Are you wondering how you can get a great massage? Are you interested in giving your significant other a truly therapeutic and soothing massage? If you feel these questions describe you, this article is perfect for you. It contains some excellent knowledge that will help to educate yourself about massages.
Hydrate yourself after receiving a massage. Your muscles will release a lot of toxins while they are massaged, and you might experience stress if you do not purify your body from these toxins. Drink a lot of water before and after your massage and be very careful about your hydration if you get massages regularly.
You should try different techniques when giving a massage. Use your hands and fingers to rub, apply pressure or even give gentle taps. Use the tip of your fingers if you need precision, for instance to relax a tense muscle. You could also try covering as much surface as possible by using the palm of your hands to apply pressure.
Stretch before you go to get a message. This will help to loosen you up just a little bit before hand so that your massage therapist can quickly locate any problem areas that you might have. If you have extreme pain you may not want to do this, otherwise it is a good idea.
One simple way to give a massage is to use a “raking” technique. This is done by spreading your fingers and using your fingertips. Start in the shoulder area then move your fingers in a raking motion down the back. Make sure the fingers move along the spine not on top of the spine. While one hand moves up move the other one down in alternating motion.
Put your thinking on hold. One of the most difficult, yet essential elements of getting the most out of a massage is relaxing your mental state. Try to start doing some deep breathing while the therapist is setting up. Imagine that, with every inhale, you gather all the nagging and stressful thoughts in your head. On the exhale, envision blowing all of these thoughts out into space, gone forever. Keep repeating until you feel yourself relaxing.
The bear hug technique is useful if you carry tension in your shoulders. Hold your arms around your chest and rub to improve blood flow. Rub each shoulder with the opposite hand. This is an easy way to get a quick message in and relieve some tension whenever you want.
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.
Speak up about potential medical issues. If you suffer from an illness that could be aggravated by a massage or if you are pregnant, say something. Your masseuse will be able to adjust their technique to give you a great massage that works around your ailment and keeps you safe.
When you plan to book an appointment for a massage, call up a few local spas and ask them what they have to offer. You may find that they provide a massage style which you’d like to try out, or that they don’t offer the old standby you’d prefer to use.
Massage therapy may be something to consider if you rely on medication to treat pain. Frequent massages will help aching muscles and joints, in addition to relaxing you. Check if your insurance covers health related massages.
Wake yourself up in the morning or calm yourself down at night with a good massage! To do this, gently thump your body with your fists. Begin at your legs and arms and go from bottom to top. This massage is great for relieving stress and tension. However, avoid this massage if you are currently taking any blood thinners because you could bruise your body.
During pregnancy, regular prenatal massages can be quite helpful. The massage stimulates circulation which is beneficial to your baby. Babies grow more quickly in mother’s who get massages.
A great massage to relieve strained shoulders is a bear hug. To begin, cross your arms over your chest. Grab your shoulder with either hand. Then, squeeze a shoulder and release it about three times. Do this for both of them. After that, move down your arms, squeezing and releasing them until you reach your wrists.
Ask yourself why it is you’d like a massage. Were you involved in an automobile accident? Do you feel back pain constantly? Do you just need to relax and unwind? Tell your therapist your motivation so they can work with it.
Rub your belly in a slow, clockwise pattern after any meal for best results. This is the direction that food will naturally follow as it enters your digestive system and begins to break down. This belly-rub will stimulate the digestion-process. Try this for yourself and notice the improvement within minutes.
Wash your feet before massaging them. You will not have to worry about germs once your feet are clean and the massage will be a lot more enjoyable once the skin is made more sensitive by the warm water. If you experience pain, soak your feet in warm water again after the massage.
Look at reviews before getting a massage. There are many review sites online. When you see what other people think of a service, you can settle on highly reputable pros to contact.
Pick one direction and move slowly and smoothly when giving a massage. The whole point is to relax and slow the body. Smooth, strategic strokes on the back area will accomplish this.
No matter if you’re a seasoned pro or a beginning masseuse, you can always use new tips. There are many tips that can help you start. Use this information to give the best massage ever the next time you are called upon.
