How To Give A Massage

By Polly Hamilton
How to give a massage:

Learning how to give a massage is easy. There are only two things you really need: you have to want to give people a massage, and you have to have someone who wants to receive a massage! It's also nice if you can buy oils and have a nice place for the recipient to lie, but as long as you are putting in the effort, you can't go wrong! Here are a few tips to make the process even more luxurious.

How to give a massage: communication
Don't expect your recipient to instruct you on how they like to be massaged. Most people prefer to lie there and the measure of a good masseuse is how well they can read the person they are massaging! If a persons back twitches, they are probably trying to tell you they didn't like what you did. If they sigh pleasantly they are most likely becoming relaxed and enjoying themselves. If this happens you're on the right track! Listen to involuntary noises and read subtle body language then adjust your massage to suit. If you can do this well you'll learn how to give a massage very quickly.

How to give a massage: be prepared
The worst massage is one given by someone who doesn't want to give it. The second worst is the one received by someone who doesn't want a massage. And the third worst type of massage is the one that stops and starts! If you've decided your massage will involve scented oils and warm stones, have everything prepared before you prepare your recipient. That way you don't have to stop after five minutes when your recipient is just beginning to relax! The point of a massage is to give your recipient the most enjoyable, pleasurable and relaxing experience you can. Swearing because you can't find the right oil and then leaving them waiting for ten minutes is only going to stress the person out!

How to give a massage:
Decide beforehand a rough ‘agenda'. If you follow this your massage will be much smoother. But be flexible with this, your recipient may not like what you are doing so you have to adjust. A nice way to give a massage is from foot to head. This gives structure to your massage. If you don't have an order to follow you may leave body parts out (or even worse: spend too much time on a certain body part which ends up feeling annoying, not relaxing). Don't stress about if you are doing it right or wrong. You'll find that if your hands are gentle and pliable and there is not too much friction, you can't go wrong!

How to give a massage: types
There are different types of massages, for different people. Sports massages are usually given by professionals for particular problems that an athlete may suffer. Orthopedic massage is also done by a professional and is used to relieve serious pain. These two methods are not recommended to be done unless by a professional as you may cause injury. Deep tissue massage is not for the faint hearted. Used by professionals and in the home, it is for people with very knotted backs (generally from stress). If you give a deep tissue massage use oils and lotions to prevent friction on the skin. Be prepared to use a lot of strength and energy! Swedish massage is a massage type used to stimulate blood circulation. It relaxes the muscles and is very difficult to do well. There are many, many different types of massage. It's just a matter of doing some reading and practicing on many different subjects. Different people prefer different massage techniques, which are often a combination of types. Remember to communicate and listen to you recipient, you'll learn how to give a massage in no time!

See Also:
More info on the history of massaging

Massage like a pro in minutes

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