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Do you avoid the anterior neck in your massage practice? Maybe it's stressful for you, or you're afraid the client won't like it, or maybe it just seems too complicated. Well, even if you never intentionally touch a scalene, becoming familiar with the SCM (sternocleidomastoid) is worth your while.

The SCM muscle is associated with forward head posture, jaw pain, and temporal headaches. It acts as a neck flexor as well as a neck rotator, all while giving a little assist to inspiration during chest breathing. It's a surprisingly substantial muscle, and it can take some solid work once you learn to contact it confidently.

How to do so? Start on yourself. If you have difficulty plucking it up like in the video, try grabbing it while you're laying down and your neck is relaxed. Try your head at different angles, and experiment with different grips, or by using the opposite hand.

When working with clients, remember that the anterior neck can be a place of fear and anxiety, so make sure to communicate before you make contact. Honor the newness of this sensation by going slowly, and tracking your client's face to make sure that there is no pain.

Err on the side of going too light here, and don't go in with an agenda! Make the contact, go slowly, and see what happens.

Any questions or ideas? Hit me up in the comments!

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