A first rate massage is not necessarily the result of an advanced degree or professional license. If you have always wanted to impress your friends and family with a massage, then this is the article for you. Read these tips thoroughly and get on par with the masseuse in your local area. Before you know it, you may turn your home into a popular massage parlor!
One great massage technique that you can do for your partner is called raking. Raking means that you spread your hands out, and using your fingertips, you rake up one side of the back right by the spine while you rake downward on the other side with your other hand.
Hydrate yourself well for forty-eight hours before your massage. Many people know that heavy water intake after a massage is good for flushing the body of toxins and helping with sore muscles. Drinking plenty of water before the massage will greatly increase the impact of the massage and its purging abilities.
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.
An easy way to give a relaxing massage is by using a technique called “raking”. In it, you just run your fingertips (spread hands) down the person’s back, gently moving back and forth. Really, you’re doing a raking motion up and down. For added effect, try alternating your hands – one rakes up while the other rakes down.
Talk to your massage therapist about any concerns that you may have. Your massueuse will be happy to answer any concerns that you might have. This will help you feel serene and calm while you get your massage.
Make sure your massage therapists know any areas of discomfort you have before beginning the massage. If there is any particular area that is giving your pain, the therapist can focus on that and try to give you some relief. She can also be careful to avoid any areas that are especially sensitive.
You should do a belly massage following every meal. Using one or both palms, start rubbing your abdominal area using clockwise circular motions. The clockwise motion is the same direction that your food digests naturally in your intestines. This can help with digestion and prevent gas and intestinal discomfort.
If you have recently contracted the flu, a massage may help alleviate the pain and stiffness generally associated with the flu. For the best relief, gently rub warmed lotion over your entire body using a circular motion. This will not only alleviate aches, but it will also help re-hydrate your skin.
If you get sick every time a friend or coworker does, there is hope for you! Studies have shown that massage can actually increase the production of your body’s white blood cells. This is critical, since they work to improve the body’s immune response to viruses.
Do not neglect feet and hands of the person you are massaging. A good hand and/or foot massage can be remarkably relaxing and rejuvenating. Stay firm with your technique, unless your client seems uncomfortable during the massage.
Do not feel as though you cannot talk to your therapist about your massage treatment. Inform them of spots that need special attention or areas where you have experienced a previous injury. If something isn’t feeling right, let them know. It is not supposed to hurt, rather it is supposed to be enjoyable.
It can be really helpful to give yourself a massage both before and after a hard workout. Prior to exercise, use your hands in a pommeling motion so that blood starts to flow in your arms and legs. When you are done working out, use your hands to rub down your muscles towards your heart.
A great massage to relieve strained shoulders is a bear hug. To begin, cross your arms over your chest. Grab your shoulder with either hand. Then, squeeze a shoulder and release it about three times. Do this for both of them. After that, move down your arms, squeezing and releasing them until you reach your wrists.
When you are stumped for what to give as a Christmas or birthday present, consider buying a coupon for a healthy massage! Everybody loves the soothing and relaxing benefits of a deep tissue massage and who couldn’t use the extra pampering? Especially for the person who has everything, the gift of massage is perfect!
If your shoulders are bothering you, you should try hugging yourself and massaging the muscles you can reach while hugging yourself. This exercise will also help you stretch your entire back. You should try this technique if you have to sit on a chair during most of your work day.
If you are on the giving end of a very beneficial massage, make sure to read the signs the recipient is showing. During a deep-tissue massage, the body responds to pressure and muscles will actually contract under your finger-tips. Ease up on the pressure when you approach bones and joints and be guided by the response you get!
Use these suggestions in your daily life in the way that is most suitable to you. Whether you give massages for a living or just for fun, it is always helpful to learn new tricks and techniques. Make sure your massage therapist knows your problem areas and what you expect from treatments.