Most people enjoy massages as a means to lower stress. The bad news here is that few people know how to give a proper massage. With a few basic techniques, you can give your friends a message they will remember. To learn more, check out these tips below.
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.
Try giving yourself or someone a foot massage. Focusing on the soles first can really relax a person. Start stroking the soles of the foot going back and forth in straight lines. Do these motions starting from the heel to the bases of the toes. After the soles have been properly massaged, you can move on to the toes and the top and middle of the foot.
Before you begin a massage, put a drop of the oil you are planning to use on the client and let it sit for a moment to avoid allergic reactions. This will enable you to ensure that they are not allergic or will not have a reaction to that specific oil. Oils play an important roll in massage because it enables the hands to slide over the body without causing too much friction.
Discuss your needs with your therapist. Some people may feel a little uncomfortable at the prospect of getting a massage because they feel out of control. Tell the massage therapist about any sore areas, such as your back, knees or neck, so that they can avoid them or treat them accordingly. And don’t forget to let them know of your preferences for things like background music, room lighting and temperature. The whole point is for you to be able to relax, so make sure the conditions suit you.
If you’re going to get a massage, be sure to eat an extremely light meal before it. Eating a lot could place you in an uncomfortable position, which can ruin your experience. A light, healthy meal before you go will do no harm.
Swedish massage therapy is the most frequently offered type available. Some people consider this to just be a basic massage. The strokes are long and smooth, done in a kneading motion, typically in circles. The masseuse will normally use oil during the process. It is not too rigorous and quite enjoyable.
Make sure that the lights are very low to improve the atmosphere during the massage. A darkened room is more relaxing than one with bright lights, and relaxation is the point of massage. You do not need a totally dark room, but you should aim for nothing brighter than candle light.
If you have a favorite fragrance of massage oil, bring it to your next massage. More than likely, the therapist will be willing to use it. Sometimes they may have a preference for oils of a certain type, but it is definitely worth asking to see if they are willing to use your favorite.
A great place to start with a massage is the back. When you start on your partner’s back, you will give their body an overall relaxation that is more conducive to massaging the rest of the body. The quicker you can get their entire body to relax, the more beneficial the entire massage will be.
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.
There is no real dress code when you decide to go out and get a massage. If you are concerned about dressing appropriate, speak with the spa or your message therapist beforehand. By addressing clothing concerns, you can ensure that you won’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable during your massage. If there is an area you also don’t want massaged like your behind, tell the therapist before starting.
When your feet are aching after a long day, consider having some reflexology. This therapy uses pressure on specific areas of the foot which are connected to your organs, just like in acupuncture. It causes not only your feet to feel amazing, but also helps balance your systems and gives you a great deal of relaxation.
Communicate with your massage therapist. Your masseuse is most likely not a mind reader, so let them know if an area of your body needs a little extra attention. Whether your shoulders are a mess from being hunched over a desk or your legs are sore from a marathon workout, speak up.
There is a helpful massage that helps to relieve sinus pressure and congestion. To do this massage, begin by placing your fingers right above your nose and pressing down. Be sure you are rubbing outward. Next, put your fingers under your eyes, moving down and rubbing out. Massage the cheekbones with your thumbs and then put your thumbs on your temples, moving in small circles.
A deep tissue massage in combination with therapy might be effective for treating sports injuries. Some examples are acupuncture and chiropractic. These activities are great together since they both take care of various needs of the nerve endings, bones, and muscles. It is a great way to speed up recovery time and get you back out on the court/field.
You should now understand that a good massage isn’t too hard. By utilizing this advice, you can provide an excellent massage to your loved ones. You may even think about starting a massage business. Regardless of what you decide to do, knowing about massage therapy will be very useful.
