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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 LambertWhen you can't get it done on your own...
When you are hurting from tight muscles or knotted soft tissue, massage just might be your answer. It would be nice if we could all afford to spend that $30 to $60 massage done by the certified therapists, but if you're like me, when you have the money, you are feeling okay, but when you are all tied up in knots, you just don't have the cash on hand. Do you have a good friend? A relative of the same sex (you might not want to ditch your clothes in front of your sibling or cousin of the opposite sex), or your spouse/partner, would work as well. You can buy good massage oils at any drug store or your neighborhood Wal-Mart/K-Mart. You can take turns giving each other a back massage.
One person lies face down on the floor (or massage table of sorts) with a sheet covering from the waist down to the knees. Do not put a pillow under the head, however you can put one under the feet to take some pressure off the lower back. Place your arms above your head or by your side, which ever one is the most comfortable, but do not place them as a pillow under your head. The other person can start at the lower back. Put the oil on the back or hands and with your palms applying pressure, use your thumbs in a circular motion, go slowly up the back on both sides of the spine. It is not good to apply pressure directly to the spine. That is for a professional chiropractor or doctor to do. Your job is to work on the soft tissue. Be careful of the pressure you apply. Most people can take a deep massage, but it is better to strengthen the pressure a little at a time. The person receiving the massage can let you know if they want more or less pressure. If you notice an especially tight spot in the muscle, ask the person if it hurts. Most likely you have found a pressure point and can, at that time, use your thumb to apply more pressure to that spot. Stop the circular motion on the pressure points, and apply the pressure directly downward for about 10 seconds. Then let up and move to another area of massage. Continue this technique as you work your way up both sides of the back.
At this time, the person giving the massage should place themselves at the head of the person receiving the massage so that the techniques used on the neck and shoulders will be applied correctly. Pull the hair up out of the way and apply oil to neck and shoulders or hands. With your thumbs, start at the base of the skull/hairline and apply pressure as you move your thumbs down toward the shoulder area. Repeat, moving your thumbs farther apart, thus massaging the side of the neck area. With your fingertips, find the ridge of the base of the skull and massage by pulling your fingers toward you while applying gentle pressure. Now to work the area between the neck and shoulder, where a lot of the stress from typing, writing, and staring at a computer comes from, with your left hand gently guide the person's head so that you are stretching the neck/shoulder area on your left side (it will be their right neck/shoulder area). With your right hand, reach across your body and using your thumb, apply gentle pressure and follow the muscle from the neck to the shoulder. Again, you may come across an area that is especially tight. It may feel like a knot. If you feel an area like that, make sure the person lets you know if it is painful or not. If it is, you have found a pressure point. Do the same thing you did with the pressure points on the back. Hold for ten seconds and then move on to another area. To finish this exercise, alternate to the other neck/shoulder area and repeat what you have done. In order to finish this particular area, the person may need to set up. Standing (or kneeling/sitting) behind the person, using your palms and fingertips, apply pressure to both shoulder areas (like a big squeeze or pinch), but be aware of the pressure you apply.
You will be totally surprised at how much that short of a massage can relieve pain and stress and make you feel so much better. Once you have gotten that far, it's now your turn to receive the same quality of massage you just gave your friend or loved one.
Massaging the hands and feet can also be relaxing. Use the same techniques. Apply the massage to the soft tissue and not so much the bone area. If you aren't quite sure which technique to use on the hands and feet, just try them all until you find the one that works for you.
One more tip. If you are having a headache, with one hand, apply pressure (with your thumb) to the soft pad of the palm of your other hand, right between your thumb and your wrist. If you don't feel anything at first, keep searching for the sore spot. I guarantee it is there. When you find it, massage it, gently at first with constant increase of pressure, until your headache begins to let up.
One person lies face down on the floor (or massage table of sorts) with a sheet covering from the waist down to the knees. Do not put a pillow under the head, however you can put one under the feet to take some pressure off the lower back. Place your arms above your head or by your side, which ever one is the most comfortable, but do not place them as a pillow under your head. The other person can start at the lower back. Put the oil on the back or hands and with your palms applying pressure, use your thumbs in a circular motion, go slowly up the back on both sides of the spine. It is not good to apply pressure directly to the spine. That is for a professional chiropractor or doctor to do. Your job is to work on the soft tissue. Be careful of the pressure you apply. Most people can take a deep massage, but it is better to strengthen the pressure a little at a time. The person receiving the massage can let you know if they want more or less pressure. If you notice an especially tight spot in the muscle, ask the person if it hurts. Most likely you have found a pressure point and can, at that time, use your thumb to apply more pressure to that spot. Stop the circular motion on the pressure points, and apply the pressure directly downward for about 10 seconds. Then let up and move to another area of massage. Continue this technique as you work your way up both sides of the back.
At this time, the person giving the massage should place themselves at the head of the person receiving the massage so that the techniques used on the neck and shoulders will be applied correctly. Pull the hair up out of the way and apply oil to neck and shoulders or hands. With your thumbs, start at the base of the skull/hairline and apply pressure as you move your thumbs down toward the shoulder area. Repeat, moving your thumbs farther apart, thus massaging the side of the neck area. With your fingertips, find the ridge of the base of the skull and massage by pulling your fingers toward you while applying gentle pressure. Now to work the area between the neck and shoulder, where a lot of the stress from typing, writing, and staring at a computer comes from, with your left hand gently guide the person's head so that you are stretching the neck/shoulder area on your left side (it will be their right neck/shoulder area). With your right hand, reach across your body and using your thumb, apply gentle pressure and follow the muscle from the neck to the shoulder. Again, you may come across an area that is especially tight. It may feel like a knot. If you feel an area like that, make sure the person lets you know if it is painful or not. If it is, you have found a pressure point. Do the same thing you did with the pressure points on the back. Hold for ten seconds and then move on to another area. To finish this exercise, alternate to the other neck/shoulder area and repeat what you have done. In order to finish this particular area, the person may need to set up. Standing (or kneeling/sitting) behind the person, using your palms and fingertips, apply pressure to both shoulder areas (like a big squeeze or pinch), but be aware of the pressure you apply.
You will be totally surprised at how much that short of a massage can relieve pain and stress and make you feel so much better. Once you have gotten that far, it's now your turn to receive the same quality of massage you just gave your friend or loved one.
Massaging the hands and feet can also be relaxing. Use the same techniques. Apply the massage to the soft tissue and not so much the bone area. If you aren't quite sure which technique to use on the hands and feet, just try them all until you find the one that works for you.
One more tip. If you are having a headache, with one hand, apply pressure (with your thumb) to the soft pad of the palm of your other hand, right between your thumb and your wrist. If you don't feel anything at first, keep searching for the sore spot. I guarantee it is there. When you find it, massage it, gently at first with constant increase of pressure, until your headache begins to let up.