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- The healing power of massage
The healing power of massage
- By Judy Lambert
- Published 04/5/2007
- Advice on Massage
- Unrated
Judy Lambert
I work as a columnist and staff writer for a small town newspaper. I have three daughters and two granddaughters, five sisters and one brother, and live with my elderly parents. In my 51 years on this earth, I have dealt with many different issues personally and have become knowledgable about numerous topics, such as interpreting for the deaf, massage therapy, dealing with pain, depression, suicide and dealing with problems today's young people face on a daily basis.
View all articles by Judy LambertCan you do it yourself?
When you are stressed out at work or home, can you take a couple of minutes to do some relaxing stretches? Sit up straight in your chair. Bring both of your arms around the front of you chest as if you are giving yourself a big bear hug. Take turns alternating hands/shoulders for this stretch exercise. While in the bear hug, put your right hand on left shoulder with your back rounded and pull the shoulder as if you are bringing it forward. At the same time slightly twist your back in the same directing you are pulling your shoulder. You should feel the pull in the muscles all the way from your neck to your waist. Alternate the hand/shoulder and repeat the exercise. Next bring your chest out while your arms are both bent at the elbow. Attempt to bring your elbows together behind your back. It most likely can't be done, but it sure feels good trying.
If your lower back is strained from overwork or sitting too long, there are a couple of things you can do. First, sitting in a straight-back chair (or the closest thing you can find to it), with your knees together directly in front of you, alternate sides. Put your left hand on the outside of your right thigh and slowly and carefully twist at the waist. It will help if you can put your righ arm over the back of the chair to help you move. After you have done that side, then repeat the exercise with the opposite side. To stretch the glouts area, alternate from side to side again. sitting in your chair, bend from the waist to the left with your left leg pointed to 10:00 (12:00 in directly in front of you). Put the palm of your left hand on the back of your calf for leverage and gently pull until you feel the muscles in your right glout area stretching. Repeat the exercise on the other side.
To relieve the stress in your neck and shoulder area, sit upright in your chair and let your head drop carefully forward. You will need to relax and allow the gravity to do its work. Then, with your head back in the upward position, slowly and gently drop your head to either side. If the tension is very tight in your neck, you may use your hand to steady your head/neck as it begins to relax. Repeat on the other side. When you do the back, you may put your hands behind your head for support. At this point you might be able to give yourself a short neck massage with your own hands. By this time, you should be relaxing the tense muscles and ready to get a drink of water before returning to your work. It might be good to keep a bottle of water within reach. It is very important to drink a lot of water after a massage. When these stressed muscles and tendons are massaged, there are toxins released into your system which need to be washed out. That is where the water comes in.
If you are at home and stressed, you might try using an exercise ball to stretch your neck and back, as well.
If your lower back is strained from overwork or sitting too long, there are a couple of things you can do. First, sitting in a straight-back chair (or the closest thing you can find to it), with your knees together directly in front of you, alternate sides. Put your left hand on the outside of your right thigh and slowly and carefully twist at the waist. It will help if you can put your righ arm over the back of the chair to help you move. After you have done that side, then repeat the exercise with the opposite side. To stretch the glouts area, alternate from side to side again. sitting in your chair, bend from the waist to the left with your left leg pointed to 10:00 (12:00 in directly in front of you). Put the palm of your left hand on the back of your calf for leverage and gently pull until you feel the muscles in your right glout area stretching. Repeat the exercise on the other side.
To relieve the stress in your neck and shoulder area, sit upright in your chair and let your head drop carefully forward. You will need to relax and allow the gravity to do its work. Then, with your head back in the upward position, slowly and gently drop your head to either side. If the tension is very tight in your neck, you may use your hand to steady your head/neck as it begins to relax. Repeat on the other side. When you do the back, you may put your hands behind your head for support. At this point you might be able to give yourself a short neck massage with your own hands. By this time, you should be relaxing the tense muscles and ready to get a drink of water before returning to your work. It might be good to keep a bottle of water within reach. It is very important to drink a lot of water after a massage. When these stressed muscles and tendons are massaged, there are toxins released into your system which need to be washed out. That is where the water comes in.
If you are at home and stressed, you might try using an exercise ball to stretch your neck and back, as well.