How often do you find yourself sitting at work in agony due to a lingering muscle strain or ache? It’s more common than you think, making it important to learn how to give yourself a self-massage. The overall sedentary or overworking lifestyle of so many people can take a toll on the body.
Our muscles and bodies don’t react right to the stress we put on it every day. Not to mention the days where we only sit at a desk, powering through whatever is bothering us. Besides general fatigue and soreness, the COVID-19 pandemic made a sedentary lifestyle ideal while we stayed home to stop the spread.
Thankfully a self-massage treatment is straightforward, which massage therapists often teach to clients. The techniques can relieve pain and tension in the head, shoulders, neck, wrists, and feet. The massage boosts circulation, promoting mental alertness and lowering stress.
How to Massage Your Head
Massaging your head is one of the best self massages you can give yourself. Begin the process by putting your thumbs on your cheekbones next to your ears. Utilize your fingers to massage the side of your head with small circular motions. Make sure you do this gently since our heads are sensitive.
Maintain the circular motion for some time and slowly move your hands together until they meet in the front of your head. Consider doing this massage for five to ten minutes every day to see results. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a massage expert if you need help in person to learn how to do it.
How to Massage Your Neck and Shoulders
The neck and shoulders are two of the most common areas for pain. We put constant stress on both when viewing our phones, the way we sit, and typing at a computer. Similar to a head massage, you can easily do a massage on your neck and shoulders.
First, lower your shoulders, so they’re not hunched. Keep your shoulders relaxed and tuck your chin down into your chest, stretching your neck. Next, take your fingers and reach over your shoulders on each side. Place your fingers at your neck’s base, increasing some steady pressure.
Hold the position for five to ten seconds, release it, and roll your shoulders back. Consider repeating the process as long as you don’t put more pain or pressure onto your body.
How to Give a Hand Self Massage
Any self-massage is done with our hands. Hands are imperative in the massage world, primarily since we use our hands for practically everything. As for actually massaging our hands, many people ignore this area when discussing what needs a massage.
Begin by opening your hand and resting your wrist on a ball (tennis or baseball). Gently roll whatever ball you use across your wrist. Try moving the ball in an up and down motion. Next, move your hand lower, so the lower part of your palm rests on the ball. Roll the ball side to side and repeat the process as needed.
How Self-Massages Relieve Pain in the Forearm
A self-massage utilizes our hands to manipulate the muscles. It kneads the skin and allows us to apply pressure in areas that need it. However, it’s vital to know that technique is a significant part of giving yourself a massage. Not knowing the proper technique can end up doing more harm than good.
For example, relieving forearm pain is a popular area in the massage world. After all, we use our forearms constantly while we type and text every day. Give your arms relief by resting an arm and hand with your palm up on your thigh and knee. Use your other hand to push down and move slowly towards the wrist.
Be mindful of how hard you’re pushing since it can damage your arm if you push too hard. On the contrary, not pushing enough will be a complete waste of time. A good rule of thumb is to push enough where you feel it, but not to the degree that it burns yourself. Repeat the process as necessary and switch arms.
How to Give a Self Foot Massage
Similar to giving a hand massage or relieving pain in the forearm, a ball is great for giving a self foot massage. Begin by taking off your shoes and socks. Place the ball beneath either of your feet, rolling the ball back and forth, side to side. Increase pressure while doing it but not so much where it becomes painful.
Look for tension points, areas that require more attention and give off more pain. Increase the pressure as you can, and roll the ball in small circles to relieve pain. If you suffer plantar fascitis, consider rolling your feet soles over an ice pack or frozen water bottle to help mitigate inflammation.
The Importance of Self Massages
Any massage type, including a self-massage, is a great way to mitigate pain and put your body at ease. A self-massage is especially significant since it allows you to enjoy the benefit of massage therapy at the comfort of your home. Most massage therapists will teach you some self massages to do at home.
What Self Massages Aid:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Digestive Disorders
- Muscle Strain
- Muscle Tension
- Pain
Self massages are also great at aiding chronic issues such as fibromyalgia or arthritis. Self massages help prolong the benefits and relief in between sessions If done with a professional massage service.
Want to Learn More About Giving a Self Massage?
We hope this in-depth discussion of how to do an excellent self-massage was helpful! Nevertheless, here at Soul 2 Sole, we offer many massage services, including traditional and Thai head massages.
For a list of our complete services, please view them here or contact us to learn more! We are open and are following and monitoring Alberta Health and Safety measures closely every day. We look forward to hearing from you!
