Self Massage Techniques for Instant Relief

This is where self massage techniques can help. Self massage is one of the most effective and natural health remedies you can have in your arsenal to bring you back to a calm, centered state. We recommend that you utilize these self massage techniques on a daily basis so the exercises will be there for you when you most need them.

Self massage can be used at work when you feel the tension building or simply need to feel invigorated. You can also use these techniques while at home to release the pressures of the day.

Do you have any self massage techniques you'd like to recommend?

Physical Benefits

Mental Benefits

Head

1.Place a hand on the base of your scalp with your fingers and thumb spread out to cover as much of your head as possible at the roots of your hair. Begin rotating in a clock-like motion all over the back of your head and towards your forehead. Continue for 10 slow, deep, relaxed breaths and reverse from the forehead to the nape of the neck in a counter clock-wise motion.

2.Place your elbows on a table or desk with your arms raised vertically to your temples begin rotating your middle and ring finger in a clock-wise motion for 10 slow, deep, relaxed breaths and reverse into a counter clock-wise motion.

Shoulders

1.Take your left hand and place it at the nape of your neck on the right side of the spine. Stroke down the side of the neck, over the shoulder and down to the elbows and back up. Repeat several times and switch sides.

2.Place your fingertips on both sides of your spine and in a circular motion work your way up to the base of the neck then squeeze the fleshy muscle on your shoulders.

3.Loosely make a fist with on of your hands and with a loose wrist lightly pound the shoulder areas on both sides.

4.Place your hands on the sides of your face and brush them down your face crossing at the front of the neck continue down the opposite sides of the shoulders, down the arms to the tips of both hands.

Hands

1.Stroke the back of the hand gently applying a little pressure as you stroke up to the wrist. Repeat several times. Squeeze the hand all over with the fingers and palm of the other hand.

2.Squeeze each finger and make circular motions over each of the joints. Then pull each one gently to tip and off.

3.Use the thumb to massage in circular motions all over the palm of your other hand.

4.Stroke each finger of one hand towards the palm of your hand using the palm of your other hand to apply pressure to the palm and continue to the wrist.

5.Applying lotion clasp the fingers of both hands together, press and rub the heels of both palms together. With hands still clasped take the thumb of one hand and place it under the base of the thumb of the opposite hand, massage in a circular motion working your way to the palm. Repeat with the other hand. Release your hand and with the thumb and fingertips massage the web between the thumb and pointer finger of the other hand, and switch.

Abdomen

1.Take one of your hands and rub your belly in a circular clock-wise motion and take your other hand and follow. This exercise helps with cramps and digestion.

Full Body

1.Make your hands into loose fists and lightly pound your legs from the tops to the bottoms starting at your bottom. Do the same for both arms and shoulders. Work your way to your chest. This is a great exercise to wake yourself up and prepare for the day as well as pound the stress out of you at the end of a workday.

2.Tennis balls work great in releasing muscle tension. Simply roll the tennis ball anywhere you are feeling tension on your body.

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