This is a kneading stroke, where the hands scoop and knead the muscles and skin in a rhythmic motion. This can be done all over the body but will feel different where there is more to hold onto. It can feel wonderfully rejuvenating and stimulating.

This stroke really helps to bring more blood and oxygen to the muscles at a deeper level. Sore muscles can really benefit as the muscle fibres are moved around sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly, helping them to realign, relax more easily and completely and bring relief to tension held there.

Petrissage can also include wringing, skin rolling and pick up and squeeze movements. All of which can bring amazing benefits to the person receiving the massage.

This can be done in a small and specific area, for example when the therapist finds an area of tension and works the muscle to help release it, they may then apply some vibration to the area with the tips of their fingers.

This vibration helps to ease any lingering tension, helps the client relax if the work was particularly deep, and can feel quite gentle. Equally vibration can be used in larger muscle groups, such as the glutes, where the muscles are jostled and moved around more vigorously to help energise and ‘wake’ up the muscles.

Whole body rocking can also be applied during the massage where the body is moved using rocking and vibration on muscles and bony protrusions.

Within this category of massage stroke there are different types of percussion. The massage therapist might use tapping and engage their fingertips and tap up and down the muscle groups being targeted.

Cupping uses a soft hand which strikes the body, engaging the sides and heel of the hand but not the palm. It should not slap, or sting, rather gently bounce off the body and sound hollow.

Hacking is a technique which uses the side of the hands, the forearms are soft and again the aim is to bounce off the body and move at a pace.

Pummelling or pounding uses the side of the fist, where the massage therapist closes their hand and engages the side of the fist in quick sequence.

As the name suggests, friction is used to create the sensation with this stroke. This can be by crossing the fibres of the muscle for example, instead of moving along them length ways.

Passing the hands over the muscle in this way can feel incredibly warming and interesting. It is not a movement which the muscles can create themselves and this adds to the benefits of aiding relaxing and stimulating a good blood supply.

The friction can also be applied to the massage therapist's hands, by fast rubbing of the hands, heat is created which when placed on the body will help to warm a muscle group and feel incredibly beneficial.