How good are your massages? Does your spouse complain when you give a massage, or are you really just not sure what you’re doing? If you learn a few simple strategies, you can transfer from novice to intermediate pretty fast. It’s time you learned how to give a good massage, so keep reading.
After a massage, drink plenty of water to remove toxins from your body. When you have a massage, toxins are released into your body and must be removed. By drinking at least two quarts of water right after a massage, the toxins will be removed. If you do not drink the required amounts of water, you may experience stiffness and pain from the massage.
Petrissage is the best way to relieve stress and make pain disappear. This method requires you to use your fingertips and your thumb. Grab hold of a muscle and squeeze it for a few seconds before moving on to a different area. Go over the same areas several times until the pain disappears.
Ask you friends who they use for their massages. It can be hard to find a massage therapist that you are comfortable with, but knowing that someone you know uses and trusts them you will feel that much better about it. Ask as many people as you can before you decide on one to try.
Make sure the person you give a massage to is comfortably installed. Ideally, you should use a massage table or at least a comfortable mat. If you do not have this equipment, have the person lay down on a comfortable couch or a supportive mattress. Make sure their head is properly supported.
If you will be getting a massage to have some stress relieved, go with an aromatherapy massage. Along with a massage, the therapist will use essential oils on your capillaries in order to relax the body. Most of these oils come from flowers, roots, and herbs and are completely safe.
You can do simple self-massages to iron out kinks. Begin by using your thumbs on the outer edges of your body. Begin by massaging your legs first, and move up to your arms afterward. Doing this after you awake can invigorate the body for the rest of the day. If you do it before you fall asleep in the evenings, you can help prepare yourself for a restful night’s sleep.
A Shiatsu massage is very similar to an acupuncture session except the therapist uses fingers instead of needles. The therapist will apply pressure to your pressure points, causing your whole body to relax at once. The goal of a Shiatsu massage is to increase a person’s energy level and well being.
When you have a client that you are giving a massage to, ask whether or not they are comfortable. The last thing that you will want is someone who does not feel secure when you are giving a massage. Additionally, they will be very tight and tough to massage if they are anxious.
If you are always getting sick, massages can help. Studies show that white blood cell production is increased by massage therapy. These are the cells which help you beat back viruses and other medical issues.
Let your masseuse know of your music preferences. Many people enjoy relaxing music playing during their massage, however some do not. If you prefer a quiet environment while you get your massage, speak up. You can also specify a particular type of music or even request ambient noise such as bird songs or ocean waves.
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.
Before going to get a professional massage, you should understand what options are available. A masseuse knows many different massage techniques that can be used. Each produces a different sensation; therefore, it is important to know what you like.
A hot stone massage incorporates heated stones and a gentle touch. Smooth stones are heated and placed along the back and other parts of the body to relieve muscle tension. The massage therapist may also gently press the stones into your tense muscles and then gently rub them in a circular motion to help relieve tension.
Create a warm and relaxing environment for your patient. The temperature should be comfortable enough that exposed skin is not cold. You may choose to play relaxing music if you both agree to it. Turn off any cell phones and perform the massage in a clean room to minimize distractions.
Rub your belly in a slow, clockwise pattern after any meal for best results. This is the direction that food will naturally follow as it enters your digestive system and begins to break down. This belly-rub will stimulate the digestion-process. Try this for yourself and notice the improvement within minutes.
Make sure that you hydrate yourself when you are finished with your massage. This will help flush toxins released by the massage out. Avoid drinking anything other than water after a massage. You will quickly feel stressed again if you do not get rid of these toxins.
It’s time that you put everything together that you’ve just learned to see what you can do. Test out your techniques on someone you love, and their reaction will tell you how well you’re doing. As you continue to learn more, realize that it’s the little things that help make the difference.