A good massage can be a huge benefit to both the psychological and the physical parts of a person’s life. However, not everyone understands the real potential a massage has to improve their life. Read on to understand the many ways great massage can help you in body, mind and spirit.
Seek to have your massages done professionally. While it may be easier to ask for one from your spouse, you are certainly risking injury. If someone is not educated in how to properly give a massage. They can easily cause a muscle to be pulled or even something far worse.
If you have been feeling particularly stressed out, it just might be time to have a relaxing massage. Massages are not only helpful to relax you mentally but physically as well. It helps to promote circulation and loosens up your muscles. Let go of some of your stress with a massage.
You can make massages even better by using some massaging oils. There are plenty of different essential oils to choose from. Choose an oil with an enjoyable smell and you will find that massages are even more relaxing thanks to the smell of the essential oils and the properties of the oil you chose.
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.
Asian massages are known to help relax the body. One not-so-common, but very relaxing Asian massage is called the Indonesian-Javanese massage. With this method, the therapist will use both their hands and knuckles to get so deep into the skin. This will help your muscles relax if they were tense.
The feet are an often overlooked area that needs to be massaged. There are many pressure points in the feet that can relax the body as a whole and give the entire body a sense of well being. Focus on one foot at a time and use as much pressure as your partner will allow.
You can actually give a foot massage to yourself using a well-known trick by athletes. Just use a tennis ball or a golf ball to massage the sole of your foot. Move from toe to heel and side to side. Keep your massage concentrated on the area where your arches are because they are sensitive.
To perform a pregnancy massage, have the expectant mother lie on her side and gently rub her back using a circular motion. A pregnancy massage is especially beneficial during the third trimester when the weight of the baby creates pressure points in the expectant mother’s lower back and buttock areas.
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.
Extend the benefits of your massage by taking things easy for the rest of the day. Allow your mind and body to stay in the relaxed zone by practicing deep breathing throughout the day whenever you feel the tension returning. Plan a low-key, relaxing dinner followed by a warm bath, then get into bed early and curl up for a nice, restorative night of sleep
One of the most enjoyable bonding activities between baby and parent, or other loved one, is a massage. Just grab a bottle of baby oil, take off your jewelry and make sure your hands are warm, and start at the top or bottom. Anything you do is likely to be enjoyable if you’re gentle.
If you are very invested in working out, try massaging your muscles prior to your regimen and also afterwards. Before you exercise, pummel your muscles with your fists to start the blood flow. After you finish exercising, rub your muscles with palm or fist towards the direction of the heart.
If you have a less than pleasant experience having a massage, try not to write them off completely. Everyone has their own style and techniques and no two massage therapists are the same. Ask for a recommendation from a friend for someone new, and explain your experience to them so they can do their best to make your massage with them as pleasant as possible.
Use a massage oil to reduce friction. While baby oil is a popular choice, you may find that a light natural oil is preferable. Apricot seed and sunflower oils are great choices that will benefit skin health as well. Warm the oil between your hands before applying it to your partner.
Consider an Epsom salt bath following a deep tissue massage. Just add one cup of Epsom salts to a bath full of warm water. These salts can help the body to further release toxins, and they can also help to relieve any lingering sore spots. Soak in the bath for about a half hour for optimum results.
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when giving your partner a massage is to have the room too cold. Your goal should be to make your partner feel as comfortable as possible. This is very hard to achieve if they are shivering from the cold air on their body.
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.
Massage allows you to relax and rejuvenate. If you want to learn just what a massage can do for you then you need to look over whatever advice you can get about the subject. With any luck, the article above has provided a great starting point.
