Giving or getting a massage isn’t easy. Different massages require different techniques. Anyone who wants to find new information on massage will love this article. These tips may help you stay interested in massage.
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.
Make the most of your massage by drinking lots of water. Why? Because a good massage gets your circulation going, but water is needed to flush toxins out of your body. Hydrating before your massage makes your blood less sluggish, making it easier for the masseuse to rub excess lactic acid out of your muscles. Staying hydrated after aids your body in processing and eliminating these toxins.
Did you know you have great self-massage tools around the house? Why not lie on a tennis ball for a sore spot on your back? A rolling pin is great for the bottom of your feet. Walk around your house and you may be surprised by all the great tools you find!
Are you unsure where you should be focusing your self-massages? Where it hurts! Start with the spots that are aching and radiate outward. If you locate new pain, work that out as well. If you feel release, you can end the massage.
To perform a pregnancy massage, have the expectant mother lie on her side and gently rub her back using a circular motion. A pregnancy massage is especially beneficial during the third trimester when the weight of the baby creates pressure points in the expectant mother’s lower back and buttock areas.
Eat some food about 30 minutes prior to a massage, but don’t eat too much! You don’t want to feel bloated for the experience. You want just enough food that you feel relaxed. If you go in hungry, you’ll be that much more stressed for the entire time period of the massage.
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.
Feel courageous enough to thump and apply pressure to tense muscles as you massage. Be gentle at first and ask for feedback to make sure you are not causing pain. You can relieve pain and stress in individual muscles by targeting muscles with care. However, if you are massaging near the spine, don’t use this technique.
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.
If you notice that you are having a lot of pain in your head, opt for craniosacral therapy. This massage technique focuses primarily on the skull and down the middle of your back with minor pressure that relieves tension and helps trauma. This is a good massage to have if you are older and find yourself sore more often.
When you are getting a massage, try to be as punctual as possible. Arriving late will only cause you stress and will not put your body in an optimal position for a massage. Try to get there at least ten minutes early so you can scope out the area and reduce the chances of losing your appointment.
Make sure that you hydrate yourself when you are finished with your massage. This will help to flush the toxins out of your system faster. Try not to substitute other drinks, as water is your best bet. This gets the toxins out fully.
If you don’t have tons of money, you may still receive a massage. Go to a nearby massage therapy school to find out when they hold their clinic. They should offer pretty low prices.
Have muscle pain? Don’t hesitate to get yourself a deep-tissue massage. This technique is used by massage therapists to relieve tension in the deeper muscle layers. During a deep tissue massage, the therapist will applies pressure to the affected muscles, squeezing to release toxins. Be sure to give your therapist feedback on technique, especially if you feel any pain.
When you are giving a massage, find out the tolerance of the person receiving the massage. Some people are quite sensitive to it. They become ticklish and rigid, which is not a desirable effect of a massage. Adjust your technique so the person does not tense up when you touch him.
If you plan to give a massage, ensure the atmosphere is right. Keep the air at room temperature and avoid any drafty windows or doors. In the background, play some easy listening music and light scented candles to really set the tone. Once the room is ready, get down to work!
Although individual massages feel amazing, you may need to have several massages spread out over several weeks before you experience relief. It can take time sometimes for you to feel better. Your masseuse can suggest exercises or stretches that may help you feel better, as well, so ask him or her for advice.
Did you know that certain exercises, such as Pilates and Yoga, are types of massage. When you press the muscles down into the floor, pressure points are relived and blood flow is increased in problem areas. This form of massage is also good because it strengthens your body at the same time as it is massaging it.
Massage therapy is a fairly complicated topic. There are lots of right ways and wrong ways, and this is especially true when you first start. You should rely on the tips you just read instead of second guessing yourself.