You can give a great massage without being licensed. You will be a very popular friend and family member once your new-found massage skills are discovered. Use this advice in order to be as up-to-date as your massage therapist. You never know, you may have others coming to you with their massage questions soon!
Try to limit all background noise when you are giving your massage, as the environment should be as quiet and calm as possible at all times. You will want the person you are massaging to relax their muscles so that your massage technique will work, as a quiet atmosphere helps to facilitate this.
When you get a massage, don’t be shy. Your therapist won’t see your questions as stupid and would probably love to answer them. The goal is for you to feel as comfortable as possible, so ask what you want to know and get the information you need.
The speed of your hands is important for the kind of massage you are trying to give. If you are looking for a massage to relax your partner, go for slow strokes. If you are looking to work out tired muscles that have been over exerted, faster strokes work better.
Make sure your feet are clean before you get a massage. You don’t want the germs present on your feet to be spread to the rest of your body. If a foot bath is not offered, make a quick trip to the bathroom ahead of time and use the sink to wash your feet.
Consider massaging your body prior to exercising and immediately afterwards too. Massaging prior to working out helps raise blood flow into all of your muscles. And after a workout, a quick massage helps your muscles recover a lot quicker. It’s definitely worth the extra five minutes before and after exercise!
If you get sick every time a friend or coworker does, there is hope for you! Studies have shown that a massage may help stimulate your body to produce more white blood cells. This is important because they help your bodies immune system fight off any viruses, resulting in you becoming sick less often.
If you suffer from medical conditions such as high blood pressure or are pregnant, speak up before getting your massage. In most cases, a massage will still be safe, but the technique will probably need to be adjusted. A professional massage therapist can help you get the relaxation you are seeking while remaining safe if you are willing to speak up.
This may be something you already know, but make sure you tip your massage therapist generously. It is not only the kind thing to do, but also earns the respect of your therapist if you plan on returning. Always show up on time for your massage because it not only shows you are serious, but you won’t cut into someone else’s massage time.
Massage can help your marriage if you have a high stress job. When you come home after a hard day at work, as soothing massage by your mate can increase your love and appreciation for him or her. Instead of feeling too tired for romance, you will be more open to spending some quality time.
When you plan to book an appointment for a massage, call up a few local spas and ask them what they have to offer. You may find that they provide a massage style which you’d like to try out, or that they don’t offer the old standby you’d prefer to use.
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.
A great massage technique for reliving shoulder pressure is providing yourself with a bear hug. To do this, put the right hand on the left shoulder and the left hand on the right shoulder. Tightly press on each shoulder and release. Do this three times. Finally, begin to work your hands down your arms squeezing and then letting go until you get to your wrists.
If you are giving a deep tissue massage, incorporate your elbows into it. This may feel uncomfortable at first for the person you are massaging, but is a fantastic way of spreading out the muscle and causing a very pleasurable sensation. Never push too hard though, as this will then feel uncomfortable.
Do not immediately engage in strenuous activity following a massage. Taking a short, calming walk or sitting and reading for a few minutes would be ideal. It is often reported that people feel dizzy following a massage, and this means that the body is not ready to jump into heavy lifting or heart racing activities. It is fine to enjoy these activities a little later in the day, about an hour or so after your massage.
To perform a sports massage you must use quick smooth strokes on the affected muscles. A sports massage is not used to help the receiver relax as much as it is used to prevent future injuries. In addition to the quick gentle massage strokes, stretching exercises are generally included in this procedure.
Use what you learned when it comes to massage. Whether you give or get massages, you an always learn more about them. If you are receiving rather than giving a massage, encourage your masseuse to practice his new techniques on you.
