If you’ve ever wanted to know how to give better massages, it’s not as difficult as you think. There’s no need to attend a massage therapy school; simply continue reading to learn more about the great world of massage. Start right away!
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 are an athlete or have excessively hard workouts then having massages regularly is a good idea. Massages can loosen your muscles up before a game or exercise to help them from becoming injured. It can also help after strenuous exercise to help heal your muscles and keep them from stiffening up or becoming painful.
If you suffer from frequent tension headaches, you may benefit from a professional deep tissue neck massage. To perform a deep tissue massage, the massage therapist uses a stretching technique along with pressure to pull and stretch your muscles. This allows the muscles to relax; thus, relieving your headache and tension.
Stretch marks usually appear during pregnancy or excessive weight gain or loss and they can be very hard to get rid of. Massaging them with coco butter can help you with this! Massage really helps tissue to regenerate, and soon the stretch marks will begin to disappear.
Your massage therapist needs to be capable to get to your skin in order to do the massage, so you need to be prepared to disrobe. You will be able to do this in the room alone, and you can leave on your underwear. Once you are undressed and face down on the massage table under a sheet, then the therapist will return to the room.
Put your thinking on hold. One of the most difficult, yet essential elements of getting the most out of a massage is relaxing your mental state. Try to start doing some deep breathing while the therapist is setting up. Imagine that, with every inhale, you gather all the nagging and stressful thoughts in your head. On the exhale, envision blowing all of these thoughts out into space, gone forever. Keep repeating until you feel yourself relaxing.
If your child is suffering from colic, a gentle massage may alleviate some of their suffering. Slightly warm some lavender baby lotion and gently massage your infants back, legs, hands and feet. This will help relax your child making them less fussy if they are suffering from stomach cramps caused by colic.
Trigger-point therapy, or neuromuscular therapy is pressure that is applied to particular trigger points. Trigger points are irritated areas of muscle that feel like knots or lumps. These areas can be quite painful and that pain can actually radiate out to other parts of the body. The pain is reduced or eliminated when the tension is released by the pressure on the target muscle.
A massage can be dramatically improved with addition of an evocative scent. Do not overpower your clients with the scents you choose. Do not use anything that has a medicinal smell; go for the fruity and floral scents. This can help the person getting massaged feel more relaxed and like in a hypnotic state during the massage.
You need to clean your feet before getting a good full body massage. It is important to be presentable out of respect for your massage therapist. You can benefit tremendously by doing this.
An excellent way to give a great back massage is using the “raking” technique. This involves using the tips of your fingers. Make sure that you spread your fingers apart. Begin your massage at the shoulders and slowly move your hands down the other person’s back. Your fingers should move alongside the person’s spine; however, you should not actually touch the spine. While one hand is going down one side, have your other hand go up in an alternating motion.
Don’t lie on a spa intake form! It is important that you list any medical issues or injuries you have experienced. This not only protects the spa from liability if you end up sick after the massage, but it allows them to determine exactly how the massage should be conducted for your health and safety.
When getting a massage, you need to fully relax as the therapist moves your body and joints. You do not need to try to help the therapist move your limbs and body. Think of it as being a puppet, with the therapist moving your body as they want and you just along for the ride.
When getting up from a massage, do so slowly. Roll to your right side and sit up slowly. Ask your massage therapist for a hand if you need it. Do not stand too quickly or move around the room too suddenly. You might feel dizzy after a massage, and taking this approach can help you to avoid slips and falls.
Is giving a massage something that you are good at and enjoy? Perhaps you should look into becoming a licensed massage therapist. It should not take more than several months for you to obtain your license, and then you can make good money in the massage industry. You might work in a clinic or strike out on your own.
Drink plenty of water before and after your massage. Drinking before your massage session ensures that your muscles are well-hydrated and supple, making the massage more effective. Water after your massage will flush out the toxins that were released and can even help prevent soreness by hastening muscle recovery time.
Now you should feel ready to give a great massage. It is always useful to learn as much as you can about massage so that you always have an edge on the competition. Practice your skills on someone to show what you can really do.
