Are you looking for a nice massage? Perhaps you would like to give one to someone you love? No matter what your situation, you need to be well-educated. Read the below article for excellent tips on how to prepare yourself for giving or receiving massages.
When your feet hurt, you hurt all over. Relieve the pain with a good foot massage you can do on your own or someone can do it for you. Stroke your foot with your thumb from the base of your heel to your toes. This motion should go back and forth across your foot at the same time.
A popular back massage you can try out on someone is called a “Raking Massage”. With this technique, you spread your fingers apart and use your tips to give the massage. Begin in the shoulder area and work your way down the back using a raking motion. Then, you move your fingers down the spine without actually touching it. Move one hand down as the other hand moves up.
Your massage therapist needs to be capable to get to your skin in order to do the massage, so you need to be prepared to disrobe. You will be able to do this in the room alone, and you can leave on your underwear. Once you are undressed and face down on the massage table under a sheet, then the therapist will return to the room.
If you suffer from PMS each month with excessive water retention and cramping, there just might be some help for you. The power of massage has been shown to help reduce that unsightly water retention so that your pants will fit a little easier. It also can help relieve the pain that comes with cramps.
If you tend to have a lot of tension in your muscles, but you don’t like a rigorous massage, hot stone massage might be your best choice. The stones, which are smooth, are made warm and then placed onto specific areas of the body. This warms the muscles and tissues, releasing tension and pent-up energy.
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!
If you are planning on a massage of your entire body, make sure your feet are thoroughly cleaned ahead of time. You do not want germs to be carried from your feet to the rest of your body during the massage. You’ll be glad you cleaned your feet once the massage is over.
Have you been having trouble sleeping at night? This is a common problem that a lot of people have in common. If you are leery about taking prescription or over the counter sleep aids, there is a solution. Having a massage relaxes you mind, body and spirit, which helps you to fall asleep easier each night.
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.
Never be afraid of speaking up during a massage. If you feel that a particular area of your body needs focus, let him or her know. If your massage therapist isn’t being intense enough, or they are being too intense, let them know so that they can adjust.
When you give someone a massage, don’t neglect the hands and feet. These sensitive areas can make a massage very enjoyable. This is a good place to firm up your work, loosing up overworked muscles.
Do you have a cold? You can relieve sinus pressure by massaging your face gently. Massage your forehead and temples and apply gentle pressure around your nose and eyes. Repeat this process throughout the day until the pressure is gone. This technique is useful to relieve headaches and stress too.
You should get a massage before and after working out. Prior to exercise, use your hands in a pommeling motion so that blood starts to flow in your arms and legs. After you finish exercising, rub your muscles with palm or fist towards the direction of the heart.
Prenatal massages are very beneficial for you and your baby. It helps to increase the blood flow to you and your baby. Women who get prenatal massages have been known to have children that grow a lot quicker when they’re babies than those that don’t get these massages.
Take a few moments to sit and relax quietly after your massage. Many things were done to your body during the massage! Getting up too quickly can shock your body. You may feel faint or somewhat sick. Allow yourself to sit up for a few minutes to readjust. After this, you can stand.
When getting a massage, you need to fully relax as the therapist moves your body and joints. You do not need to try to help the therapist move your limbs and body. Think of it as being a puppet, with the therapist moving your body as they want and you just along for the ride.
Do not immediately engage in strenuous activity following a massage. Taking a short, calming walk or sitting and reading for a few minutes would be ideal. It is often reported that people feel dizzy following a massage, and this means that the body is not ready to jump into heavy lifting or heart racing activities. It is fine to enjoy these activities a little later in the day, about an hour or so after your massage.
You’ll find that there are quite a number of interesting things to learn about massage than just what has been shared here. This is just your starting point concerning massages. Go forth with this information, use it to your advantage and keep on learning.