| By massaging your friend or living partner and let | | | | MASSAGE WITH AN ELECTRIC MASSAGER |
| him or her do the same to you, you will both get | | | | Most electric massage devices are vibrating up |
| emotionally closer to each other, and both get | | | | and down. This vibration mostly gives the same |
| several health benefits. Massaging will benefit the | | | | effect as the massage across the muscle fibres. |
| mental state of the person you work on, the | | | | If you also stroke with the device head along the |
| muscular condition, the blood circulation and the | | | | muscle in the direction of the blood stream |
| lymph drainage. However, what you want to | | | | towards the heart, you will simultaneously also |
| achieve, will determine the exact technique you | | | | achieve the effects of longitudinal massage. |
| use. | | | | COMBINING THE MASSAGE WITH STRETCHING |
| MASSAGING ACROSS THE MUSCLE FIBRES | | | | The effects of the massage can be increased by |
| This type of massage is very good for relaxing | | | | also stretching the limbs and body parts of the |
| tense muscles and a stressed mind. | | | | person you work on. Stretch in the natural |
| You perform this massage by rubbing or gripping | | | | movement directions of the limb or body parts |
| across the direction of the muscle fibres or | | | | until you reach some resistance. Do not stretch |
| across tendons. You take one area after the | | | | hard to go beyond the resistance point. However, |
| other. You begin by massaging each area lightly, | | | | by holding the limb some time at the resistance |
| superficially and slowly to warm up, and then | | | | point will often cause the limb to relax, and then |
| proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and more | | | | you can go some way further. |
| swiftly. | | | | HOW HARD SHOULD YOU PERFORM THE |
| According to the size and conditions of the area | | | | MASSAGE? |
| you treat, you can use different types of | | | | Tired and stiff muscles are often tender and |
| manipulation. You can use a couple of fingers at a | | | | aching. Working at a tender point will always cause |
| small area, or to reach deep into a tense point. | | | | some temporal pain. However, if you use the right |
| You can rub with all your finger tips or with the | | | | degree of firmness, the effect of the massage |
| palm of your hand at greater areas. To get a | | | | should cause an immediate release of pain and |
| harder effect, you can use your finger knuckles. | | | | tenderness when you have finished working at a |
| MASSAGE ALONG THE MUSCLE FIBRES | | | | point. You should never work so hard that the |
| This type of massage will give the following | | | | pain is felt nearly unbearable, or so hard that pain |
| effects: Stiffness will be reduced or cured, and | | | | remains after the massage is finished. If you do |
| the muscles will gain in mobility. The muscles will | | | | so, you can hurt or aggravate already existing |
| get better blood supply and drainage. The muscles | | | | tissue damage. |
| will get a better drainage of tissue fluids into the | | | | To achieve the right firmness you should monitor |
| lymph system, and thereby swollen muscles will | | | | the reactions of the person you work at and |
| normalize. These effects will in turn make tired | | | | listen to his comments. You should also never |
| muscles faster regain good condition. | | | | perform a massage on an area with a distinct |
| By this massage you stroke along the direction of | | | | inflammation or a distinct injury. |
| the muscle fibres, and always in the direction of | | | | USE OF MASSAGE OILS |
| the blood stream towards the heart. | | | | By applying a massage oil or ointment at the area |
| Also now you take one area after the other, but | | | | you work at, you ease the massage work and |
| try to reach the whole length of a muscle or | | | | increase the effects of the massage. Your fingers |
| muscle group at each stroke. Also by this | | | | glide more easily upon the skin covering the area. |
| massage, you begin massaging at each area | | | | The blood supply of the skin and muscles will be |
| lightly, superficially and slowly to warm up, and | | | | stimulated. You get a sensual and exciting scent |
| then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and | | | | on the area and in the air. Ingredients in the oil will |
| somewhat faster. | | | | ameliorate muscular ache and pain. According to |
| Also by this longitudinal massage, you can press | | | | the composition of the massage oil, there will be |
| down and stroke with your finger tips, with all | | | | various stimulating effects upon the muscles, for |
| your fingers, or grip around a muscle or muscle | | | | example faster regeneration of tired or hurt |
| group with your fingers. | | | | muscle tissue. |