Tips for a Good Stress Relief Massage
Who doesn’t love a good massage? Tired and achy muscles get kneaded and worked over and then relax and de-stress. Massages stimulate the nerve endings and increase blood circulation which in turn can also help to release toxins and calm tension. But of course if there’s one thing wrong with a good stress relief massage, it’s that it can be so expensive! Most massages are well out of the reach of many who are on a tight budget already and of course for a stress relief massage to do the most good, you need to have it done more than once! So what to do? You can of course look for a massage school near you as they typically have senior students perform the massages under the watchful eye of an instructor. These schools are usually about half the price of a professional massage, but of course even then the cost can add up after not too long. Another solution is to learn how to give a good stress relief massage as home with your spouse or partner; you two can then trade off massage times! While it might be good to get instruction from a video or DVD prepared by a professional, you can also follow these quick pointers and tips as well. For one thing, remember that a good stress relief massage should be relaxing and not painful. Avoid using knuckles or fists as well as karate chopping motions or pounding on the body. If the hands get sore or aren’t that strong so that gentle rubbing is difficult, you can easily purchase a hand massager which can be rolled up and down achy muscles. Also keep in mind that more than the back gets tense and achy when under stress. A good stress relief massage should include the legs, feet, arms and hands. For the legs and arms, use long stroking motions up and down the length of them to help the muscles unwind. For hands, use a circular motion on the inside of the palm and then use the thumb to gently stroke up and down the fingers.
The head, neck and face are also part of a good stress relief massage. Have your partner lie on his or her back and sit behind their head, then reach under their neck and gently stroke it with cupped hands as if gently stretching the head toward you. For the face, stay behind the head and put your hands over their ears, your thumbs on their forehead. Gently stroke up from the middle of the eyebrows to the temples. Then, start at the bridge of the nose and stroke down. Your last movement on the face for a stress relief massage is to put the thumbs in the middle of the chin and stroke out toward the cheeks. Remember to be gentle during your stress relief massage and ask your partner what works for him or her, and you give your partner the same cues when it’s your turn!
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