The title of this post may conjure up some vivid imagery of large breasts being juggled and manipulated, or it might invoke feelings of skepticism or mistrust. Some readers might conclude massage for the chest area is a massage akin to one with a happy ending. The truth is there is a great deal of uncertainty about this type of bodywork but for many women, suffering from upper body tension, this massage can be a lifesaver.
Let's face it, we gals are packing around extra weight in the form of breasts and although they have the dubious honor of being eye candy for the fellas, they can become muscular tension for us. In my case the Double D's add 8 lbs of dangling bits to my chest. Think about it. My breasts weigh about the same as a bowling ball., a newborn infant, or four jars of mayonnaise. ( A fellow massage therapist told me to be thankful my breasts weren't muscle mass or they would weigh a lot more!) In my line of work I am bending over a great deal of my day, so you can see how this 8 lbs could pull my upper body out of proper alignment and cause my back muscles to work overtime trying to keep me upright. This burden is not just for the well-endowed either, smaller chests can be equally tense without proper care.
So how do we keep our curves and still take proper care of our necks, backs and shoulders? The answer is Counterbalance. Our pectoral muscles should be balanced in their workload with our rhomboids and trapezius muscles. Breast tissue tends to pull the tissue on our chests downward, which in turn pulls our upper back muscles higher up the back. When the chest and back muscles are out of their neutral positions, the shoulders shift and round forward. The breast/chest massage works to release these tight muscle groups and allows them to return to their happy places. When the shoulders relax they can stop doubling as your earrings. When the chest muscles release, the shoulders and upper back muscles return to their neutral position and your Hunchback of Notre Dame look leaves. Besides feeling better, you will be amazed at how much better your posture is when all these muscle groups are working together in a balanced fashion.
So how is breast massage done? This varies from therapist to therapist and it can depend on massage therapy regulations for particular regions. In my home state of Kentucky (GO CATS!) it is against the rules to leave breasts exposed so therapists have to be creative in their draping techniques. Some possibilities include: hand towels over each breast, one large towel to cover the entire area, having the client cover their own breast with their hand, or in my case I work through the sheet. GENTLE pressure is a necessity due to sensitivity issues and lymph nodes. Since I know how sore and sensitive this area can be, before I start massaging the chest area, I will sometimes do circles on the client's arm, explain that this is the amount of pressure that I will be using on their chest, and let them know that the pressure might feel much deeper than it actually is. I typically start with fingertip pressure and gauge whether the client can tolerate more pressure as I work. In my sessions I rock the chest in a rhythmic motion to get the body accustomed to moving. I strip out the rib meat and I massage the tissue under the breast where under-wire bras tend to dig into the flesh. For particularly tight muscles I work in and around the client's armpits. Notice at no time is there any mention of working on the nipples--this is illegal and inappropriate.
Who should get breast/chest massage? Anyone that has chronic neck and shoulder tension. Ladies who have had breast implants. Scar tissue is not your friend. Weightlifters. Massage will allow those muscles to heal quicker with less downtime between workout sessions. People who complain that they are not breathing as easily as they used to. Of course this is only after medical professionals have cleared them. People who work at computers all day. The list is long.
What if the client is just not open to breast/chest massage? I respect their boundaries and offer advice on how they can stretch or work on their own bodies. I demonstrate how they can strip out the tissue around their breastbone and I show clients how to stretch out their chest and back muscles. An easy stretch is doing standing push-ups in a corner or in a door frame. Encourage yoga sessions. Can you say cat bows? I share tips on using small dumbbells to tone and strengthen the body. Thai yoga massage is another way to work these body parts without nudity. There are numerous routes to choose from so get creative!
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