There are simple massage you can do it yourself. This is a great
"pick-me-up" after a hard day of work. You can also get
benefits of massage by immersing yourself in a Jacuzzi with the
water doing the massaging.
Many massage and wellness centers offer workshops on massages and
partner massages. It may be worthwhile going for a workshop to get
some familiarity with this technique.
For the exercises given below you don't need anything other than
a few tennis balls, a quiet corner and your own two hands.
Head
Pressure points in your skull can relax your whole body. There
are two very significant acupressure points at the base of the skull
on what's called the occipital ridge. If you apply consistent pressure
there, you can achieve total relaxation.
How do you find these points and apply pressure on those spots?
There is a simple solution. Put two tennis balls in a sock and tie
the end. Lie on your back on the floor and place the sock behind
the upper neck, so that the two balls each touch the skull ridge
that's right above the hollow spot. Stay like that for 20 minutes.
If you like, you can listen to soothing music. The pressure on those
acupressure points send messages down the spinal column to relax
all the muscles and it is very effective.
Face
Just touch your face. There's no need to knead it. With a very
light touch, cup your cheeks and temples with your hands using no
more pressure than the weight of a nickel. Hold your hands there
for a minute. The warmth of the hands relaxes the muscles and connective
tissue, bringing on an overall sense of relief.
Jaw
Pull the sides of your ears gently straight outward, then straight
up, then straight down. Or, with your index finger, press the tender
spot next to your earlobe where it attaches to your head. Press
and release. Now do it on the other ear. Repeat, alternating ears,
10 to 15 times.
Torso
Get a quick boost by rubbing the area above your kidneys. That's
at waist level where the tissue is still soft. Rub briskly with
your fists in a circular motion. This energizes the whole body.
Feet
Foot massage is very soothing. After you try the following techniques
on one foot, switch feet and repeat.
- Sit on a chair and place one foot on the opposite thigh. Rub
some massage oil or lotion onto your foot if you like. Apply pressure
with your thumbs to the sole of your foot, working from the bottom
of your arch to the top near your big toe. Repeat five times.
- Make a fist and press your knuckles into the bottom of your
foot, moving from your heel to your toes. Repeat five times.
- Massage each toe by holding it firmly and moving it from side
to side. Extend each toe gently out and away from the ball of
your foot. Then apply pressure to the areas between your toes.
- Hold your toes in one hand and bend them backward holding them
there for five to ten seconds. Then bend them in the opposite
direction and hold for five to ten seconds. Repeat three times.
- Press and roll your thumbs between the bones of the ball of
your foot.
|