Fijian massage is a form of sports massage that uses the therapist's feet to deliver the deepest massage possible. I especially like it for opening the hips.
The deepest massage you can get is a massage delivered with the feet. Fijian Massage does not include walking on the client's back as one foot remains standing on the floor. This deep, yet soothing, massage technique uses the foot to knead the muscles, relieving tension and pain. The therapist may sit or stand and the client remains clothed while reclining on cushions on a floor mat.
I especially like this technique for opening hips or shoulders. Using my feet means that I can apply more force in the process of mashing your muscles - there is simply more strength in the lower body than in the upper body. Plus, if you've ever had elbow work to your glutes, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised that this technique is less painful - the heel is less pointy-feeling than the elbow.
I was fortunate enough to be able to study directly with one of the developers of this modality a couple of summers ago. Fijian massage originated on the island of Kadavu in Fiji, one of the islands in the South Pacific. A village healer named Simonis taught the basic standing stroke to Lolita Knight. Lolita took the knowledge back to New Zealand, where she was practicing massage at the time, and developed a gentler variant, adding several new strokes and changing the pacing. Later she brought that to the U.S., where she has been teaching for many years. Read more about Fijian massage...
I want to reiterate that this is a very deep massage. A large amount of trapped metabolic wastes may be freed during a session. To minimize soreness after such a deep session, I would recommend that you have a history of regular exercise or massage so that your body is used to processing the changes that massage can facilitate, as this can create change more quickly than other methods. If you have trouble getting down on the floor or getting up from the floor, or have had joint replacement surgery, this is not the right modality for you.
For best results, wear loose, comfortable clothing that you would wear for a workout or a yoga class. It is less effective to work through a heavy fabric like jeans.
