Massage therapy has many benefits whether you get a massage from a professional therapist or ask a friend. It can ease the tension from your body and make you feel refreshed both physically and mentally. Continue reading to learn more about massage and how it can help you.
Change your mindset about massage. Instead of thinking of it as a luxury, think of massage as a therapeutic approach to health. Research shows that massage can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as lessening asthma symptoms in children. Additionally, those tension headaches are no match for the hands of a skilled massage therapist.
One of the most important things to consider when you are giving your massage to someone is to make sure that the environment is up to par. Try to keep things comfortable and use towels to soften the area that the person you are massaging will be lying on top of.
Pregnancy can be especially hard on your body over the course of nine months. Carrying the extra weight from the baby can lead to aches and pains in places that you never knew existed. Treating yourself to full body prenatal massages can be just the thing to get you feeling more like yourself again.
Keep the room at a good temperature throughout the entire massage. If you are giving a massage during the winter, try to have the heat on so that things are not uncomfortable. On the other hand, if it is very hot outside, keep the air conditioning on at a reasonable level.
Arthritis sufferers can feel a lot of pain. Medication can help, but it can’t always block that deep-seated pain in the bones. A massage can do even better. Massages are a great way to increase flexibility, blood circulation and blood flow which should help with pains associated with arthritis.
When using massage oil, before putting it on a person’s back, place it into your hands first. If you place the oil directly onto your partner, the oil may be surprisingly cold and startle the person. That’s not the kind of reaction you want from a massage. Instead place the oil first in your hands and warm the oil up by rubbing your hands together. This will make the oil the perfect temperature to use.
If you want to develop into a great massage therapist, you must be patient. Begin with asking those that trust you if you can give them massages and allow them to give you feedback. After you have practiced for a while, you can try it with your partner.
If your child is suffering from colic, a gentle massage may alleviate some of their suffering. Slightly warm some lavender baby lotion and gently massage your infants back, legs, hands and feet. This will help relax your child making them less fussy if they are suffering from stomach cramps caused by colic.
The Japanese love to engage in a form of massage called shiatsu. This uses the pressure from the masseuse’s fingers pressed in a rhythm on your acupuncture meridians. The pressure is applied for a few to many seconds, boosting energy flow and returning the body to balance. It doesn’t leave you sore, either!
If you’re pregnant, you can still enjoy a massage if it is given by a license therapist. This is a great way to deal with morning sickness, stress, back pain, sore breasts and swollen ankles. You can continue it after birth to deal with postpartum depression, weight loss and baby-carrying pains, too.
When you are giving someone a massage, take care that your hands are following the contours of your partner’s body correctly. Use the fingers as well as the palms liberally. If your hands feel bones just under the surface of skin, use a light touch so that you don’t cause pain to your massage recipient. For the curvier areas, use fingers for digging in and getting rid of kinks.
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.
Massage therapy can be a wonderful and healthier alternative to prescription medications. Getting regular massages will help relieve achy muscles and joints, and allow you to relax. You might actually have your massages covered by your insurance if they are for certain health issues, so check with the insurance company.
If you exercise, massage your body before and after exercising to increase blood flows into the muscles and speed the recovery of the muscles. Pommel your muscles with your fists pre-workout. When you have completed your exercise, try rubbing the muscles with your palm and move in the general direction of your heart.
Try not to look at massage therapy as a one and done thing, especially if you have chronic pain. Massaging has a lot of great benefits over the long haul, through multiple sessions. Schedule a few of them over the course of the month and evaluate the results after several sessions and not just one.
Make sure you arrive for your massage freshly showered! First and foremost, this is a basic courtesy to your masseuse – would you want to massage someone who had not showered?! – and taking a shower will also help your muscles get nice and relaxed, which will help your massage feel better.
You now know enough to help you make a decision about a massage. Some people are not comfortable with massages. If a massage seems interesting to you, try one soon. You will feel amazing afterward.
