Massage is a topic of great interest to people of all walks of life. However, in order to thoroughly understand the art of massage, a good deal of education and information is needed. Keep reading to learn some key facts about massage and the many benefits it can offer virtually everyone.
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.
Get a drink of water after you get a massage. The water will help to eliminate the toxins that are released the the stimulation of tissues. Drinking water is going to flush the toxins so they leave your body, with no ill side effects. Aim to drink 2-3 glasses within the first hour or so and then at least 8 more within the next 24 hours.
If you enjoy massages, you should try using massage tools. Accessories such as massage balls add a new dimension to the massage experience. Stores catering to massage therapists are the primary source of these tools. Experiment a little with different tools and see which one you like the most.
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.
Ease your aching feet! Your feet are under pressure all day long and are often ignored when it comes to a healing massage. Massage your toes, gently stretching them out until they feel relaxed. Use your thumbs to put pressure on the sole of your foot, slowly moving from the toes to the heel. For feet that are particularly achy you can apply more pressure by kneading the sole with your knuckles. Finally, treat your tired feet with a rich moisturizer.
Becoming an excellent massage therapist is a lengthy and challenging process. Begin by massaging friends and relatives to get honest and kind feedback on your massage techniques and abilities. Once you get better, move on to others.
When your feet are aching after a long day, consider having some reflexology. This therapy uses pressure on specific areas of the foot which are connected to your organs, just like in acupuncture. It causes not only your feet to feel amazing, but also helps balance your systems and gives you a great deal of relaxation.
When you are giving a person a massage, be sure to always keep one hand on them at all times. This helps the client to feel secure and remain in a relaxed state. Move slowly and steadily with confidence, and the person being massaged will feel comfortable and be able to enjoy the experience.
Engage in a dialogue when you are giving your massage. This is important as you not only want to know if you are doing things right, but if the person is comfortable or not. This is crucial to know if you are applying pressure, as you do not want to hurt them or have them feel nothing at all.
As you massage your subject, be sensitive to any messages being conveyed to you by body language and muscle tension. Use both your palms and your fingers to do the work. If you hit bony patches, the palms can be used with light pressure to prevent discomfort. Use your fingers in areas with more curves to get in there and get rid of the kinks.
A great massage technique for reliving shoulder pressure is providing yourself with a bear hug. To do this, put the right hand on the left shoulder and the left hand on the right shoulder. Tightly press on each shoulder and release. Do this three times. Finally, begin to work your hands down your arms squeezing and then letting go until you get to your wrists.
If you are giving a deep tissue massage, incorporate your elbows into it. This may feel uncomfortable at first for the person you are massaging, but is a fantastic way of spreading out the muscle and causing a very pleasurable sensation. Never push too hard though, as this will then feel uncomfortable.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to spend a lot of money to get a good massage. Meanwhile, it is human nature to choose well known spas, a smaller center or a massage school can offer the same services. Sometimes lesser known places offer better massages than their more expensive counterparts, for half the price.
You can perform a deep tissue massage for sports injuries. Acupuncture is something that you may want to look into in combination with a deep tissue massage. Techniques such as these can be very beneficial in relieving pain in bones and muscles, as well in nerves. They can shorten healing time, getting you back to the activity you love much faster.
There is no doubt that countless individuals find massage to be a subject of immense interest. The fact remains, though, that without sufficient knowledge, it can be hard to determine what type of massage offers the right sorts of benefits for a given individual. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the foundation you needed.
