Few things in life can take you away to la-la land quicker than a great massage. We need them to relax, unwind and ease tension in our hard-worked muscles! Learn more about how incorporating massages into your busy schedule can benefit you in both mind and body. You won’t be the same after reading!
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.
If your child suffers from asthma, consider massage. Massage has been proven to help breathing in asthmatic children due to the relaxing benefits it offers. A child’s massage should be done with a gentle touch and only for a limited period of time. Try this in the evening and help your child to also enjoy a good night’s rest.
If a person wants a deeper massage, be careful on how much oil, you use. Yes, oil feels great on a person’s back and causes less friction, but the latter is the problem for deeper tissue massage. Without that friction, you won’t be able to offer a deep massage, as your hands will constantly slide. Minimize this issue by using just enough oil for the massage to be comfortable, but not so much that you lose all friction.
Help the massage therapist by relaxing your body. Avoid trying to “help” by tensing certain muscles or areas. The massage therapist is well-educated in various ways to maneuver your body parts to achieve the best results from massage, but their work is hindered if you can’t relax. Try doing some deep breathing and practice just letting go and trusting the therapist to do a great job.
When you’re stressed out or feeling emotional, aromatherapy massage is for you. The therapist will use essential oils while massaging your skin. They know exactly which oils will give you energy, relax you or help to bust stress. Lavender is frequently used to calm your mind and body, allowing you some peace.
When you have a client that you are giving a massage to, ask whether or not they are comfortable. The last thing that you will want is someone who does not feel secure when you are giving a massage. Additionally, they will be very tight and tough to massage if they are anxious.
Do not underestimate the relaxing properties of a neck massage. Many people retain lots of tension in the neck area. This area is an easy body part to massage and is one which can deliver great benefits. Be sure to utilize both hands when kneading the neck muscles, and don’t forget to pay attention to the shoulders too.
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.
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.
When you are finished giving or getting a massage, try to give your body at least 10 minutes to recuperate. Since this is not something that you do everyday, you will not want to walk right out after you are done. It is important to maintain regular blood flow before you engage in normal activities again through a short rest period.
Never smoke or drink before you get a massage. Engaging in these acts not only puts your health at risk, but will cause you to be more anxious and tense during your massage. Also, the effects of these actions will reduce your feeling and sensitivity to the massage, which are two factors that you want when you get one.
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.
Try not to go to a massage appointment with a full stomach. It is better to have eaten about half an hour before your appointment. A massage requires that you lay on your stomach for an extended period of time, and this can be very uncomfortable if your belly is too full.
When you give someone a massage, it’s important that the setting be relaxing. The ambiance of the room should be mellow and relaxing. Too much noise means too much stress. It should be so peaceful that the client might even doze off. Use quiet music and turn down the lights to achieve that serene effect.
Prior to making your first visit to a massage clinic, make sure you research the facility. Consumers often post reviews online, and the Better Business Bureau will let you know if there have been any complaints lodged against the practice. Finally, you can also talk to your local Department of Health.
You should now be completely convinced that massages can really do a lot for you, especially if you’re very busy and suffer with aches and pains. Seriously consider what a regular massage can help you with and spread the word to help others. Why not take full advantage of such a simple and easy remedy to so many problems?
