Massage At Home
If you don't want to take the trip out to see a massage therapist, or you want to help someone else enjoy a massage in the comfort of your own home, then you can of course do it yourself.
Whilst an at home massage won't be as beneficial as getting a massage by someone who has years of experience, it can be a good alternative if you want a quick way to relax, or need to help somebody else relax.
Below are some tips for giving a massage, though you can also pass these onto someone else if you'd rather be on the receiving end!
Important Things to Know Before You Start to Massage
You should make sure that the person wants to be massaged. If they do, but they have had any injuries in the recent past or have severe pain, then it will be safer to hold off on the massage until you have advice from a doctor. Otherwise, a massage could make the condition even worse.
When you are massaging, you might also feel as if this is a tiring process. You don't want to do yourself any damage! So make sure you keep your back straight and don't bend too much, as well as maintaining a slow pace.
There are a number of ways to set the right atmosphere for a massage. It can simply be done whilst the other person is sitting on a seat, though they could also lie down with some relaxing music playing in the background. Using massage oils and essential oils can add to the experience.
Some Massage Techniques
The shoulders are where most of us start to get tense. Many of us will feel tension in the back of the neck simply because we sit badly at a desk all day and have poor posture.
- The Shoulders – To massage the shoulders, rest your forearms on the top of the shoulders close to the neck. Put your palms close to the fleshy part, and avoid the bones. Drop your weight onto the shoulders towards the seat, but don't lean on their head. Hold the position for a little while, then lift your arms and move down and repeat.
- Another Shoulder Technique – You could also try another technique which involves standing behind your massage partner, squeezing the shoulder muscle between the heel of your hand and your fingertips for a few seconds, and keep repeating moving into their shoulders.
- The Base of the Head – You can cup a hand around the base of the head, moving your fingers in a small circular motion. Do a few circles, then keep moving towards the centre, then to the other side of the skull.
These are just a few quick ideas to perform a massage that will help to relieve much of the stress of the day. There are of course a number of different massage techniques that can all work in different ways to help the body and the mind. After any massage, make sure that your partner drinks a lot of water and can stay relaxed.
