Self Massage Techniques

Don't think that because there is no one to give you massage you must forego all the benefits. There is a lot you can do yourself to help muscles relax and relieve discomfort. Electrical massage apparatus may help but some very simple massage using your own hands is effective.
 


How To Massage Your Forehead?

When you feel under strain, when your eyes are tired or when a headache is imminent, smooth out the worry muscles this way:

  • Smooth gently from the centre outwards towards the temples.
     

  • Smooth upwards towards the hair line, one hand after the other.
     

How To Massage Your Neck?

When you have engaged in prolonged study or sedentary work, the muscles may prudently ache to warn you that it is time to give them a rest. The neck exercises should be done first, then give your neck some massage:

  • Let your head rest easily, not bent forward at all so that the muscles at the back are soft. Get hold as much of the flesh as you can (it is rather like picking up a kitten by the scruff of its neck) then squeeze and let go several times.
     

  • With the tips of your fingers find the tender spots and press and let go with circular movements, without stretching the skin.

 

How To Massage Your Shoulders?

Many tense people have tender spots where the muscles join on to the shoulder blade. To relieve this, try to:

  • Squeeze handfuls of the muscle and let go several times
     

  • Then make pressing movements with your fingertips over the tender areas.
     

How To Massage Your Legs?

Give the large muscles of the thighs a shake with your hands. (You have probably seen football players and swimmers doing this to loosen up.) Then:

  • Combine a kneading and squeezing movement of both hands
     

  • Working alternately on each side of the thigh.

These are only few self-massage techniques. You can adapt them for other parts of the body.

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