Tagged “pressure”
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The techniques that look like it
Body gua sha, firm hand massage, rolling and the scraping tools used in some clinics all look similar. The instructions do not transfer between them.
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Pressure is the whole difference
Facial technique on a shoulder does nothing, and the reason is force. How to find working pressure for body gua sha without chasing darker marks.
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When no sha comes up
Nothing appeared, or barely anything. What actually causes faint marks, the four things worth checking, and why pressing harder is not one of them.
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What it should feel like
The working sensation of body gua sha, how it differs from pain, and what the day after is normally like. Plus the signals to stop at once.
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Upper arms, and working around the elbow
The outside and back of the upper arm take gua sha well. The inner arm, the armpit and the elbow's bony points do not, and here is why.
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The outer thigh and the IT band
The outer thigh is the region people attack hardest and tolerate worst. Where the band runs, why it is tender, and how to start much lighter.
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Forearms, and stopping short of the wrist
The forearm takes gua sha well and the wrist does not. Where the two muscle groups sit, where the ulna runs, and where to end the stroke.
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Grip, angle and where the force comes from
How you hold the stone decides how firm work feels. Angle, contact length and whether the push comes from wrist or shoulder.
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Lubrication and glide
Body gua sha needs far more oil than a face does. Running out partway through is the usual reason a session starts to hurt.