Your back does a lot of hard work throughout the day and it’s always a good idea to take a day off and properly reward it. You can give your back a wonderful treat by getting a massage. If you can’t make it to a professional shop, there are a few simple techniques discussed below that a helpful friend can perform instead.
Don’t eat just before a massage. It is easy to feel bloated or uncomfortable after eating, which can make lying down for a full massage session difficult. Make sure your food has had time to completely digest. This helps you stay comfortable no matter the position you may need to get into during your massage.
How you massage will depend on each person. If you notice a certain area giving a positive response, concentrate on that area while doing the massage. Feedback is important to look for when you’re giving someone a massage.
Before choosing any massage therapist, read reviews on them. Reading reviews can let you know what type of massage to expect and avoid bad massage therapists. Also, make sure to determine the credibility of the reviews that you read.
Schedule your massages smartly. If you usually get sleepy after a massage, you should avoid getting one before you have to go to work. However, if massages help you get some energy, do not hesitate to schedule a massage before you have to go through a stressful day at work.
Bear hug techniques can help with shoulder tension. Use your arms to make an x across your chest. Place a hand on each of your shoulders and massage. It is a great way to relieve stress.
If you suffer from PMS each month with excessive water retention and cramping, there just might be some help for you. The power of massage has been shown to help reduce that unsightly water retention so that your pants will fit a little easier. It also can help relieve the pain that comes with cramps.
Help the massage therapist by relaxing your body. Avoid trying to “help” by tensing certain muscles or areas. The massage therapist is well-educated in various ways to maneuver your body parts to achieve the best results from massage, but their work is hindered if you can’t relax. Try doing some deep breathing and practice just letting go and trusting the therapist to do a great job.
Try using your fists to give a good massage. Gently thump on the area that is painful or tense after warming the muscles with a more gentler techniques. Thumping is excellent for circulation and will cause the entire muscle to relax almost instantly. Avoid using this technique on someone who has to take blood thinners to prevent bruising.
Hydrate, hydrate. A massage loosens lymph fluid, lactic acid and other toxins from your soft tissues. This is part of what makes your muscles feel so nice afterward. However, if you are dehydrated, there is no way for these toxins to leave your system. This could leave you feeling sore and slightly nauseated after your massage, which defeats the whole effort and wastes money. So, make sure you drink up!
Get a massage both before you exercise and after, so that blood flows more freely into your muscles and helps them recover more quickly. Prior to exercising, pump your arms so as to increase blood flow to all your extremities. Use your palms or fists to rub muscles toward your heart after exercising.
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.
Many ailments can be alleviated with regular visits to a massage parlor. From debilitating conditions like Fibromyalgia to simple stress, a massage can do wonders for both mind and body. Consider this alternative to more medication or tolerating more pain and discomfort. Ask your doctor if a healthy massage can help you out!
A massage that can help your feet to feel better is to rotate your ankles. Just place your hands on your foot. Move your foot around four times to the left and four times to the right.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to spend a lot of money to get a good massage. Meanwhile, it is human nature to choose well known spas, a smaller center or a massage school can offer the same services. Sometimes lesser known places offer better massages than their more expensive counterparts, for half the price.
A proper environment is essential to a successful therapeutic back massage at home. The ideal location is in a quiet, warm and relaxed environment. If you’re not doing the massage in an area like that, the person you’re massaging may not be able to relax or reap all of the benefits of a therapeutic massage.
Wear loose fitting clothing to your massage. Your masseuse will ask you to disrobe down to the level of your comfort, and so the last thing you want to do is struggle with multiple layers or tight clothing as you get ready for your massage! Many people wear workout clothing when they get a massage.
Always massage your hands when you use some moisturizer for your skin. For an effective hand massage, begin by massaging your palms in a circular motion. Next, massage below your thumb in a circular motion. Try to utilize your thumbs or index fingers, as these are the most powerful on your hands.
You now have the ability to get a great massage without the high price of a professional one. You might not make any money, but you can impart some valuable skills. A typical massage from within the home requires nothing more than a pair of experienced hands and some aching back muscles.
