How To Give A Relaxing Back Massage
By: EMMA HARDY

 

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In the past, people who enjoyed a massage were mainly looking for relaxation. In this stressful times we live in, nothing is more welcome than a back massage. Whether it's a simple shoulder rub or a deep massage of the upper and lower back, a back massage relieves stress and optimizes relaxation. It seems that back and neck massage is joining the medical establishment as an effective treatment.

Having a shower before the session and lighting up aromatherapy are the basic way to create a relaxing atmosphere. While a massage is best done without a shirt on, putting loose fitting clothes are an alternative, and apply edible oil, they are friendlier to the body than a petroleum-based one.

• Have the person receiving the massage lie on her belly on a firm, comfortable surface, such as a floor mat or firm bed. Make sure you can reach her whole back without straining your own.

• Stand or kneel by her side. Place one hand on the lower back and one hand between the shoulder blades, over the heart.

• Warm up the back by applying thumb pressure along both sides of the spine simultaneously: Start at the lower back and knead gently with your thumbs up to the neck area. This will also promote relaxation.

• Use a smooth, delicate stroke (effleurage) to apply massage oil. In one long stroke, slide your palms down either side of the spine to the pelvis; scoop out around the hips and back up the sides to the shoulders. Maintain contact with the back. Glide your hands over the back to start a new area.

• Continue up both sides of the neck to the base of the head.

• Start at the spine and slide your palms in opposite directions outward to the sides of the back, starting with the lower back area and moving up to the shoulders.

• Knead the fleshy muscular areas at the top of the shoulders, the mid-back area and the buttocks to loosen tight muscles and fascia (the connective tissue).

• Use your thumbs or fingers to apply pressure to areas that feel hard or tight, often called knots.

• Perform clockwise circular friction with your fingertips along the muscles that are close to the spine and around the shoulder blades.

• Rotate the arms gently, one at a time, to loosen the shoulder joints and enhance blood flow.

When going for a massage for back or neck pain, it is wise to ask a series of questions of your therapist first. Your task is to find a qualified, ethical therapist, with whom you feel comfortable, and whose skill earns your confidence. One advice that has been repeated is drink lots of water after a massage because a massage releases toxins and regulate circulation, it is better to keep the body cleaner and healthier. And never rub directly over the spine to prevent fractures, as this is a very vulnerable area.

Everyone should have their massages, not only for their health benefits but also basically for the comfort and relaxation that they give us.

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