That's a good question. I strip up because it's easiest for my body and hands: dragging toward my body is easy, while angling a tool to travel from toe to heel would take some reconfiguring of my tools, and I'd have to stabilize the foot with one of my hands. Dragging toward me includes some free stabilization on the dorsal surface of the foot, it feels easy, and it feels satisfying to the client rather than fiddly or shaky. That said! If you've got some good solid stuff that heads in the other direction (maybe a fist on the plantar surface and a cradling palm on the dorsum), I got nothing against that at all.

@MassageSloth Thank you, your video is the best foot massage tutorial

My best guess is this: Your cough reflex is (partly) a response to what your nervous system is sensing in your throat. If it senses irritation, it prompts a cough. So, if your myofascial release routine is prompting that sensation, you might choose to be more gentle and more gradual, or you might simply skip parts that seem to be provoking a throat tickle sensation. Something to know here is that you're not doing any harm, you're just creating a sense of stretch that your nervous system classifies as "maybe a problem? We should probably cough." As your nervous system turns the volume knob down - as your sensitivity reduces over time - you might find that you can work in those areas that were previously provocative without a problem. Let this be something that you play with, and as you do so, realize that you can be so gentle with yourself and still get results.

@MassageSloth Thanks for answering!! I am a soprano and I think I made a little more effort with my larynx!! Greetings from Costa Rica!!🙏🙏🙏🥰

Not yet, but I'm thinking on it! As someone with a lot of hypermobility myself, I've got some tricks up my sleeve for making such clients more comfortable during massage. I don't have any tips for counteracting hypermobility (that's more in the realm of PT, mindfulness, etc), but we can definitely work in a way that makes shoulder joints feel safe during traction, prevents patella displacement, etc. As usual, your best resource is the client in front of you, and the question, "have you ever had pain during a massage, or discomfort from lying on the table?"

I have to restrain myself from such ranting as well 😁 I find that lots of speeds and durations can have powerful effects, and that many other modalities are useful and enjoyable. We've got a whole grab bag here, so let's have some fun with it!