Mutual massage between friends strengthen the relationships
and the health
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 parts 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
different 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.
By :- Knut Holt
