Deep Tissue Massage Technique: The 'Mother Hand'

Want to make your deep tissue massage techniques feel more comfortable? Try the "mother hand" technique. For this, you simply apply broad pressure with one hand while the other one does work. This can be useful during specific stripping or petrissage, or just to add an extra dose of comfort during any deep pressure contact.

I use the mother hand in three ways:
1) Allow the mother hand to trail ahead or behind the "working" hand. This makes any technique feel broader, and it gives you more sensory input when applying pressure using less sensitive tools such as knuckles or elbows.
2) Apply pressure in a different direction, usually the opposite of the working hand. This creates some myofascial traction, which is a great way of changing the feel of a technique, and of engaging the fascia without having to do any extra work.
3) Allow the mother hand to be static. This is closer to the traditional mother hand from shiatsu. By allowing the non-working hand to remain still, you're still making your other contact more comfortable, but you're not distracting from it. This can be good when you want to draw your client's attention to a certain area for trigger point work, or so that they can give immediate feedback about pressure.

Having both hands in action has a few benefits other than making your deep tissue techniques feel broader and safer. First, it allows you to distribute your weight across more of the client's body, which can take pressure off your back. Second, it lets you easily transition from one technique or body area to the next without a noticeable break in the massage. Finally, it helps you move around. By having the mother hand applying pressure, it's easier to move your stance, and to stand back up from a technique.

Give this a try and let me know what you think. Thanks to my 120 Patreon supporters for making this possible!

[celeste]

Hey thank you. I’ve been feeling a bit insecure in my massage therapy classes feeling overwhelmed with the technicality and clinical aspects of it. I need to reconnect with the sense of comfort I used to have giving massages. I feel like this video helped me to take some of the pressure off and remember that even if I’m still behind on anatomy, I can still connect to someone and smooth them

[christiana_mandalynn]

I do this exact technique!! I find it provides a great sense of comfort and sets the foundation for trust between client, esp. skeletal muscles, and the LMT. And it feels immensely connected, like the stroke never ends, which really sedates the client and helps the relax or fall asleep.

[jenilin]

You made my career after two injuries you are keeping my career thank you

[HMMHarwood]

I've always done this but didn't know the name! Though maybe ill refer to it as Sloth Paw 😁

[carolyng]

I just want to say thanks.
You rock! Your video I go to every time. Makes sense.
Incorporating kindness and mindfulness and of course while being skilful. Genius!

[andreab]

I’ve been doing this without realizing it’s a thing. I always think of it as my comfort stroke.

[kerryrobbert]

Great stuff, Ian!

I noticed this going on in your other videos, and 'stole' it from you previously (plus, I've studied a bit of Shiatsu). I like the continuity and the physical break it provides.

Nice to see it discussed directly.

No matter what other things I learn, I keep returning to Sloth style. I've said this several times by now, but it keeps being true!

[swarnavabanerjee]

Thnks. For the clip a certified learning....keep up the good work

[isikcelaal]

Pretty educative and relaxing. Thanks for the vid

[karinaojeda]

Hello, thanks for the video. I realize I've been doing this for a while, without realizing it!. I just want to point out that I feel like you are hyperextending your wrist when your "mother hand" is leading (ie on the second stroke demonstration). I feel like there should be a way to adjust that without putting too much pressure on your "mother hand" wrist. Nonetheless, this was very helpful.

[irishspiriteyes]

I just Love your teaching !!you are so great !!💜🙏💜

[Supernovah]

Hi Ian i have tried some of your techniques but keep getting my flexors really tight and hands start locking up 😞 any recommendations

[dzogbobright]

it's nice ...trying to learn a one or two things

[mcloudaircon]

Excellent therapy to loose body weight

[rinocapispisan]

Good strokes.
But Hilot Therapy is much better than Deep Tissue Massage.👍👍👍

[sue]

nice. Thanks for sharing this information.

[Poopick]

How much pressure should the mother hand apply?

[danbanks]

Oh wow back I was moving some furniture and I pulled a muscle in my back around the left side of my love handle and on the side it goes back and forth from about the middle of my back to about the side of my rib cage and they'll be days where I feel perfectly fine and then I'll go through a week a right now I'm suffering for days it just comes and goes lightning bolts shooting in my back and icy hot heating pad rest is the only thing that really seems to make it calm down and I'm starting to think I might need some massage therapy

[anthonybernard]

Do you ever get mistaken for Ian Harding from pretty little liars?

[thepokekid]

I would ask to teach us the "God Hand" too, but I imagine you should at least have to pay for something like that.