A very popular and growing career path these days is massage therapy. A good masseuse can really help people by assisting them in stress relief and relaxation. It means learning all you can about massage, though. Check out these tips for some useful insight on massage therapy.
Use a warm oil when giving someone a massage. The oil will make it easier for your to move your hands across the other person’s skin and the warmth of the oil will be soothing for the person who is receiving the message. Be careful, however, to not overheat the oil, as you can cause burns.
One great massage technique that you can do for your partner is called raking. Raking means that you spread your hands out, and using your fingertips, you rake up one side of the back right by the spine while you rake downward on the other side with your other hand.
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.
Make sure not to eat before a massage. It’ll leave you bloated and uncomfortable when lying down. If you must eat, make sure to let your body digest your meal first. This will allow you to feel comfortable in any position you might be asked to assume during the massage.
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.
Try to limit all background noise when you are giving your massage, as the environment should be as quiet and calm as possible at all times. You will want the person you are massaging to relax their muscles so that your massage technique will work, as a quiet atmosphere helps to facilitate this.
If you’re getting a full body massage, make sure the masseuse uses a massage oil. These oils are a must if they plan on digging deep into your ligaments and muscles without causing discomfort. These oils make their hands slippery, which helps reduce friction and lowers the chances of getting skin burns.
Giving a great massage is all about feeling out your partner. The best massage therapists will tell you that you need to let your hands read the body. Follow the bodies curves and lighten pressure as you go over bony areas. Modify the shape of your hand to fit in the curves of the body.
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.
Asian massages are known to help relax the body. One not-so-common, but very relaxing Asian massage is called the Indonesian-Javanese massage. With this method, the therapist will use both their hands and knuckles to get so deep into the skin. This will help your muscles relax if they were tense.
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 your feet are aching after a long day, consider having some reflexology. This therapy uses pressure on specific areas of the foot which are connected to your organs, just like in acupuncture. It causes not only your feet to feel amazing, but also helps balance your systems and gives you a great deal of relaxation.
If you are getting a full body massage, always ask to take a shower or at least wash your feet prior to beginning the massage. You can hold a lot of dirt and bacteria on places like your feet and hands, and you do not want your massage therapist massaging those areas first and then placing their hands on your face for further massage.
Massaging your belly could help you digest or make your stomach pain go away. If you have just finished eating a big meal, use your hands to rub your belly clockwise. This should help your stomach with digestion. Make sure you are as gentle as you can. Avoid putting a lot of pressure on your stomach until digestion has been completed.
When you are giving a massage, one of the key points to focus on is constant movement. You should never stop abruptly, as this will ruin the flow of the massage. You can slow down and speed up while you rub your hands up and down the back and legs, but never come to a complete stop.
Don’t show up dirty to your massage appointment. No massage therapist wants to rub their hands all over someone that has been working all day and hasn’t bathed. Shower and scrub your body until it shines. Not only will the masseuse be thankful, but you will also avoid your aroma while you’re being massaged.
After eating a meal, rub your tummy. Yeah, that’s right. Doing this correctly can help promote digestion. To properly perform this, you’ll want to rub your abdomen, with your palms, in clockwise circles. This motion will help to stimulate your digestion process.
When you train to become a massage therapist, you’ll use all that you’ve learned through your training to help your customer relax and make their body feel better. Read on for some excellent tips that will help you excel as a massage therapist. Time and practice are all it takes to improve your skills as a massage therapist.
