Are you plagued with a lifestyle that is full of stress? Are you looking for a new way to relax? When it comes to taking it easy, massage can be a very valuable tool. The below article will provide you with tons of useful knowledge on receiving and even giving massages so that your life and others can be improved.
When giving a massage, do not forget to focus some attention on the neck and shoulders. While much attention is paid to the back during a massage, the neck and shoulders can hold tension and stress too. Spending some time massaging them offers a lot of relief and can improve the massage experience.
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.
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.
When giving a massage, make sure that you use the right amount of pressure. It is a delicate balance between using too much pressure and not enough. Take some time to practice. Ask the person you are giving the massage to if you are using too much or too little. Their feedback should dictate the amount of pressure you use.
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.
Ask any questions you may have during your massage session. No questions are dumb, and the person providing the massage should have no problems answering any questions you may pose. Really, the goal is ultimately for you to be relaxed, so get whatever info you need to get to that point.
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.
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!
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.
When giving a massage to someone, you need to be careful about the amount of pressure you are putting in them. Applying too much pressure could cause damage to their nerves, joints and muscles. Also, you should be massaging toward the heart, as applying the wrong way could cause damage to veins.
Migraines can be extremely painful, and they can prevent you from getting anything done. If you often experience migraines, you should know how painful this condition can be. Thankfully, studies have shown that a massage can help relieve migraines and reduce the pain you experience from them.
Finding the right therapist is very important when it comes to massages. You do not want to visit an inexperienced or inept therapist who may cause you more harm than good. Ask friends or family if they know of a good one in your area or look on the Internet for reviews.
Before beginning your massage, discuss pressure with your massage therapist. Some people like massages that are very deep with a hard intensity. Others prefer a lighter touch or even Reiki style massages where touch is not necessary. If you let your therapist know what works for you, they can adjust the massage to meet your individual needs.
Prior and after you exercise, increase the blood flow to the muscles and accelerate muscle recovery by massaging your body. Before you exercise, pummel your muscles with your fists to start the blood flow. When you are done exercising, try rubbing your muscles with the palms of your hands towards your heart.
After you eat, massage your stomach! Yeah, that’s right. Also, you can improve your ability to digest food properly. Rub clockwise at all times when you are massaging to improve blood circulation. Because this tracks the path of your intestines, the digestive process will be aided.
Go to the spa and ask for a Swedish massage. This massage incorporates five different stokes that use both friction and vibration to help relieve your stress and loosen up your muscles. This is also a very easy massage technique to learn if you are an up and coming masseuse looking to gain skills.
A good massage is a joy to behold indeed. Hopefully you can now understand all of the benefits of massage. Now, all you have to do is put these tips to good use. Your can amaze everyone with your knowledge.