How to Give an Upper Body Massage

How to Give an Upper Body Massage



A trained massage therapist usually gives a massage, but with the right environment, some oil and a comfortable place to stretch out, you can learn to give a basic massage to a friend. Use these steps to guide you through the most common hand techniques and the sequence of movements for an upper body massage. Read on to learn more.







Back Upper Body




1


Ask your friend to lie face down with the back exposed to the waist. Always start a massage by warming the oil in your hands before touching the skin. Place your hands flat against the lower back, one on each side of the spine, and your fingers pointing towards the neck. Slowly and softly, start to spread the oil up the back, without massaging the spine itself. Continue with your hands flat and gently effleurage going up to the neck, out to the shoulders and down the sides. Repeat this sequence three times to warm the muscles up.





2


Place both hands at the lower back, on either side of the spine, and start to make small circles using only your thumbs. Work your way up the back, continuing to avoid the bony prominence of the spine. Using a little more pressure with this technique is a good way to work out tension knots in the back, but shouldn't be painful at any time. Repeat this step several times.





3


Knead the muscles of the neck with gentle pressure. Use both hands that are well oiled, and then alternately squeeze and roll the area. The process is much like kneading bread. Pay attention to the neck area because this is where you may find a lot of tension.





4


Put one hand on top of the other and place them at the top of the neck. Using a figure-eight motion and the weight of your body, circle one shoulder, move across to the other shoulder, return to the center, then back to the first shoulder. Repeat this several times to relieve tension in the back.





5


Position yourself at your friend's head and place a hand on each side of the spine, with your fingers towards the back. Using the weight of your body, make a long full stoke down the back. As you reach the base of spine, begin to move your hands across the top of the buttocks, along the sides and back to the shoulders. Repeat this step three times, decreasing the pressure each time.





6


Start again at the base of the spine and perform effleurage along the full length of the back and up to the neck. Repeat three times, to cool the muscles down, decreasing the pressure each time until it's almost nonexistent.



Front Upper Body




1


Have your friend lie on her back, having the neck and shoulder area exposed. Warm the oil in your hands and start with a hand on either side of the upper chest. Use long, firm movements and stroke down to the center of the chest and out towards the sides.





2


Continue to take the long continuous stroke under the shoulders, back to the neck and pull the muscles gently as you move your hands along.





3


Beginning below the collarbone, use your thumbs to work across the upper chest and move out and away from the center, moving down slowly. Repeat this several times.





4


Lay your hands on the upper chest and point the fingertips down. Move your hands, gently across the upper chest, over the arms, up across the shoulders and then back to the chest. This is the last step of your massage and should be done gently and slowly to relax and cool down the muscles.








Tips & Warnings










Effleurage is a massage stroke used to warm the muscles at the beginning of the massage and cool them down at the end. Open your hands and with gentle pressure, allowing them to mold to the shape of the underlying muscle, move them slowly and continuously over the massage area. The general idea is to push as you effleurage up the body and pull as you come back down with gentle, long strokes.








Don't give a massage to someone with a heart condition, infections of the skin, varicose veins or swollen arthritic joints.








The spine itself should never be massaged.



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How to Give a Scandinavian Massage

How to Give a Scandinavian Massage



Scandinavian massage is a therapeutic treatment that can alleviate stress and provide relaxation to the entire body. With warmed muscles, this type of massage provides varied levels of pressure all over the body.







Things You'll Need:





Herbal oils or lotions




Shower, bathtub or sauna




Flat surface









1


Allow the recipient to heat his or her body beginning with a shower, bath or some time in the sauna.





2


Use oil with herbal scents to penetrate the skin and provide lubrication.
Lavender
and citrus work well, though other scents are pleasurable to many. Always ask the recipient if they are allergic to any of the products or scents you use.





3


Start on the back side of the body. Use long, even strokes, starting at the top of the back and gradually working your way down to the feet. Always position strokes in the direction of the heart. Ask the recipient if the pressure you're using is too light or too strong, and adjust accordingly.





4


Give attention to the upper and lower back, shoulders and neck, arms, buttocks, upper and lower legs, ankles and feet.





5


Ask the person to flip over onto their back. Use the same process on the front side, avoiding certain areas. Focus on the shoulders, the arms, upper and lower legs. Avoid the chest, abdomen and torso.





6


Give a deeper massage to enhance the treatment, or repeat the entire sequence using deeper pressure for a longer-lasting massage. Some Scandinavian massages can last up to two hours.





7


Tell the client when you are finished and allow them to dress.





8


Offer water to the person once the massage is complete. Maintaining hydration is essential once the muscles are loosened through massage.


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How to Give a Scalp Massage

How to Give a Scalp Massage



With so many nerve endings covering the scalp area, the head and scalp are a great location to practice massage. Massaging this area can also help to relieve tension in the face and neck, making the experience even more beneficial. Give a scalp massage to induce relaxation.









1


Sit or stand at the head of the face-up receiver, who is reclined or lying flat, or stand behind the seated receiver.





2


Make sure hair is not wet. You may prefer to use lotion or oil during the massage. Always ask the recipient if this is okay first, as some may not want to dirty their hair.





3


Begin the massage by slowly, gently running figures through the hair and over the face.





4


Stroke your fingertips along the scalp from the forehead to the back of the head, using a repetitive motion. Repeat this step, this time from the sides of the head to the top.





5


Place your thumbs near the top or back of the head. Massage using your fingertips in small circles as they move across the scalp.





6


Use light chopping motions along the shoulders, from the left to right. Use the same motions along the scalp, from the middle of the head to the front hairline, and then down the sides toward the ears.





7


Use both thumbs to rub in alternate vertical directions along the back of the neck, placing each thumb on one side of the spine. Alter pressure from light to medium.





8


Finish by running fingers through the length of the hair, starting at the nape and working toward the top of the head.


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How to Give a Leg Massage

How to Give a Leg Massage



The whole body can benefit from a good leg massage. It can relieve stress, improve circulation and lymph flow and may help alleviate back pain. Use these steps to guide you through the most common sequence of hand movements for a basic leg massage.







Massage the Front Leg




1


Have your friend lie on her back with one leg exposed from the hip down. Kneel beside the ankle, oil your hands and warm them up. Start at the shin, using the index finger and thumb to massage lightly. This area is sensitive and requires very little pressure.





2


Work your way up the leg with effleurage, increasing pressure slightly over larger muscles. As you reach the top of the leg, circle your palms around the hips, bring them back down the side of the leg, and out through the toes. This is one fluid motion in which you are essentially pushing as you go up the leg and pulling as you come down. Repeat this sequence 3 times to warm the muscles and distribute the oil.





3


Begin the kneading movement of petrissage at the thigh. Avoid the kneecap during a basic massage because it's a sensitive area and uncomfortable to some people. Work on the inner thigh, then continue over the top to the outer thigh.





4


Finish your front leg massage with effleurage and repeat it three times. Now you are using effleurage to cool down and relax the muscles. Cover the leg you have just finished and expose the other leg for massage.



Massage the Back Leg




1


Let your friend turn over and lie face down with one leg exposed from the hip down. Kneel beside the ankle and warm some oil in your hands to begin a light massage, using the index and middle finger. Remember the ankle is a sensitive area, so use very little pressure here.





2


Use effleurage starting at the calf and work your way up to the bottom of the buttocks. Increase the pressure as you reach the larger thigh muscle and the buttocks area. Continue up the thigh, circle your palms around the hips and pull down as you go back down the side of the leg and out through the toes.





3


Starting at the calf muscle, avoiding the back of the knee, begin to use petrissage up through the thigh. Use effleurage when transitioning from a sensitive area to a larger muscle so you don't lose the fluidity of the movements. Continue with petrissage as you work your way back down the leg.





4


Repeat effleurage three times to relax and cool down the muscles.





5


Cover the leg that was just massaged and expose the other leg for massage. When you have finished with both legs, cover your friend and allow her to completely relax her body.








Tips & Warnings










Use only enough oil to lubricate the skin and prevent friction. If the skin is dry or hairy, you may require more oil.








Avoid massaging anyone with varicose veins, heart problems or any type of skin infections.



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How to Give a Hand Massage

How to Give a Hand Massage



A hand massage can be a euphoric experience, releasing tension from one of the most used parts of our bodies and sending relaxing feelings from the finger tips throughout the body. Treat yourself or a friend to a calming treat by giving a hand massage.









1


Soak the hands one at a time in a bowl of warm, soapy water for 5 to 10 minutes. In addition to increasing blood flow and relaxing the hand, it cleans and softens the skin.





2


Use oil as a lubricant. Peanut oil and olive oil work well. Avoid mineral-based oils.





3


Pour oil into the left hand. Work the oil into the skin using strong, circular strokes. Notice the oil warms as you work with it. This helps to increase circulation. Work with hands as if lathering them with soap to get muscles and tendons stretched and relaxed.





4


Begin at the base of each finger, gently pulling each finger out without popping the joints. Apply pressure while pulling the finger out toward the finger tip and thumb.





5


Turn the left hand palm up and use the pad of your thumb to rub the palm, using clockwise and counterclockwise circles. Pay close attention to the large lower thumb joint.





6


Face the same hand palm down now, and use your thumb to make long strokes with pressure. Move from the point between each finger toward the wrist. Apply generous pressure. Stroke between the long bones rather than directly on them.





7


Finish massaging the left hand by applying crosswise strokes back and forth across the top of the hand. Pay additional attention to the outer pad of the hand.





8


Repeat all steps on the right hand, and following the massage, allow hands to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.


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How to Pick an Opal Birthstone

How to Pick an Opal Birthstone



The delicate opal birthstone is unique among the colored gems, with refractive qualities that create a rainbow effect, especially when tilted into the light. Most varieties of this non-crystallized silica are ground, rather than facet-cut. The intrinsic reflection of light doesn't need a facet, and the soft stone, which is prone to cracking, is more stable when left uncut. Discover how to pick among the major types of lovely opals.







Things You'll Need:





Reputable dealer



Synthetic and natural light



Documentation of authenticity







Look into Harlequin or Fire Opals




Step
1



View harlequin or fire opals set into birthstone jewelry in person, at a reputable dealer's store. Catalog or website photos won't do justice to the opal's signature flashes of color, which require movement to see.




Step
2



Ask the dealer whether the stone is natural or has been treated to fill inclusions. Natural stones will have a higher value.




Step
3



Pick an opal in the fine-jewelry setting of your choice or a more rustic piece, such as a polished boulder opal left in its natural shape.


Select a Common Opal




Step
1



Pick a common opal that is thickly ground, especially when it is to be used in a ring setting. These will be less likely to suffer chips and scratches.




Step
2



Select pale common opal jewelry that complements your complexion. View it in various lighting situations before buying.




Step
3



Visit the International Colored Gemstone Association website for more information about opals (see Resources below).







Tips & Warnings









The opal birthstone marks an October birthday or a fourteenth anniversary, but its popularity is widespread for much more than just these special occasions.








"Inclusions," or natural internal fractures, give opals their unique refractive and reflective characteristics.








Harlequin opal is a scintillating stone that flashes reds, yellows and greens when polished. Fire opal reflects darker color wavelengths and may be faceted. Common opal is milky white or pink with less dramatic reflective properties.








Keep your opal jewelry "humidified" by wearing it often. Never spray it with water to achieve this state.








Consider your purpose in buying opal jewelry. Each variety is markedly different in look.








Opal's high water content makes it susceptible to damage from severe temperatures or chemicals. Don't use aerosols around your jewelry or leave it in a hot car.








Opal's softness lets it scratch and chip easily. Protect your jewelry, especially rings, from coming in contact with other objects, even in your jewelry drawer.



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How to Pick an Evening Bag

How to Pick an Evening Bag



Evening bags come in an array of elegant looks to hold your essentials. Pick one that will match your dressy outfits. Enjoy carrying it next time you have somewhere special to go. Read on to learn more.







Things You'll Need:





Purse



Evening gown



Cocktail dress



Dress pants



Dress coat



Costume jewelry pin



Jeans



Sequin top









Step
1



Decide what kind of evening purse you desire. They come in all shapes and sizes.




Step
2



Determine what type of outfits you will wear the purse with. Evening bags are appropriate with many looks, including an evening gown, cocktail dress, dress pants, a dress coat and even jeans with a dressy blouse or sequin top.




Step
3



Consider a purse in sleek envelope style, a square box or a small round drop.




Step
4



Decide if you want a flat purse, a bunched sack style or more of a structured frame to your bag.




Step
5



Realize that there are different closures to select from. Some of the options include a bag that zippers at the top, one that has a flap that folds over, among other choices or a bag with a buckle to keep it closed.




Step
6



Try evening bags with different straps. Some can be held with one or two straps like a small handbag, while others have a little loop attached to the side that you can clasp so the bag dangles. Other bags are just clutch style, which means you hold them flat in your hand.




Step
7



Compare textures. Snakeskin is always a stylish choice, as is suede, satin and leather.




Step
8



Select a neutral color to go with everything, or an unusual shade to make more of a statement.




Step
9



Look for embellishments, such as rhinestones, jewels, glitter and beaded trim.




Step
10



Remember that a metallic finish can add a little more interest.







Tips & Warnings









Buy a dress bag with a bracelet attached so it hangs from your arm. This is a modern option that is easy to carry and looks pretty, too. You can find the bangles in different metal finishes and stones.








Pin a piece of costume jewelry to a simple cloth evening bag to dress it up.








Try putting your cell phone, wallet, lipstick and keys in a purse you like to make sure it all fits.








Beware of very inexpensive purses. Always check the quality of the seams and zipper or clasp on any purse you are considering to be sure it won't rip or fall apart with basic use.



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