Body Massage for Relaxation, Health Improvement and Sensual Pleasure
By massaging your friend or living partner and let him or her do the
same to you, you will both get emotionally closer to each other, and
both get several health benefits. Massaging will benefit the mental
state of the person you work on, the muscular condition, the blood
circulation and the lymph drainage. However, what you want to achieve,
will determine the exact technique you use.
MASSAGING ACROSS THE MUSCLE FIBRES
This type of massage is very good for relaxing tense muscles and a stressed mind.
You perform this massage by rubbing or gripping across the direction
of the muscle fibres or across tendons. You take one area after the
other. You begin by massaging each area lightly, superficially and
slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and
more swiftly.
According to the size and conditions of the area you treat, you can
use different types of manipulation. You can use a couple of fingers at
a small area, or to reach deep into a tense point. You can rub with all
your finger tips or with the palm of your hand at greater areas. To get
a harder effect, you can use your finger knuckles.
MASSAGE ALONG THE MUSCLE FIBRES
This type of massage will give the following effects: Stiffness will
be reduced or cured, and the muscles will gain in mobility. The muscles
will get better blood supply and drainage. The muscles will get a
better drainage of tissue fluids into the lymph system, and thereby
swollen muscles will normalize. These effects will in turn make tired
muscles faster regain good condition.
By this massage you stroke along the direction of the muscle fibres,
and always in the direction of the blood stream towards the heart.
Also now you take one area after the other, but try to reach the
whole length of a muscle or muscle group at each stroke. Also by this
massage, you begin massaging at each area lightly, superficially and
slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and
somewhat faster.
Also by this longitudinal massage, you can press down and stroke
with your finger tips, with all your fingers, or grip around a muscle
or muscle group with your fingers.
MASSAGE WITH AN ELECTRIC MASSAGER
Most electric massage devices are vibrating up and down. This
vibration mostly gives the same effect as the massage across the muscle
fibres. If you also stroke with the device head along the muscle in the
direction of the blood stream towards the heart, you will
simultaneously also achieve the effects of longitudinal massage.
COMBINING THE MASSAGE WITH STRETCHING
The effects of the massage can be increased by also stretching the
limbs and body parts of the person you work on. Stretch in the natural
movement directions of the limb or body part until you reach some
resistance. Do not stretch hard to go beyond the resistance point.
However, by holding the limb some time at the resistance point will
often cause the limb to relax, and then you can go some way further.
HOW HARD SHOULD YOU PERFORM THE MASSAGE?
Tired and stiff muscles are often tender and aching. Working at a
tender point will always cause some temporal pain. However, if you use
the right degree of firmness, the effect of the massage should cause an
immediate release of pain and tenderness when you have finished working
at a point. You should never work so hard that the pain is felt nearly
unbearable, or so hard that pain remains after the massage is finished.
If you do so, you can hurt or aggravate already existing tissue damage.
To achieve the right firmness you should monitor the reactions of
the person you work at and listen to his comments. You should also
never perform a massage on an area with a distinct inflammation or a
distinct injury.
USE OF MASSAGE OILS
By applying a massage oil or ointment at the area you work at, you
ease the massage work and increase the effects of the massage. Your
fingers glide more easily upon the skin covering the area. The blood
supply of the skin and muscles will be stimulated. You get a sensual
and exciting scent on the area and in the air. Ingredients in the oil
will ameliorate muscular ache and pain. According to the composition of
the massage oil, there will be various stimulating effects upon the
muscles, for example faster regeneration of tired or hurt muscle tissue.
MASSAGING FOR MUTUAL JOY AND PLEASURE
You can use each of the two main techniques, but you let the
pleasure of the person you massage decide the technique, the area you
massage and the firmness of the massage. Usually gently touching and
caressing will be the right manner.
Also your own pleasure shall decide. Do not work so hard that you
get tired out yourself, and the person that you give the massage should
be willing to repay you by doing the same favour to you.