These days, people rely on pharmaceuticals very heavily. One very helpful alternatives to medications can be a massage. They not only help your body to feel better, they also alleviate a lot of stress and tension in your mind. Learn more about the benefits massages can have for you and people you care about in the following article.
Drink a glass of water directly after getting a massage. When your body is stimulated in a massage, toxins go into the body. You’ll reduce your soreness by flushing out these toxins with water. For the first hour, try to drink two to three glasses of water and the following twenty-three hours, drink up to eight glasses.
Make sure the person you give a massage to is comfortably installed. Ideally, you should use a massage table or at least a comfortable mat. If you do not have this equipment, have the person lay down on a comfortable couch or a supportive mattress. Make sure their head is properly supported.
When you are going for a massage, ask questions to become as comfortable as possible. Dumb inquiries do not exist and the masseuse ought to be thrilled to give you answers. The therapist wants you to feel relaxed, and having your questions answered is a big part of that.
Make sure your massage therapists know any areas of discomfort you have before beginning the massage. If there is any particular area that is giving your pain, the therapist can focus on that and try to give you some relief. She can also be careful to avoid any areas that are especially sensitive.
The speed of your hands is important for the kind of massage you are trying to give. If you are looking for a massage to relax your partner, go for slow strokes. If you are looking to work out tired muscles that have been over exerted, faster strokes work better.
Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor about massages. If you deal with back pains or muscle pains on a regular basis, ask your doctor if massages would be a good solution. Your doctor should be able to recommend a good massage clinic in your area and even write you a prescription.
This may be something you already know, but make sure you tip your massage therapist generously. It is not only the kind thing to do, but also earns the respect of your therapist if you plan on returning. Always show up on time for your massage because it not only shows you are serious, but you won’t cut into someone else’s massage time.
If you feel as though your complexion is looking a little dull, or you are noticing little wrinkles forming in places around your face, you do not have to run to the plastic surgeon! Giving yourself a daily face massage will promote blood flow to your skin, brightening it up and making those wrinkles virtually disappear.
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.
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.
If your shoulders are bothering you, you should try hugging yourself and massaging the muscles you can reach while hugging yourself. This exercise will also help you stretch your entire back. You should try this technique if you have to sit on a chair during most of your work day.
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.
Many of us have old injuries from playing sports, accidents, or just normal wear and tear on our bodies. If this is the case with you, it is very important that you let your masseuse know about any injuries you’ve sustained or areas of your body that are particularly sensitive.
When giving a massage, do not be scared to apply light pressure to an area that is specifically tough. Be gentle at first and ask for feedback to make sure you are not causing pain. If you apply proper pressure, the muscle will relax alleviating pain and pressure. Avoid using these types of techniques if you’re close to an articulation or to the spine.
Learn the proper finger techniques for doing a back massage at home. It’s true that you will be mainly massaging using a finger and a thumb on each hand. However, massaging using only those digits will cause you to wear your thumbs out, so try using the other fingers on your hands to support them.
Prescription drug use has soared in recent years, and massages are a natural chemical-free remedy for many of those aches, pains and problems. Hopefully this article has shown you that and you are now convinced to try them. Tell others you know about the benefits too; they could probably use a little relief from pain and stress also.
