What Are the Bands of Tension? A Guide to Advanced Raynor Massage

Understanding one of the key ideas behind the way I work.

When someone comes to me for deep tissue massage in Pershore, they often expect me to find the tight muscle and work directly on it.

Sometimes that's exactly what we do.

But with Advanced Raynor Massage, I'm also interested in looking at how tension presents throughout the body and whether different areas appear to be connected.

One of the main concepts I work with is what Raynor describes as bands of tension.

What are bands of tension?

The simplest way I can explain it is this:

Tension doesn't always feel like it's contained in one small area.

You might feel tightness in your lower back, for example, but when I assess and work through the body, I may find tension continuing through the hips, legs or feet.

Likewise, someone experiencing shoulder tension may also have areas of tension through the arms, hands, neck or jaw.

The idea of bands of tension gives me a way of looking beyond the obvious area and exploring these patterns.

It doesn't mean that one particular muscle is necessarily "causing" another problem.

It's about being curious about the body and seeing what I find.

How do I work with bands of tension?

This is where my approach to Raynor Massage differs from a routine massage.

When you first come in, we'll talk about what you're experiencing, your lifestyle, your work, your training and what you'd like from the treatment.

I'll then begin exploring the body through hands-on assessment.

As I work, I'm paying attention to areas that feel different, patterns of tension and how the body responds.

If I find a pattern that's worth exploring, I can follow it.

That might mean working somewhere that seems completely unrelated to where you originally felt the tension.

For example:

Lower back → hips → legs → feet

Or:

Shoulders → arms → hands → neck → jaw

The exact route will be different for every person.

Why don't you just massage the painful area?

Because the area where you feel tension isn't necessarily the only area worth exploring.

If your lower back feels tight, spending the entire treatment on your lower back might seem like the obvious thing to do.

But what happens if I find that you're also carrying significant tension through your hips and legs?

That's something I'd want to explore.

This doesn't mean I'll ignore the painful area.

It means I'm not going to assume it's the whole story before I've looked at the bigger picture.

That's one of the reasons I don't follow the same deep tissue massage routine with every client.

Is Raynor Massage still deep tissue massage?

Absolutely.

Deep tissue techniques are an important part of the way I work, but I don't define deep tissue simply by how much pressure I can apply.

For me, effective deep tissue bodywork is about being precise, understanding the body in front of me and knowing when to work deeper — and when not to.

A treatment may involve deep pressure, but it can also include compression, stretching, movement, rhythm and breath.

The techniques I use depend on what I'm finding during the treatment.

Deep doesn't always mean harder.

Sometimes working more intelligently is more useful than simply working more forcefully.

Why do I work on the hands, feet, stomach and head?

This is another important part of my approach to whole-body Raynor bodywork.

The hands, feet, stomach and head are areas I pay particular attention to because they give me different ways of approaching the body and exploring patterns of tension.

Your feet, for example, deal with a huge amount of load every day, particularly if you're a runner.

Your hands and forearms are constantly being used, while the neck, jaw and head can also hold considerable tension.

The abdominal area can form part of the wider picture when looking at movement, breathing and how someone holds their body.

I don't automatically work on all of these areas.

They're simply part of the wider picture I consider when assessing the body.

[Read more: Why I Pay Particular Attention to Your Hands, Feet, Stomach and Head]

Why I don't follow a fixed massage routine

One of the things I like most about Advanced Raynor Massage is that I don't have to treat every person in exactly the same way.

Two people could come to me with the same complaint and receive completely different treatments.

Your lifestyle, movement, training, work and the way you use your body all contribute to the way you hold tension.

That's why I want to understand you, rather than simply treating a body part.

The treatment develops around what I find.

I assess. I explore. I follow the tension. And I adapt the treatment as I go.

What can I expect from an Advanced Raynor treatment?

If you're new to my work, I offer a 45-minute Assessment & Treatment Plan.

This gives us time to discuss what's going on, explore the body and build a clearer understanding of where you're holding tension before deciding how best to approach your treatment.

For returning clients, treatments range from 60 minutes through to two- and three-hour Deep Excavation sessions.

The longer sessions give us more time to explore patterns of tension and work progressively without having to rush.

I've written more about how this works here:

[Why I Might Work Somewhere Completely Different From Where You Feel Tension]

Will one treatment get rid of all my tension?

Not necessarily.

If you've been carrying the same tension for months or years, I don't think it's realistic to promise that one massage will completely change everything.

Some people notice a significant difference after their first treatment. For others, longer-standing patterns may need to be explored progressively over several sessions.

I'll always give you my honest view on what I think would be useful.

There's no obligation to commit to a course of treatments.

We'll work one treatment at a time.

My approach to Advanced Raynor Massage

Ultimately, the bands of tension concept is one part of a much bigger approach.

I'm not trying to force your body into a particular formula.

I'm using it as a way of thinking about the body — looking beyond the obvious, staying curious and following what I find.

Understand the body.Find the tension.Follow it.Work progressively.

That's the foundation of the way I approach Advanced Raynor Massage and deep tissue bodywork in Pershore.

Want to experience it for yourself?

If you're new to my work, start with the 45-minute Assessment & Treatment Plan.

We'll take the time to understand what's going on before deciding how best to work with your body.

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