Have you previously had a massage? If you have, then you are already aware of how amazing one can feel. However, there are things about massages you don’t know. This lack of knowledge could prevent you from truly enjoying what massages have to offer. Continue ahead and learn about some great massage tips.
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 you suffer from back pain, especially in your lower back, having regular massages could be very beneficial. Having a professional relax your muscles can really work wonders and prevent you from further back injuries. It can also help with back spasms, which can be very painful and sometimes debilitating.
Petrissage is the best way to relieve stress and make pain disappear. This method requires you to use your fingertips and your thumb. Grab hold of a muscle and squeeze it for a few seconds before moving on to a different area. Go over the same areas several times until the pain disappears.
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.
The Japanese love to engage in a form of massage called shiatsu. This uses the pressure from the masseuse’s fingers pressed in a rhythm on your acupuncture meridians. The pressure is applied for a few to many seconds, boosting energy flow and returning the body to balance. It doesn’t leave you sore, either!
Do not forget to stretch before and after you receive a massage. A massage will be more efficient if your muscles are already warm and you will have more energy after your massage if you take a few minutes to stretch your muscles. Besides, stretching is an efficient way to relieve muscle pain.
Make sure your feet are not dirty when you go into the massage room. You never know what type of bacteria or fungus is residing there, and the massage therapist can inadvertently transfer that to other parts of your body. Cleaning beforehand can help out.
If you are a woman, don’t swear off men massage therapists. Since most women are modest, they often feel uncomfortable in front of a male massage therapist. However, some women have reported that the best massage they have gotten in a long time is from a male massage therapist. Whatever your decision, don’t just base it on the sex of the massage therapist.
If you have any medical conditions, such as you are pregnant, make sure that you let your massage therapist know. Some techniques may not be appropriate for your condition, so it is best to let the therapist know before starting. This will give him or her enough time to adjust techniques.
Do not be afraid to talk about the deep tissue massage that you are getting after doing a sport. Relaxing is fine, but if you feel discomfort you should tell the therapist. The masseuse should be informed about these things to ensure you’re not injured while they work.
Listen to your massage therapist and follow any professional directions they give you. They are the experts after all. As long as this person is being professional, trust that they know what is best. This includes any requests before and immediately following a massage. There may be things you need to do to make sure your muscles respond well.
You can massage your eyes to make your headaches go away. If you have tired eyes, you should rub your hands together until your palms get warm. Place your warm hands over your eyes and let your palms warm up your eyes. The warmth will relax the muscles located in your eyes.
If you are someone who exercises, give yourself a mini-massage both before and after you exercise so you encourage blood and oxygen into those muscles to speed up recovery. Before exercising, use your fists to make a pommeling motion in order to get the blood flowing in your legs and arms. When you are done with your exercise, use your fist or palm and rub the muscles in the direction of your heart.
There are many different types of massages that you can get. Understand the meaning and purpose of the different techniques, such as kneading, tapping, rolling and deep tissue massage, that you may encounter. Each of these techniques produces different results in various styles of massage.
Take advantage of the non-human massages that you can get. Instead of going to a person for your massage, there are different whirlpools that you can use, which have jets that can massage your back and body. This can be a great form of not only relief, but exercise as well.
If you are on the giving end of a very beneficial massage, make sure to read the signs the recipient is showing. During a deep-tissue massage, the body responds to pressure and muscles will actually contract under your finger-tips. Ease up on the pressure when you approach bones and joints and be guided by the response you get!
You know what it’s like to get a great massage. But, you were probably unaware of certain aspects of them until you came across this piece. Utilize the tips provided above, and you can enjoy an incredible massage.
