Massage has long been recognized as a way to relieve stress, but did you know it could also improve your health in a myriad of ways?

Massage therapy decreases muscle tension, increases blood flow and can help to rid the body of toxins, making it a great practice for maximizing health. While getting a professional massage is a great way to improve your well-being, you can also practice simple massage techniques at home.

Massage can benefit people of all ages. In fact, infant massage is now being recognized as an excellent way for babies to de-stress and to bond with caregivers. Research is proving that the tiniest premature infants get great benefits from being held and touched, including decreased blood pressure, a decrease in heart palpitations and episodes of apnea, and an increased ability to suck and nurse. It is a good idea to take a course if you are interested in working with a very young infant so that you can learn not only massage techniques, but also safety and emergency information. However, there are many massage techniques that you can safely use on all ages, from infants to the elderly.

One popular type of massage that can help to relieve stress and alleviate symptoms of colds and sinus problem is a simple facial massage. This one can even be performed on yourself, which is a great way to practice. It will also help teach you what kind of pressure is comfortable, although this can vary greatly from person to person. With infants, it is important to use a very, very light touch with minimal pressure, whereas with older children and adults you may start with lighter pressure and adjust as they prefer.

To perform a facial massage on yourself, first lie down in a comfortable place. Try to take a few deep breaths and relax. Beginning at the center of the forehead with the middle and index fingers of both hands, apply pressure while circling your fingers. You can adjust the pressure so that it is comfortable for you?some people prefer a harder massage than others. Move your fingers out towards the edges of your face, towards your hairline, and continue massaging in a circular motion. After you’ve finished massaging the forehead, you can move on to massaging under the eyes and on either side of the nose in the same fashion. Be gentler around the eye area and don’t get too close to the eyes as this tissue is much more delicate. You can continue this for the entire face and massage the neck in the same way.

Another method of facial massage that you can try is to rest your hands on the face while using your thumbs to massage. This will provide a deeper massage. These same types of motions can also be used on other parts of the body, and in most cases, you can apply much deeper pressure. Areas that tend to become particularly tense are the neck, shoulders and lower back.

To provide an effective massage it is generally best to begin in the middle of the body area and work outward, or to go directly up and down in one area where there are large muscle groups?such as the middle of the back or the upper leg. With these long muscle groups, you can use steady up and down pressure to target the entire muscle. It is a good idea to use some type of oil when you give a massage to prevent the skin from becoming irritated. When massaging a baby, you can use oil that is made specifically for this purpose, or any baby lotion that you prefer.

As you can see massage is one of the best therapys for overall well being. The great news is that you can start using massage techniques right away.

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Ray Miller is an award winning massage therapist and teacher helping people learn massage longer than he can remember. If you’re ready to apply these massage techniques, visit:
http://stress-and-anxiety-help.com/awesome-benefits-of-stress-relief-massage/
or
http://www.stressreliefmassagedvd.com