You may desire a great massage or you might wish to give a great massage. Whichever end you’re on, receiving or giving, it is important that you are equipped with the right information about massages. The following article can help prepare you to both give and get massages.
When giving a massage, do not forget to focus some attention on the neck and shoulders. While much attention is paid to the back during a massage, the neck and shoulders can hold tension and stress too. Spending some time massaging them offers a lot of relief and can improve the massage experience.
Hydrate yourself well for forty-eight hours before your massage. Many people know that heavy water intake after a massage is good for flushing the body of toxins and helping with sore muscles. Drinking plenty of water before the massage will greatly increase the impact of the massage and its purging abilities.
You should try different techniques when giving a massage. Use your hands and fingers to rub, apply pressure or even give gentle taps. Use the tip of your fingers if you need precision, for instance to relax a tense muscle. You could also try covering as much surface as possible by using the palm of your hands to apply pressure.
Make sure that your massage therapist is registered in your state. If your massage therapist is not properly registered and insured, then you are at risk of being left to fend for yourself if they were to cause injury to you during their work. Do not worry about being rude, ask for proof so that you can be confident that you are in responsible hands.
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.
If you need help with stress or pain, you should get a massage from a professional. Asking someone you know to give you a massage can be helpful but keep in mind that a trained professional will be able to use technique your friend or relative does not know about.
If you want a massage that gets your energy in balance while staying in motion instead of lying on a table, try Thai massage. Your therapist will move you all over the place, running through postures much like yoga. It really gets your energy up and reduces stress while increasing range of motion.
The legs are very important when giving a massage. Many of the largest muscles in the body are in the legs, and these are often the most used. Be responsive to your partner when massaging their legs and try to encompass the entire muscle group. Start up high around the butt and work your way down to the ankles.
When giving a massage to someone, you need to be careful about the amount of pressure you are putting in them. Applying too much pressure could cause damage to their nerves, joints and muscles. Also, you should be massaging toward the heart, as applying the wrong way could cause damage to veins.
You should increase the speed of the massage as you continue along. It’s a good idea to start out at a slower speed so that the recipient has time to get used to the massage and help relax them. Then, you can start to move faster to get knots out.
Try using your fists to give a good massage. Gently thump on the area that is painful or tense after warming the muscles with a more gentler techniques. Thumping is excellent for circulation and will cause the entire muscle to relax almost instantly. Avoid using this technique on someone who has to take blood thinners to prevent bruising.
One of the most enjoyable bonding activities between baby and parent, or other loved one, is a massage. Just grab a bottle of baby oil, take off your jewelry and make sure your hands are warm, and start at the top or bottom. Anything you do is likely to be enjoyable if you’re gentle.
If you’ve given someone a massage using oil, let them shower afterwards if they want to. This not only removes residual oil from their body, it can soothe and enhance their relaxation. This will help keep pores unclogged and clean.
Consider gratuity for your massage therapist. This business is one where you should definitely tip for good service. You can choose to follow restaurant tipping rules, which is 15% of total cost. A more generous tip should be paid for amazing massages. Your therapist will remember for the next time you return and will treat you that much better. This way you can assure you get the best.
If you are pregnant, it can be very beneficial to have regular prenatal massages. These massages are specially designed to ease the unique aches and pains associated with pregnancy, and can benefit your baby as well. It has been said that developing babies will grow quicker in those women who receive regular prenatal massages.
A hot stone massage incorporates heated stones and a gentle touch. Smooth stones are heated and placed along the back and other parts of the body to relieve muscle tension. The massage therapist may also gently press the stones into your tense muscles and then gently rub them in a circular motion to help relieve tension.
This article only contains a small amount of information about massage therapy. This is just your starting point concerning massages. Use the information you’ve read to give great massages.