Getting a massage in the near future? What do you need to know before you embark on this adventure? The truth is that a basic knowledge will go a long way to helping you enjoy your massage, so read this article in full before you head to the spa or clinic.
When providing a massage, be sure to use the thumbs. Your thumbs are stronger than your other fingers, and using them will add extra stimulation to the massage. You don’t want to press too hard because this might actually cause discomfort.
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 that your massage therapist is registered in your state. If your massage therapist is not properly registered and insured, then you are at risk of being left to fend for yourself if they were to cause injury to you during their work. Do not worry about being rude, ask for proof so that you can be confident that you are in responsible hands.
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.
Neuromuscular therapy, often referred to as trigger-point therapy, uses various trigger points on the body to help relax and relieve stress. Lumps or knots that pinpoint irritated muscles are trigger points. These areas are very painful and sometimes cause pain in other areas of the body. Muscles will relax when they have pressure applied to them, meaning the pain will diminish.
You should generally try and keep quite when giving someone a massage. Who can relax with loud distractions? Play relaxing music or nature sounds while giving a massage. Other than the latter mentioned, keep the environment silent.
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.
Be on time, or a little early. Besides being good etiquette, being punctual can actually help your massage be effective. When you are running late, you are usually in a frenzied state, increasing stress levels and putting your body on edge. In a massage, this means it will take you longer to unwind and you may not get all of the benefits of a relaxing rub down.
As you massage your subject, be sensitive to any messages being conveyed to you by body language and muscle tension. Both your fingers and the palms of your hands should be working. You can keep the pain at a minimum in the bonier regions by only working the palm of a single hand with slight pressure. For curvy areas, your fingers can be used to work out any kinks.
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.
Make sure your hands aren’t ice cold before you touch someone’s skin. Nobody likes cold hands on their skin, and muscle tension may result. Rub your hands with massage lotion for a while to warm it up.
When you begin giving a massage to your dog, remember not to push or pull too hard. This will not feel good to your dog and it may even even hurt him. Pay close attention to the signals your dog is giving you during the massage. Don’t continue with the massage if the animal resists.
Breathing is one of the most important aspects of receiving a massage. Try to breathe as normally as possible, even if you feel sensations that you have never felt in your life. Your body will eventually adjust to the massage, as your breathing pattern should remain the same throughout the entire process.
A massage needs to have movements in it that are slow and smooth and that go in the right direction. While complex techniques may seem impressive, at the core massages are meant to provide relaxation for the body. The motions you make need to be controlled.
It is as important to know about giving a massage as getting one if you want to have the full experience. This will allow you to understand both points of view. Take what you’ve learned here and put it to use next time you receive a massage so you’ll enjoy it fully.
