Releasing the Lower Back and Hips with Darien Pritchard

This workshop is designed to enhance the massage practitioner's repertoire of techniques and effectiveness for working extensively on a client's lower back - a common area of stiffness and soreness - and the related areas of the buttocks and the thigh. It covers specific deep massage and pressure techniques for release and for re-energising the muscles. These are allied with passive movements and dynamic stretches to promote greater ease and flexibility.

The day begins with a review of the main muscles of this area, looking at them in their functional groups to help make sense of them. Then we’ll work with the client in a prone position, which enables us to get at a large number of the muscles that relate to the lower back and the back of the pelvis.

The workshop looks at the choice of appropriate techniques, ways of moderating the pressure, how to blend them smoothly into a massage session, and relevant exercises to offer the client for self-maintenance. There is an emphasis on good bodyuse for the practitioner, and 'listening' with your hands (monitoring and adapting to the client's responses).

This may be taken as a one day workshop or combined with Freeing the Shoulders to make a weekend.