Can you feel the tension in your muscles when you move or even when simply sitting still? If so, it may be time for you to go for a massage. Knowing what to look for in a quality massage therapist or center will help ensure that you get the relief you hope for.
Use a warm oil when giving someone a massage. The oil will make it easier for your to move your hands across the other person’s skin and the warmth of the oil will be soothing for the person who is receiving the message. Be careful, however, to not overheat the oil, as you can cause burns.
Discuss your needs with your therapist. Some people may feel a little uncomfortable at the prospect of getting a massage because they feel out of control. Tell the massage therapist about any sore areas, such as your back, knees or neck, so that they can avoid them or treat them accordingly. And don’t forget to let them know of your preferences for things like background music, room lighting and temperature. The whole point is for you to be able to relax, so make sure the conditions suit you.
If a person wants a deeper massage, be careful on how much oil, you use. Yes, oil feels great on a person’s back and causes less friction, but the latter is the problem for deeper tissue massage. Without that friction, you won’t be able to offer a deep massage, as your hands will constantly slide. Minimize this issue by using just enough oil for the massage to be comfortable, but not so much that you lose all friction.
One of the best things that you can do before and after your massage is to drink a lot of water. Water will help to eliminate some of the free radicals that are in your body, which may be causing your discomfort in the first place. This will optimize your overall experience.
When you are giving a massage, try not to use the same stroke over and over. This can make the whole experience mundane, as you want to incorporate as much change during the session as possible. Alter your technique, the stroke and how hard you press on the back, neck and thighs.
When you decide to get a massage, make sure you are communicating with your massage therapist. If you have any massage preferences, make sure you tell him or her when entering the room and before starting. If during the massage you are feeling pain or experiencing numbness, make sure you let your therapist know by speaking up.
Prior to getting a massage, inform your massage therapist of all the problem areas you have. If you don’t you may end up wasting half of your massage time on areas that need a lot less work to feel good! This communication will give your therapist a plan of action for the limited time there is available.
How much should you tip a masseuse? If you’re at a hotel or a local spa, 20% is pretty standard. If they work from home, each therapist will typically set their own policies, but 20% is fair. If they work in a massage clinic, ask them for their rules – some will include the tip in the price.
When you plan to book an appointment for a massage, call up a few local spas and ask them what they have to offer. You may find that they provide a massage style which you’d like to try out, or that they don’t offer the old standby you’d prefer to use.
When giving a massage, remember to relax yourself. If you are holding a lot of tension, it will be more difficult to maneuver your hands in a way that provides a great massage. The tension will also show through in your attention to each area of the body and the overall feel of the room.
If you massage the body either side of a workout, your blood flow will increase and your recovery time will be shorter. Prior to exercising, make with your fists a pommeling movement to get blood flowing to your arms and legs. After exercising, rub the muscles with your fist or palm towards the heart.
After you eat, massage your stomach! Believe it or not, that simple tip is quite important. Also, you can improve your ability to digest food properly. In order to do it right, rub your belly in a clockwise fashion, keeping palms on top of your stomach. This matches the same direction food digests in the intestines naturally to stimulate digestion.
When you decide to get a massage, make sure that you are relaxing your thoughts. It can be easy to feel nervous, especially if it’s your first time. Most professional spas usually have relaxing music playing. If you hear the music, channel your thoughts into paying attention to the individual notes. This can help you relax in your tense moments.
You may already know that it is customary to tip your masseuse. If you are new to this, tipping 15% to 20% is customary. The only time you shouldn’t think about tipping is if you are getting physical therapy treatments at a medical facility. Never hand your masseuse a wad of cash, leave it at the front desk with the clerk.
Use gentle massage to help relax a restless baby or child. Just like adults, children become very relaxed when they receive a massage and can even fall asleep. If you notice that nothing seems to calm your child give massage a try and see the wonders that it can do to make things easier for everyone.
Now that you have read through this guide, you should be better prepared for your search for a massage therapist. Start looking today and soon you will find the one that will fit your needs. Then, just lie down and relax as they remove the tension from every muscles in your body.
