Massage for Tight Shoulders, and for Knots in Back
A massage to any part of the body should always be a pleasant
experience and easily managed with proper techniques and methods. As we
all know massage is one of the most popular techniques (when they are
successful) to rest and relax the body and mind and to reduce stress,
this is particularly true of the massaging tight shoulders and back
muscles that lead to large build ups of physical and mental stress.
Shoulder massage is an excellent de-stress technique and is also used to
cure all sorts of aches and pains, like the infamous “bad back” that so
many suffer from. Massage therefore provides a superb sense of
well-being, human contact with the release of stress relieving
endorphins.
It is important to create a pleasant atmosphere during this back and
shoulder massage. Choose a low-lit room with a temperature neither too
cold nor too hot. Put on background music which is soft and soothing, a
few scented candles may gently create a soothing atmosphere with basic
aromatherapy. Finally heat the massage oil by rubbing in the hands, or
in warm water. This will help the hands to slide gently and have a more
relaxing and therapeutic properties.
Massage shoulders with circular movements, continue the movement from
the neck down to the shoulders, it is a movement with pressure from the
thumbs as if they push the pain down to the shoulders. Arriving at the
edge of the shoulders, massage shoulders with the whole hand to give
maximum relaxation. Whenever they change the location on the body the
practitioner should add more oil to soften and smooth the contact. Make
a circular motion, soft and fluid this time, down from the neck and down
the back by gently pushing and alternating pressure at regular interval,
the practitioner should listen to the client and let their reactions
guide them if necessary.
Then after massaging the upper area of the back and the shoulders the
practitioner will move this pressure to the arms and eventually down to
the ends of the hands reaching the tips of the fingers. When the
massaging motion has arrived at the hands is a very important step,
since hands are very sensitive and have a place in relaxation. Always
gentle with the palm and fingers stretching them, using of course two
hands to massage one hand, for more efficiency to pass the stress from
the neck and lower back out of the hands and fingers and away from the
body.
Massage to the lower back is a very important area related to stress
along with the shoulders, knots of tension accumulate in most normal
people. In addition to massage and relaxing movements of hands as
kneading or touches, use of fists is common to remove a lot of pressure
on the spine especially in the lower back because this is not as
sensitive an area as the neck. An important detail when having a massage
to the back is that movements should be performed with both hands on
both sides of the back and should always be balanced, if not an
unpleasant effect is created that undo the work already performed higher
up the back and shoulders. |
