Have you ever wondered what it’s like to give a massage at home? Is massage therapy something that interests you? Well, if you have answered yes to either of these questions, you may find the following article of interest. There are so many ways you can give or get a massage which is why these tips were compiled with you in mind!
When you’re giving someone a massage, remember that you need to use your thumbs too. This area of your hands is very strong and can help stimulate muscle therapy. Be careful not to dig your thumbs into their muscle, though.
If you are an athlete or have excessively hard workouts then having massages regularly is a good idea. Massages can loosen your muscles up before a game or exercise to help them from becoming injured. It can also help after strenuous exercise to help heal your muscles and keep them from stiffening up or becoming painful.
Feeling a little blue? Go get a massage! The health benefits of massage are numerous, and studies have shown that one of the benefits of massage is elevated serotonin. Serotonin is a neurochemical that makes us feel happy, yet lack of sleep, hormone fluctuations, gloomy weather and poor diets can lower your body’s natural serotonin stores.
When giving a massage, do not forget to focus some attention on the neck and shoulders. While much attention is paid to the back during a massage, the neck and shoulders can hold tension and stress too. Spending some time massaging them offers a lot of relief and can improve the massage experience.
If you experience stress or other negative emotions, you should try massaging specific points of your body. Target your nerve endings to get your body to relax. Sensitive nerve endings are located along your spine, the top of your head and in different parts of your face. You should try gently tapping on the top of your head, your forehead, cheeks and chin before taking a deep breath.
Pay attention to the cues given to you by whomever you’re giving a massage to, in order to give them an excellent massage. You have to observe the way their muscles tense up and any facial expressions. If you practice for a time, you’ll eventually be able to use your hand to read the body. If the body tenses, you may be applying too much pressure.
Do you suffer from high blood pressure? Whether it is hereditary or caused by stress it can be dangerous. If you are looking for a way to lower your blood pressure a bit, try having a massage. Massages are a great way to relieve stress and tension. They have also been proven to lower peoples blood pressure significantly.
If you are suffering from back pain and traditional back massages are not alleviating the pain, try a hand massage. Firmly press into the meaty area between your thumb and index finger and gently massage. This type of massage is especially effective for muscle spasms and pulled back muscles.
The light and gentle massage technique is often referred to as Swedish. It helps increase circulation and relax your partner. This type of massage is also excellent for athletes who have muscle fatigue. You must be careful with this type of massage and listen to your partner. They could have injuries and if the massage is painful, you need to stop.
Another term for neuromuscular therapy is trigger-point therapy; this is when a focused pressure is apply specifically to trigger points. Examples of trigger points are muscle areas that have become irritated with lumps and knots. These little areas hurt quite a bit, and the pain may radiate throughout the body. Massage relieves this pain.
Avoid holding your breath while your massage therapist is working. You may have knots that are extremely painful, yet the therapist cannot massage them out effectively if you hold your breath. Try to breathe through the muscle pain, and use a combination of deep breathing and visualization. In your mind, picture the area and imagine the knot is a lump of butter, melting in the warm sunshine.
Wash your feet ahead of a full-body massage. Fungus and bacteria are found all over the feet and can be spread by a massage therapist during the massage process. Just clean them before, and you will be much safer.
After you eat, there is a great massage that you can implement. Rub your stomach in a clockwise motion to stimulate blood flow. This serves to help with digestion and push food through your intestines more easily.
If you have dry hands or feet, find a good moisturizer and use it for massages. Apply a small dose of moisturizer on your dry skin and take the time to massage the area. Massaging allows the moisturizer to penetrate the skin to its deeper layers, which means you will get better results.
If you spend most of your day sitting in front of a computer, you should take frequent breaks so you can massage your neck. Place your fingers at the base of your skull and squeeze your muscles gently. Stretch your muscles by tilting your head to the side before massaging your muscles some more.
As you can see, giving and getting a massage is rarely easy. There are so many factors that you have to keep in mind whether you are giving or receiving. This article has discussed some of the simple ways that you can give or get a massage. So next time you get involved in a massage, use what you have learned!
