How to Massage Your Feet and Save Your Hands

How to Massage Your Feet and Save Your Hands



After a long day on your feet you just need some relief. Keep your feet, happy and healthy with this simple technique that will stretch and massage your feet.







Things You'll Need:





Tennis Ball









1


Grab a tennis ball, remove your shoes and socks. Sit on the edge of a chair or stand near a wall or railing you can hold on to.





2


Place the tennis ball on the floor, and place your foot on top. Gently press the ball into the arch of your foot, and hold the stretch for 30 seconds. Press a little deeper and hold for another 30 seconds.





3


Stretching the Metatarsals:
Side the tennis ball under the ball of your foot, spread your toes wide and think of draping and spreading your foot out over the tennis ball, like you're wrapping your foot around it. Gently press into the ball, and hold the stretch for 30 seconds, press a little deeper and hold for another 30.





4


The Heel:
Slide the ball to the back of your foot, you want it just under your heel, closer to the arch. Again press and hold for 30 seconds and repeat.





5


The foot is now stretched and should be opened up a bit. Now you can massage the foot by rolling the ball back and forth under your foot.





6


Repeat this entire sequence on the other foot.





7


Now that both feet are stretched and massaged, you can finish up by using your hands to massage in some peppermint foot lotion.








Tips & Warnings










Make sure you have support (a chair or wall) to help you maintain your balance, when pressing your foot into the ball.








If your feet are very tight or are not accustomed to massage, they may cramp at first when doing the stretching. Take it slow and gentle. As your feet become more relaxed it will be easier to go deeper into the foot.



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How to Massage With the Occipital Cranial Release Technique

How to Massage With the Occipital Cranial Release Technique



In sacral massage therapy, a trained masseuse performs light massage on key points around the skull to induce relaxation and lower stress levels. By performing these small manipulations, brain focus is improved and the client receiving the massage can penetrate deep relaxation modes very quickly. Below are guidelines for the initial massage called the occipital cranial release technique.







Things You'll Need:





Massage table




Medicine ball




Pillow









1


Lie client down on their back on a massage table. Ensure the head is supported when massage is not being performed using a pillow.





2


Position a large seat sized medicine ball on the floor next to the clients head and sit down. The medicine ball allows you to rock back and forth with the motion of the massage making the massage much more fluid for the client and yourself.





3


Locate the occipital cranial ridge with your fingers. The ridge is located at the back of the head where it meets the top of the neck. This is the point at which spinal fluid enters the skull and is often a point of pressure.





4


Use the thumbs to gently rub and knead the ridge. Create a "J" shape with your thumbs over and over again at a rate of 7 or 8 times per minute. This is in time with the natural flow of spinal fluid into the area and should feel very relaxing to the client.





5


Ask client if they are comfortable or feeling any distress or pressure at the point the massage is taking place. If the client is not enjoying the massage, then you should stop and look for other areas of tension or distress.





6


Massage the occipital ridge for at least 10 minutes. The client should become very relaxed and any pressure felt beneath your thumbs should melt away as you complete the massage.


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How to Massage Using the Reinforced Thumb

How to Massage Using the Reinforced Thumb



Without a strong thumb, a massage therapist could not stay in business long. The strength of the thumb makes a massage a deep joy or just another touch. When you massage using a reinforced thumb you help protect your thumb joints from damage and the client experiences a deeper touch. Here's the way to protect the thumbs while massaging the back and still providing maximum service to your client.







Things You'll Need:





Massage oil









1


Warm the massage oil by putting the container in a bowl of hot water.





2


Stand on the side of the body that you want to work on in order to have better leverage. Oil the back lightly.





3


Place your thumb on the muscle to the side of the spine, toward the bottom. Place the fingers of the other hand on top of the thumb.





4


Press in with the reinforced thumb and slowly glide up the muscle toward the neck. Repeat this about three times, covering the entire width of the muscle.





5


Repeat Steps 2 through 4 on the client's other side.





6


Massage the entire back with gentle, long strokes.








Tips & Warnings










Use only a slight amount of oil so your reinforced thumb will not slide too fast across the skin.








Use slow movements so you can feel any lumps or kinks in the muscle tissue.








Use sustained pressure if the client experiences pain or tenderness in certain spots. Start with less pressure on the spot and slowly increase the pressure. Hold the pressure until the client indicates the pain has subsided. This can relieve deep knots and bring relief to the client.



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How to Massage Using the Heel of the Hand

How to Massage Using the Heel of the Hand



When you massage using the heel of the hand you give the client a different experience than when massaging with the fingers. The heel of the hand presses a narrower width of the muscle at one time, allowing the muscle to release its little knots and kinks from a deeper level. Here's how to protect the therapist's hands and relieve a lot of tension in the back.







Things You'll Need:





Massage oil









1


Warm your massage oil by placing a small container of it in a bowl of hot water.





2


Stand on either side of the body because you can massage both sides at one time.





3


Apply a light layer of massage oil to the back.





4


Press the heels of the hands in on the lower back muscles on either side of the spine but not on the spine itself.





5


Work the heels of the hands in circles, slowly cycling toward the side of the body, then back toward the spine. Cycle up the back a few inches and repeat until you have covered the entire back, staying on the muscles, not the bones.





6


Start again at the lower spine and knead all the back muscles in larger circles with the heels of the hands. Focus more on the meaty muscles and avoid going over the spine.





7


Finish with long, flowing strokes over the entire back.








Tips & Warnings










You can use any quality oil, such as almond oil or coconut oil, for your massage oil.








Massaging with the heel of the hand also helps relieve pressure and fatigue to the therapist's fingers and thumbs.



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How to Massage Using Reinforced Fingers

How to Massage Using Reinforced Fingers



Doing a massage using reinforced fingers helps to protect the massage therapists fingers from injury and allows the therapist to focus on more concentrated areas of the client's body. Using reinforced fingers allows deeper pressure and for the release of toxins from the deeper tissues. This relaxes the muscles and helps with the management of stress in the body. Here's how to use reinforced fingers on the back.







Things You'll Need:





Massage oil







Massage Using Reinforced Four Fingers




1


Warm the massage oil by putting the container in a bowl of hot water.





2


Stand on the opposite side of the body that you want to work on in order to have better leverage. Apply a light layer of oil.





3


Place the flats of the fingers of one hand next to the spine on the lower back. Place the fingers of the other hand on top of the first hand. This reinforces the lower hand.





4


Press in and push away from the spine, toward the side. Slide easily back to the starting place.





5


Massage like this about three to four times in each spot, working your way from the bottom of the spine to the top of the spine.





6


Repeat Steps 2 through 5 on the other side of the body.



Massage Using Reinforced Middle Finger




1


Stand on the side of the body that you want to work on in order to have better leverage.





2


Reinforce the middle finger of one hand with the fingers of the other hand.





3


Press in at the side of the lower spine as you slowly move up toward the neck.





4


Place the reinforced middle finger about 1 inch from where you started before at the lower spine. Again, press in and up toward the neck. Continue moving out until you have covered that entire side of the back.





5


Repeat on the other side of the back.





6


Massage the entire back with long, gentle strokes when finished.


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How to Massage the Toes

How to Massage the Toes



Our feet are not only the most used parts of our body, but also the most sensitive at times. A good foot massage can affect how the entire body feels. Different styles of massage from reflexology to deep tissue and even plain old rubbing exist; try various techniques to discover what you like best. The results are all that count with massage.









1


Wash your hands well before massaging your own toes or the feet of someone else. They tend to dry and become cracked very easily, especially for those who don't spend a lot of time taking care of their feet. Germs and dirt can get ground into the toes, causing infection.





2


Clean your toes before beginning any massage. Any technique that you use will work best if done with warm lotion. Creams and oils will not be able to work at their highest capacity if any dirt or old skin is on or under the toes.





3


Lie or sit in a comfortable position. If you are giving a toe massage, offer to sit or kneel on the floor or beside the person on a couch while you give the message. A good foot massage is designed to relax the body and well as work out any kinks.





4


Hold the foot to be massaged with one hand while working on each toe individually. Work your way up the toes from the base connecting it to the foot to edge of the toe. Squeeze gently as you pull.





5


Slide your index finger between the toes and move it from side to side while cradling the foot in the other hand. This sliding motion loosens up tension and moves the toes in directions they don't usually more in, loosening up the muscles and joints.


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How to Massage the Temporal Wobble in Cranial Massage

How to Massage the Temporal Wobble in Cranial Massage



Cranial sacral massage therapy, a gentle and non-invasive holistic therapy, provides lasting results in addition to relieving a wide range of symptoms and pain. The temporal wobble, one of the techniques used by cranial massage therapists, balances the rhythm of the cranial pulse by gently rocking the blocked fluid. This cranial fluid typically pulsates between 6 to 8 times a minute. The temporal wobble helps to achieve and maintain this.









1


Assist the client in laying down comfortably on their back. Cover their body with a sheet or warm blanket to help them relax.





2


Sit at the client's head.





3


Place your hands under the head without covering up the ears. Your hands can rest lightly on the table while holding the head.





4


Hold the head without movement until you detect the rhythm of the pulse that flows between the cranium and the sacrum. Before doing the temporal wobble this cranial-sacral pulse might be much slower or much faster than the desired 6 to 8 pulses per minute.





5


Start the temporal wobble by rocking the head about a half inch back and forth. Continue this wobble for up to 10 minutes. Stop sooner if the client requests.





6


Check the cranial-sacral pulse while holding the head still.





7


Allow the client to rest for 10 minutes without touching the head, regardless of the rhythm of the cranial-sacral pulse.








Tips & Warnings










Use the temporal wobble technique to give relief for headaches and migraines.








Ask the client to let you know immediately if they experience any discomfort.



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