimes, so we just happen to loosen them up to get a little more flexibility in your lower back. This will help, if you have got any tension as well. So, just draining down. Vicky Letch: And do you spend equal amounts of time on each section? Is it quite methodical, so you do the top, you do the shoulders and then you do the lower back? Nicola Doe: Yes, and depending on where the client feels that they have more tension and aches and pains, we generally concentrate on those areas more as well. So again, we are doing some circular movements on the top here. Vicky Letch: Well, that looks good. I like that. Nicola Doe: Again, this helps to loosen up the muscle tissue. We are going down. Vicky Letch: And do you have people with injuries or is it just people like myself that would come here just to relax, for the routine? Nicola Doe: No, we definitely do have people with injuries. We generally have like sports injuries, so we get them all to have the sports massage, which is more specific for their needs. And the therapist can work onto those areas of muscle tissues that are damaged as well. Vicky Letch: How is Adrian's lower back? Is it tense? Nicola Doe: Not as bad as his shoulders. The shoulders are probably a little too over tight than the lower back. It doesn't feel too bad really. Vicky Letch: And I think that's because of his weight lifting, because my boyfriend does like to go to the gym. Nicola Doe: But they tend to stretch out too much after the gym, it's kind of doing the weight thing. Male Speaker: I never stretch. Vicky Letch: Don't you? Male Speaker: No. Vicky Letch: That's really bad, you should. Male Speaker: It is really bad, I know, I should stretch, I always thought I will, but no, I am not able to do this. Vicky Letch: It's just as important as the exercise, I would say, the whole stretching thing. Male Speaker: Yeah, this is great. Vicky Letch: Isn't it so much more active? I mean, you really do work hard at this. Nicola Doe: Definitely, it's quite a physical job. There are girls who are doing eight hours of massage a day, just think of them as well. Vicky Letch: Absolutely. Nicola Doe: It's favorable when you see a client nice and relaxed and asleep. Vicky Letch: I can imagine, yeah. Do you get people coming back to you and asking for particular people? Nicola Doe: Yeah, we definitely get requests. Vicky Letch: Yes. Okay, that's brilliant. Thank you so, so much. I think you have suitably relaxed him and you have definitely told us exactly how to massage the lower back.