Giving or getting a massage is not always simple. Methods and techniques of massage change from one type of massage to another. No matter what amount of massage experience you have, this article will be of great use. The following guidelines will surely make you interested when it comes to massage therapy.
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.
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.
If you have arthritis, you know how painful it is. Although medication can help alleviate some of the pain, many times they do not fully relieve your discomfort. Massages can be helpful, if your medication is not doing all that you wish it would. Massages help stimulate blood circulation throughout your bones, which can help ease arthritis pain.
Ease your aching feet! Your feet are under pressure all day long and are often ignored when it comes to a healing massage. Massage your toes, gently stretching them out until they feel relaxed. Use your thumbs to put pressure on the sole of your foot, slowly moving from the toes to the heel. For feet that are particularly achy you can apply more pressure by kneading the sole with your knuckles. Finally, treat your tired feet with a rich moisturizer.
If you will be getting a massage to have some stress relieved, go with an aromatherapy massage. Along with a massage, the therapist will use essential oils on your capillaries in order to relax the body. Most of these oils come from flowers, roots, and herbs and are completely safe.
If your massage spa does not offer foot baths in advance of your appointment, make sure you wash your own feet. You need to make sure that your feet germs are unable to be transmitted 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.
If you suffer from PMS each month with excessive water retention and cramping, there just might be some help for you. The power of massage has been shown to help reduce that unsightly water retention so that your pants will fit a little easier. It also can help relieve the pain that comes with cramps.
Try to save conversation for after the massage. You may love chatting with your massage therapist, but talking during the massage prevents you from ever relaxing fully. In fact, it may actually cause some muscles to tense up, making your therapist’s job even more difficult. Do speak up about your needs, however — if the room’s too cold, the music is too loud, or any other factor that prevents you from sinking deep into relaxation.
Anyone that’s into sports knows a little bit about a sports massage. People who like exercising in an amateur sort of way can also benefit. This type of massage helps to build your body and strengthen it against future injury in addition to repairing your current injury.
The goal of any massage is to make your partner feel good and relaxed. The massage will help with this, but the environment will also play a part in it as well. Set the mood and have some nice scents like candles or potpourri fill the air. Furthermore, a good massage table to make your partner comfortable will help tremendously.
Can you feel the body’s contours as you massage? You should use your fingers and your palm to look for tense muscles and figure out which areas hurt the most. On bony areas, you should make use of your palms to prevent excessive pressure and to avoid causing pain. For deeper curves of the body, you can press further in to get out any kinks.
Try massage therapy if you’ve resorted to pain medications. Having a massage on a consistent basis can reduce stress and lessen pain in your joint or muscles. Talk to your insurance company because getting a regular massage may actually be covered on your plan if it relates to any health problems you have.
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.
Even though there are many wonderful benefits to having a massage, if you have a lot of health problems or an injury you should talk to your doctor first. What you might think is a harmless massage could end up causing a condition to worsen such as a blood clot.
There are plenty of things to learn about massage therapy. There are plenty of rights and wrongs, especially when you are just starting out. Instead doing a massage through trial and error, use the information here to make sure that you are doing it right.
