Getting or giving the perfect massage is one of life’s great pleasures. It helps let the daily stresses melt away and can bring couples closer together. There are a number of helpful tips to help improve a person’s massage skills. Read on to learn all about massages, both giving and getting one.
Seek to have your massages done professionally. While it may be easier to ask for one from your spouse, you are certainly risking injury. If someone is not educated in how to properly give a massage. They can easily cause a muscle to be pulled or even something far worse.
One of the most important things to consider when you are giving your massage to someone is to make sure that the environment is up to par. Try to keep things comfortable and use towels to soften the area that the person you are massaging will be lying on top of.
Utilize good-smelling candles while giving massages. Calming smells will help the patient relax and feel safe during the massage. These factors, combined with a quality massage, can help facilitate a wonderful experience.
Start your massage at the top of the back. This is important as there are a lot of muscles and knots tied up in this area. This technique will help you to soothe the person you are massaging and serves as a great bridge to the other areas of the body.
Make sure your massage therapists know any areas of discomfort you have before beginning the massage. If there is any particular area that is giving your pain, the therapist can focus on that and try to give you some relief. She can also be careful to avoid any areas that are especially sensitive.
The speed of your hands is important for the kind of massage you are trying to give. If you are looking for a massage to relax your partner, go for slow strokes. If you are looking to work out tired muscles that have been over exerted, faster strokes work better.
When you are giving a massage, try not to use the same stroke over and over. This can make the whole experience mundane, as you want to incorporate as much change during the session as possible. Alter your technique, the stroke and how hard you press on the back, neck and thighs.
When massaging someone, open your fingers up so that you can be more precise with the area that you massage. This helps to loosen up the muscles and is also a great technique if you are planning on giving a deep tissue massage. After you massage this way, close your hands back up and use your palms.
Be vocal with your massage therapist.Talking may be the last thing you really want to do during a massage, but it can be the difference between an ok experience and a great one. You need to let the therapist know what areas need work and what techniques work best.
Increase the speed that you massage as you get deeper into it. At first, you should massage slowly to let the muscles get used to your touch. Eventually, you will be able to give more pressure and do it more quickly.
Finding the right therapist is very important when it comes to massages. You do not want to visit an inexperienced or inept therapist who may cause you more harm than good. Ask friends or family if they know of a good one in your area or look on the Internet for reviews.
If you’ve given someone a massage using oil, let them shower afterwards if they want to. In addition to washing off the oil, it can also relax the body further. This helps their skin stay healthy, as well.
Always tip your massage therapist. In this business, it is highly appreciated. You could go by the restaurant rule and give a 15 percent tip. You can even give a larger tip if you are happy with the massage. This will benefit you in the end, too. Rewarding their talent will help to ensure you get excellent service on your return visit.
Talk to your massage therapist; it will help the process. Let the therapist know about problem areas or injuries so that the therapist can stay away from them — or focus on them. If something feels uncomfortable, do not hesitate to let them know. It is supposed to be relaxing, after all.
Never get a massage if your doctor advises against it. This may seem obvious, but often, people will get a massage because they feel that it will help soothe them and make them feel better. If you have muscle tears, this could actually make them worse with constant pressure on your body.
These tips should help you find the perfect massage, teach your partner what to do or even improve your own massage skills. Whether you and a partner do it yourself or you find a professional to do it, a good massage is one of the most pleasurable things you can enjoy. Good luck.