If you are interested in learning how to give a massage, you will first need to become familiar with the various tools of the trade. There are four basic parts that make up a massage table, the base, the head, and the hands. The base is also known as the backbone. In order to relieve tension in and around the body, a massage table can help relieve muscle spasms, reduce headaches, and provide a source of constant therapeutic pressure.
Before you begin any strokes, be sure that the receiver’s body is relaxed and not stiff. The ideal time to begin a massage is when the receiver has her or his eyes closed and their skin tenses. Start in a position that feels most comfortable for both parties. Some people like to start in a standing position, while others prefer to kneel or sit.
Place your hands on the recipient’s back and place your fingertips along the spine, lightly massaging in long, circular strokes. You should be able to feel the tension, which is the source of most of the strokes. When done properly, your massage can be quite soothing. As you learn how to give a massage, you may find that you need to move your fingers deeper into the muscles. In order to achieve this, you must stretch the muscles slowly.
The next step in learning how to give a massage is learning how to increase pressure. One way to increase pressure is by using your thumbs to strike the ribcage area. The ribcage is the space between the ribs and the sternum. You can use this area to give a massage that will not break the rib cage, although you should keep in mind that you should not use too much pressure when you are doing this. You can lightly rub the ribs for a few minutes at a time or for longer stretches.
Next, you should learn how to lightly touch the eyes. Many people focus on the face and head when they are massaging a person, but the eyes deserve some attention, as well. The goal of any massage is to keep things relaxed. By lightly rubbing the eyelids, you can stimulate the eye muscles and release tension from the forehead. By moving the hand along the sides of the eyes, you can also lightly stimulate the eyes and relieve some of the tension in the area.
In order to help your client achieve a relaxing state, you should always make sure you are holding the body weight of your client with your palm and not with your hand. Many people have an automatic reaction when they feel too much pressure on their hands and forearms and they begin squeezing their body weight into their hands. This can be a very counterproductive way to go during a prenatal massage. You want to keep the body as relaxed as possible. As a general rule, you should never feel more pressure on the upper body than on the lower half.
There are many other ways of massaging your clients that will enhance their experience while reducing the pain of labor. The next tip is to focus on the neck and back during a prenatal massage. The large muscle groups in the neck and back serve a very specific purpose during the birth process. By massaging these muscle groups during your prenatal massage, you can help the baby maintain proper spinal alignment.
If you are interested in learning how to give a massage, or if you already know how, there are many resources available for purchase online and through local massage therapists. Often times it is more cost effective to purchase a quality massage table and accompanying products in one bulk quantity, such as the Life Path system. You can even find excellent prices on the massaging chairs you need to accompany your table. Many massaging chair manufacturers offer free shipping both in the continental US and internationally. So, if you are ready to learn how to give a massage, take advantage of all the great resources available to you!