It takes two to make a massage. Discomfort or bad attitude on the part of either party can ruin the experience. If you are interested in massage therapy or like receiving massages, you should learn more about massage techniques. The piece that follows will provide you with helpful massage tips.
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.
Do not eat before a massage. After you eat, you may feel uncomfortable or bloated, making lying down during a massage difficult. Therefore, it is important that your food has ample time to digest before your massage. This will allow you to feel comfortable in any position you might be asked to assume during the massage.
If you notice knots in the back while you are giving a massage, you can kneed them out with some pressure from your fists. Simply get your fists into a ball and work them over the knotted spot for a few minutes. Apply more pressure if the knots are deeper, as long as the recipient remains comfortable.
If you have a difficult time riding in the car for a long period of time, consider purchasing a massaging cushion for your back. These cushions often plug right into your lighter, and they can provide a comfortable massage in various intensities while you drive. This can make the ride more enjoyable for anyone.
If your shoulders ache, utilize a bear hug strategy. Hold your arms around your chest and rub to improve blood flow. Take each shoulder in a hand and begin to rub. This lessens tension and perks you up.
When you decide to get a massage, make sure you are communicating with your massage therapist. If you have any massage preferences, make sure you tell him or her when entering the room and before starting. If during the massage you are feeling pain or experiencing numbness, make sure you let your therapist know by speaking up.
Prior to getting a massage, inform your massage therapist of all the problem areas you have. If you don’t you may end up wasting half of your massage time on areas that need a lot less work to feel good! This communication will give your therapist a plan of action for the limited time there is available.
This may be something you already know, but make sure you tip your massage therapist generously. It is not only the kind thing to do, but also earns the respect of your therapist if you plan on returning. Always show up on time for your massage because it not only shows you are serious, but you won’t cut into someone else’s massage time.
If you have a less than pleasant experience having a massage, try not to write them off completely. Everyone has their own style and techniques and no two massage therapists are the same. Ask for a recommendation from a friend for someone new, and explain your experience to them so they can do their best to make your massage with them as pleasant as possible.
If you are suffering from tension in the lower muscles of your body, get a deep tissue massage. There are five muscle layers in your body as this massage gets the lowest level of muscles. This is great if you play sports or have chronic tension that is not going away anytime soon.
Always warm your hands prior to giving a massage. Cold hands cause tension and don’t feel good. Try rubbing them together with massage oil; that should do the trick.
Consider an Epsom salt bath following a deep tissue massage. Just add one cup of Epsom salts to a bath full of warm water. These salts can help the body to further release toxins, and they can also help to relieve any lingering sore spots. Soak in the bath for about a half hour for optimum results.
Learn the proper finger techniques for doing a back massage at home. It’s true that you will be mainly massaging using a finger and a thumb on each hand. However, massaging using only those digits will cause you to wear your thumbs out, so try using the other fingers on your hands to support them.
If you often experience back pain, you should consider investing in a vibrating massaging pad. Some pads even have an option that allows you to apply heat to your muscles. Compare different products before you purchase on and choose one with different speeds so you can easily adjust it in function of your needs.
Breathing is one of the most important aspects of receiving a massage. Try to breathe as normally as possible, even if you feel sensations that you have never felt in your life. Your body will eventually adjust to the massage, as your breathing pattern should remain the same throughout the entire process.
Massages are a great way to heal your body. Those who have pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries and migraines can be helped with massage, in addition to pain medicine prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter medicine. Massage can offer more solutions than typical pain relievers do.
If you suffer from anxiety, ask your doctor if regular massage therapy might help. This treatment has been used for centuries to ease the body and relax the mind. If only for an hour a week, you should be able to escape from the pressure, stress and discomfort that anxiety causes you.
Massages are therapeutic by nature. To be sure you get a great massage, use what you’ve learned here. Do not neglect to update your knowledge.
