Hand and Arm Massage is an excellent addition to your chair massage routine. You can add this onto the 7-minute routine for a total of about 10 minutes. If you are adding this to a table massage, you may use oil. Otherwise, you can generally glide fairly well on the hands with the client’s natural body oils, and over clothing or bare skin on the arms. Everyone from students to office workers to contractors will appreciate the gentle stretching and massage on their hands and arms.

If you are using a massage chair, begin with your client’s hands resting on the arm-rest. If you are using a kitchen or office chair, have them facing forward with their hands resting on their thighs.

Gently stretch and open the client's palm.

1. Begin with effleurage over the whole arm, circling over their shoulder before returning to their wrist. Repeat 3 times.
2. Using your thumbs, knead the forearm gently. Repeat 3 times, increasing pressure each time.
3. Use your palm to knead their upper arm. Repeat 3 times. You may increase pressure each time.
4. Effleurage the whole arm (Same as Step 1).
5. Using your hands, support your client’s wrist. With your thumbs, circle over the bony prominence on their wrist.
6. Glide your hand to their thumb and begin massaging the thumb, starting at the base, gradually moving upwards. Pull gently when you reach the tip. Repeat on all the fingers.
7. Now move your thumbs between the tendons of the back of the hand, pushing up towards the wrist. Use a gentle, gliding pressure.
8. Now turn their palm face upwards. Using your thumbs, massage the palm, paying special attention to the pad at the base of the thumb.
9. With your knuckles, gentle roll across and around the client’s palm so that their fingers gently cup your hand.
10. Move your thumbs away from each other, from the center of the hand towards the outsides. Repeat 3 times.
11. Open up the palm by pulling gently on both sides of the palm. You may lace your fingers through theirs for this step. The photograph shows one method for opening the palm.
12. Stroke the hand. Sandwich your client’s hand between yours. Hold for a few seconds then slide your hands away very slowly.
13. Repeat on the other side.
14. Finish with effleurage over both arms at the same time.

Other articles in this series:

Using Chair Massage to Market Your Massage Business
7-Minute Chair Massage Routine