Healthy Massage Therapy

A Healthy Massage can be relaxing and therapeutic, especially if you suffer from back problems, muscle strains or osteoarthritis.

Massage Tips and Techniques for You

Category: Your Body

Discovering which type of massage works best for you or your particular problem requires a little trial and error. And, even if you don't suffer from any particular problem try a foot massage or a pleasantly surprising tantric massage to liven you up.

What is a good healthy massage?

Massage can be beneficial for many health conditions. The healing touch of massage can reduce heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormone levels.

It can also enhance immune function, boost levels of endorphins and serotonin, the body's natural painkillers and mood regulators and increase blood circulation, all while easing sore and achy muscles.

If you have problems with tension headaches, back issues, sports injuries, arthritis, or fibromyalgia, experiment with massage as a relaxing way to help reduce or even eliminate associated pain.

Those with eating disorders, anxiety or depression can take advantage of the effects a healthy massage has on the mind.

Both pregnant women and preterm infants can enjoy the benefits of a healthy massage: mothers-to-be can reduce stress levels and pain associated with labor, while preemies may gain weight faster when massaged.

Have Fun With a Foot Massage

Foot Massage Feet for some are a love-hate affair. Love to use them and often abuse them; hate paying the price of a day spent in inappropriate but fashionable footwear.

Give your feet a break with this four-step foot massage recommended by the American Massage Therapy Association. You can do it with a partner or try this healthy massage on your own.

Stroke the sole of your foot in a straight line from the heel to the base of your toes. Use your thumb or the heel of your hand. Use a motion that goes back and forth across the foot.
Massage the area between your toes using your fingers and your thumb. Wiggle and wriggle the toes and pull each one gently. Then move to the four metatarsal bones that run along the top and middle of the foot. Moving from the base of your toes to just above your ankle, slowly massage one area at a time.
Using your thumb, press a spot on your sole and make small, circular movements. Repeat until you've covered the entire sole of your foot.
Still working the sole, use your pointer and middle fingers to make crosswise movements, back and forth, from the heel to the ball of your foot.

Watch This Excellent Foot Massage Video to make sure you do it right.

Therapeutic Massage ...

Most people are aware of the relaxation benefits massage offers, but it can also be very therapeutic.

There is evidence that healthy massage can improve breathing among asthmatic children, lower levels of stress hormones and help relieve tension headaches caused by contracting head, neck or facial muscles.

Part of the reason massage may work as well as it does for so many problems is that people expect it to. This is yet another example of the powerful connection between the mind and body. Treatment that succeeds in part because patients believe in it. For many of us, massage can simply be wonderfully relaxing, but to gain its full benefit, you need to surrender your body and have faith in the touch of a skilled therapist.

Trigger-Point Therapy ...

One massage therapy I often recommend is trigger-point therapy (also known as neuromuscular therapy).

Many forms of massage therapy are available, and it always pays to ask a massage therapist what types of therapy he or she has studied.

This technique applies concentrated pressure to so-called trigger points, which are areas of irritability in the muscle that may feel like lumps or knots. They are often painful and can sometimes lead to pain in other parts of the body. Trigger-point therapy applies sufficient pressure to these areas to relax the muscles - and it stretches the surrounding muscles to help prevent recurrence.

Tantric Massage Oils

Healing... rejuvinating and sensual oils.

Some sensual oils can be combined into a potent mixture that can be used to heighten the effects of tantric massage.

A mixture of erotic and calming oils can be used to combine an aphrodisiac effect with a numbing and drowsy one as well. This can come close to putting someone in a trance.

Jasmine is one of the scents responsible for having an erogenous effect on people. Other scents that combine calming effects with those of a strong aphrodisiac include ...

Black Pepper · Ginger · Fennel · Geranium · Juniper · Pine · Rosemary · Sandalwood.