The following article is republished with the friendly permission of Francis Murphy. Giving a back massage is such a valuable skill, and her article gives a good introductory overview that helps you to get started, so I wanted to share this with you here.
If you have additional questions, you can always use the comments section to let me know – I will answer them for sure.
And here’s the article itself:
A back massage can do wonders physically and emotionally. Hectic lifestyles that are so full of stress nowadays bring loads of stress to the body. A massage is a proven method that brings about soothing relief with therapeutic value. Here are some tips to follow to give your loved one a wonderful back massage that he or she will definitely enjoy.
First of all, have your partner lie face down on a comfortable surface with their head turned to the side. You can invest in a massage table as it allows you to perform massages at a comfortable height. It is also provided with a face area that prevents the recipient from having a sore neck due to holding the head sideways.
Begin your massage by gently spreading oil over the back. Warm up the oil by rubbing it with your hands together before you apply it to the back. You can have the oil sit in a container in a bowl of warm water too. Start with light strokes to the base of the neck. Move your hands up and down along the length of the back in broad strokes to warm and relax the muscles.
Use your thumbs to rub the lower side of the shoulder blades, while working your way up the shape of the blades to below the neck. You can use your fingers, thumb or knuckles to apply pressure at the fleshy part of either side of the spine working downward pressing at the level of each vertebrae. Avoid placing direct pressure on any bony part of the back.
Next, massage the lower back using a broad kneading acting with both hands. Lower back pain is soothed effectively by using this technique. Work your way up until you reach the shoulders. Locate muscle knots that are hardened muscles where tension is accumulated with your fingertips. You can apply static pressure or small circular motions onto the knots to relieve the tension as well as taking into consideration of your partner’s pain threshold.
These are just a few ways that you can perform a back massage to pamper and relieve your loved one from stress. Try them today!
At the end, I’d like to share cool website with more information on topics like Back Massage and Chest Massage. Visit for more details.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francis_Murphy
Specially when you start out, take it easy and don’t do too much deep work. You really want to get a feeling for massage and the other person’s body first before you use the stronger techniques. And always remember to stay away from the bones. Also, massaging the buttocks can be very pleasurable, because in most people these muscles are uptight since we spend so much time sitting nowadays.
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