Added: 09/28/2005 |
A couple of the amateur bodymassage techniquesMassage is a wonderful way to relieve stress, promote healing of your body and mind and recover from injury or chronic pain. In centuries-old practice, different techniques have been developed in such faraway places as Thailand, Japan, China, Sweden and Germany. In the last few years, the world has experienced a revival of interest in massage, as people turn to different methods for relieving pain, stress and anxiety.
Bodymassage is probably the oldest form of medical treatment and has been used throughout history by all cultures. The benefits of massage are numerous and when used together with a regular fitness programme can help combat stress, reduce the risk of injury, improve supply of nutrients to cells, and help remove toxins from the body.
Preparing a man's body for massage particular attention should be paid to such aspects as: a supportive surface for the recipient, which should be firm enough; the masseur's area and the massage atmosphere - make sure that it is relaxing and friendly. And don't forget about the part and parcel of a good bodymassage - a lubricant. Place a small amount of any lubricant (vegetable oil, talcum powder, water-based lubricant or massage oil) on your palm and gently rub it in the massage receiver's skin on the back, shoulders and lower neck.
After all the things mentioned above are done, the body is ready for massage. The next step should be preparing muscles for deeper massage. The 'fan stroke' is of a lot of help here. This is how you should do it: kneel beside the massage receiver lying on his front, place your palms on his spine just above the hips. Slide your hands slowly towards the shoulders blades, applying pressure on both sides of the spine. Then draw circles with your hands, moving back and forward from shoulder blades to shoulders. Make sure your fingers look more or less in the same direction and you apply pressure with your whole hand, drawing teardrops on the massage receiver's back.
The 'circling hands' is another good relaxing move, preparing the body for a deeper massage. It feels especially good as tracing circles on the back you are to switch hands, so the pressure keeps shifting subtly during the motion. To start, place your right hand on the lower back perpendicular to the spine, check if your fingers are on the left side of the body. Draw semicircles moving your hand counterclockwise. When your right hand has moved a bit, quickly and seamlessly replace it with the left hand. This should be done slowly, smoothly and firmly till a semicircle is drawn. Then start all over again. This technique can be used to massage other parts of the body as well. Besides, different speed variations are possible.
After the 'fan stroke' and the 'circling hands' are done, it is about time for kneading. Grab on to the sides of the neck and squeeze rhythmically for approximately half a minute, remembering that the skin around the lower neck and shoulders is particularly receptive for this treatment. Try to squeeze the skin with your whole hand and do not pinch the flesh. The key is to move slowly and knead the muscles, not the skin.
Having received all these treatments the muscles start feeling really relaxed, and it is high time to massage body with 'raking' the flesh with your fingers. Put your hands on the shoulders in a form of an arch, so that only the fingertips touch the skin (not using the fingernails) and drag the hands along the whole body. Repeat until you feel like finishing the bodymassage, as it is the last real pressure-move in the bodymassage treatment.
Having been warmed up by all the described moves, the bodymassage receiver's skin can only desire one thing - 'feather touches', which come right after the last ranking motion is finished. Just let your fingers move slowly and gently starting from the top of the back to the low back and draw different patterns without any pressure at all. This is the last bodymassage step, the relaxation final part.
It goes without saying that an effective, professional massage requires long-time training, which is not suitable for a great many of people. But the above mentioned techniques will aid you in providing someone with a safe, simple, and satisfying bodymassage.
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