Massage has been around for thousands of years and has long been a great way for people to de-stress and to increase their circulation. If you are interested in this relaxing activity, this article is going to give you some great massage tips. That way, you can relax that much more with massage!
Try giving yourself or someone a foot massage. Focusing on the soles first can really relax a person. Start stroking the soles of the foot going back and forth in straight lines. Do these motions starting from the heel to the bases of the toes. After the soles have been properly massaged, you can move on to the toes and the top and middle of the foot.
Think about using only a licensed massage therapist for your next massage. An actual therapist will better be able to take care of your needs. Hiring a professional allows you to be backed by their credentials within the industry.
Start your massage at the top of the back. This is important as there are a lot of muscles and knots tied up in this area. This technique will help you to soothe the person you are massaging and serves as a great bridge to the other areas of the body.
The raking method is a popular way to give a back massage. Spread your fingers out wide and use your fingertips to perform a raking motion down the back, from shoulders to hips. You can increase the pressure to the recipient’s liking. This is a simple way to relax your significant other and spend some quality time together.
If you notice knots in the back while you are giving a massage, you can kneed them out with some pressure from your fists. Simply get your fists into a ball and work them over the knotted spot for a few minutes. Apply more pressure if the knots are deeper, as long as the recipient remains comfortable.
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.
Try to save conversation for after the massage. You may love chatting with your massage therapist, but talking during the massage prevents you from ever relaxing fully. In fact, it may actually cause some muscles to tense up, making your therapist’s job even more difficult. Do speak up about your needs, however — if the room’s too cold, the music is too loud, or any other factor that prevents you from sinking deep into relaxation.
Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about massages. If you deal with back pains or muscle pains on a regular basis, ask your doctor if massages would be a good solution. Your doctor should be able to recommend a good massage clinic in your area and even write you a prescription.
If you enjoy working out, you should try massaging your muscles before and after exercising. You should pummel your muscles with your fists to improve your circulation before working out and massage your muscles more gently after working out to speed up the recovery process. Make sure you stretch after massaging.
Massage is an important part of spending time at a luxury spa. Although most people cannot afford this type of indulgence on a regular basis, visiting a spa a few times during the year can provide the type of rejuvenation everyone needs from time to time. Enjoy the massage and every other part of your day to the fullest.
Massaging your own shoulders can be enjoyable if you do it right. Beginning at the top of your spine, using one hand or two, use your hand to stroke from skull to shoulders. Then work your way across the shoulder outwards. Go back towards the neck and repeat the process.
Do you have a cold? You can relieve sinus pressure by massaging your face gently. Massage your forehead and temples and apply gentle pressure around your nose and eyes. Repeat this process throughout the day until the pressure is gone. This technique is useful to relieve headaches and stress too.
A great massage technique for reliving shoulder pressure is providing yourself with a bear hug. To do this, put the right hand on the left shoulder and the left hand on the right shoulder. Tightly press on each shoulder and release. Do this three times. Finally, begin to work your hands down your arms squeezing and then letting go until you get to your wrists.
You need to know your options before you get a massage. For example, you can request a number of different massages from a therapist. These include rolling, deep tissue, tapping and kneading. Each of these different techniques produces a different effect, depending on your individual needs.
After you consume a meal, rub your stomach. You’ve read that correctly. When you do this correctly, you help promote healthy digestion. The proper method is to press down on the abdomen and massage it in a circular motion from right to left. This matches the same direction food digests in the intestines naturally to stimulate digestion.
Now that you have read this article, you have new knowledge about how to incorporate massage in your life. When you get a chance, use the tips here to help you really get into the wonderful state that massage can provide for you. Keep learning so that you find out even more about this wonderful activity.
