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.
Try giving yourself or someone a foot massage. Focusing on the soles first can really relax a person. Start stroking the soles of the foot going back and forth in straight lines. Do these motions starting from the heel to the bases of the toes. After the soles have been properly massaged, you can move on to the toes and the top and middle of the foot.
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.
Discuss your needs with your therapist. Some people may feel a little uncomfortable at the prospect of getting a massage because they feel out of control. Tell the massage therapist about any sore areas, such as your back, knees or neck, so that they can avoid them or treat them accordingly. And don’t forget to let them know of your preferences for things like background music, room lighting and temperature. The whole point is for you to be able to relax, so make sure the conditions suit you.
If you are going to give something a massage, contact him ahead of time to remind him to shave. This will create a smooth surface to rub making it better for you and them both. This will allow your hands to flow freely, improving the feeling of the massage.
Once massage becomes a routine part of your life, it will be important to establish a good relationship with your therapist. If you trust the person with their hands on your body, you will relax more, allowing the massage to reach its full potential. Before jumping right in, get to know your therapist, at least on a casual basis, so that you can relax and feel safe.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Massage is an important part of spending time at a luxury spa. Although most people cannot afford this type of indulgence on a regular basis, visiting a spa a few times during the year can provide the type of rejuvenation everyone needs from time to time. Enjoy the massage and every other part of your day to the fullest.
Make sure that if you use massage oil on someone during a massage, give them the opportunity to shower off when you’re done. This will help remove the excess oil as well as soothing their body. Additionally, it will benefit the skin by preventing blemishes caused by pores clogged with oil.
Make sure you speak up if your massage is too hard or too soft for your liking. This is a service that you are paying quite a bit for, so if your masseuse is applying too much or too little pressure, let them know so they can adjust their pressure accordingly.
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?
