Oils have been around for so long that no one really knows when man thought of the idea to incorporate it into his life. It is used to heal wounds, relieve pain, nourish the skin and as an astringent. But one of the more vital roles of oil is its use in the realm of massage. As early as 1000 B.C., scholars and doctors alike have used “oil and rubbing” to ease various pains.
These massage oils come from diverse sources. They can be from plants: seeds, leaves, flowers, bark or even roots. Essential or ethereal oils, the components of plants that give them their distinctive smell, are extracted and bottled to give off different effects.
Some oils are purely for ambience and setting, some have antibacterial or antifungal properties. Several oils have the property to reduce inflammation, like sweet almond oil. Safflower oil is considered a blood cleanser but quickly turns rancid. Olive oil is bit on the heavy side but is reported to relieve muscle stiffness.
A number of oils contain vitamins that nourish the skin. Avocado oil contains vitamin A and E and is good for most skin types. Castor oil is said to draw out toxins and even break up scar tissue! Imagine rubbing your skin back to its flawless perfection!
And then there are oils that prevent pimple formation, such as jojoba oil, by aiding in breaking down sebum in the pores of the skin. Try to find out which type of oil goes along with your skin type and your personal preference. Massage oils can be used alone or in combinations for a more sensual experience.
In a massage, the massage oil helps a great deal in facilitating the glide of the masseuse’s hand over the skin. This promotes continuous strokes while using less force. The massage oil should help hydrate the skin and be quickly absorbed. Light oils are usually much preferred than heavy types since they impart a less greasy feel on the skin.
A good blend of massage oils helps to make a nice ambiance and sensual haze during the massage. These conditions, along with some nice lighting and maybe music, make a more relaxing and soothing session.
Furthermore, there are some additives you might want to look for in your oil products. Aloe vera in the mixture will help soothe skin irritations and burns. Cayenne will stimulate better blood circulation and grape seed extracts eliminates bacteria and viruses, avoiding infections.
Just to be on the safe side, check the components of the massage oil for anything that might trigger an allergic reaction from yourself or your client. Peanut oil may cause quite an effect if you are allergic to it. Also, refrain from using oils on broken or ruptured skin, especially if the oil has astringent properties.
When buying your massage oil, look out for cold-pressed or expellier-pressed types. Massage oils that have went through too much heating and processing during the extraction may go rancid very quickly.
They key is to keep the oil refrigerated or in a cool place to delay decomposition. Also, adding Vitamin E to the massage oil every month will prevent spoilage due to oxidation. Warm it before using it, or it will feel really weird once you apply it. Before using your oils, check if it’s rancid or not. Rancid massage oils contain a lot of free radicals that will definitely damage your skin.
Foot massage has got to be one of the most relaxing things you can do for your poor, abused feet. After using them all day long, a nice, good and thorough foot massage will not only ease the stress away, it can also improve circulation and tone your feet muscles.
The activity believes that direct pressure to certain points of the foot release endorphins that alleviate pain and stress, as well as mediate diseases.
You can do a foot massage by yourself or better yet, find someone who would do it for you. If you’re going on a solo foot massage flight, find yourself a nice, comfy chair. Go for the one with the padded arms and a cool footrest. Relax on it, prop one foot on your lap and start your foot massage routine until you can actually see that foot grinning at you. Try these foot massage techniques and work your way to happy feet:
1. Stroke them top to bottom.
Stroking stimulates blood vessel activity and warms up the foot. Massage the top surface first, the thumbs moving in a slow, stroking motion. Start from the toes and work yourself up to the ankles. Then from the ankle, stroke your way back to the toes. Repeat this for a couple of more minutes.
2. Rotate those ankles.
Loosen up your joints and rotate them! This exercise relaxes feet and at the same time; work out the kinks in your joints. First, move the ankle side to side gently. Cup the ball of your foot with one hand and rotate the foot clockwise and anti-clockwise 4 or 5 times. This is a key point in de-stressing your foot and your senses. Again, do it gently. Brisk motions might sprain your ankle.
3. Pivot
Grasp gently the foot in your hand. Using the other hand, massage the sole of that foot with the thumb. Start with the area below the large toe and gently work your way across to the other toes. Roll your thumb back and forth to release pressure. Try to vary the amount of pressure on the ball of the foot for a more relaxing foot massage experience.
4. Knead at slow speed.
Put your knuckles against the sole of the foot and do some large pressing movements. Rotate the hand while doing the kneading. Imagine that your foot is dough and work it, using varying pressures. Don’t strain too hard, since the sole is not as soft as the real dough, or the hands might suffer some serious strain. Do it slowly but constantly.
5. Slide your fingers in between your toes.
Back and forth, back and forth. Set up a rhythm with your fingers. This simple exercise stretches and pulls the muscles of your toes. It might be simple but it is definitely effective because the focus is on the toes which are more often than not neglected.
6. Press that arch.
Release the stress in the inner and outer arches. Using the heel of the hand, push as hard as you can (but please, don’t strain too hard) on the ball of your feet. Slide the hand from here towards your toes, going along the arch of the foot. Do this on the sides and the undersides of the foot.
To wind up your foot massage, do some light stroking to relax the foot more.
These foot massage routines can be done solo or by another person. Make sure to let the other person know if too much pressure is being applied and is hurting you. Use a massage lotion or oil to aid the process and relieve your exhausted and tired feet.
Our feet are the most exhausted part of our body. Make it a habit to massage your tired feet every end of the day.
There will always be times in a man’s life that his wife will need his tender touch. This intimacy may lead to making love, or it may not. But then, sometimes, the wife may just want the intimacy but not the sex. Non-sexual body massage may work best for these situations, especially if you’re dealing with a woman who’s been victimized by abuse.
Tactile interaction is very, very important to all of us. A baby instinctively knows the safety in its mother’s touch. The warmth, the care and the outstanding tenderness one may have for another can be expressed by a single touch alone. Attitude, trauma or damage may make a woman shy away from a man’s touch even if the said man is her lawfully wedded husband. It is very essential then that you establish a way to make her comfortable with your presence and your touch.
Many believe that body massage works wonders for establishing a better connection between husband and wife. It is better for traumatized women if it does not lead to sex. Not only does it relaxes her and puts her mind at ease, it will also make you feel better about yourself knowing that you’ve done something good for her.
Now, remember that it may take a while for her to totally relax and believe that you don’t want sex from her. If she was severely traumatized, your wife will be very wary and distrusting. But don’t be too depressed. If you persist and don’t lose patience, you will eventually win.
Ready? First, make it clear to her that you’re only just to going to do a body massage, wholly for her sake and not for yours. Emphasize that you don’t expect to get anything in return. Impress upon her that you’re happy with the fact that she’s going to feel a whole lot better. Whatever happens, don’t follow it up with sex! If you do, then she’ll have a hard time trusting you the next time, won’t she?
Keep in mind that you will become aroused by the body massage but you shouldn’t let her know, lest she becomes threatened. Wear something that will cover you and make sure that it won’t show anything.
Have her take a shower or a long hot bath. It’d be better if you prepared the bath for her. After the bath, have her lie face down on a towel or a thick blanket laid out on the floor. It would be better than a bed since you need a firm surface for the body massage. Put a small pillow for her head and place another one beneath her shins.
Pour the massage oil into your hands and warm it some. Start with her shoulders and work your way down her back slowly. Ask her what feels good and what does not. Also, pay attention to stiff and tensed areas and work them carefully. Move on to her thighs and legs. When you reach her feet, have her turn over and work your way back up.
Since we are aiming to have her relaxed and happy, be sure to avoid her genitals. Don’t leer or stare at it overmuch, since it might make her uncomfortable. Ask her permission first before working on her breasts. If she okays it, then continue with the body massage and tread slowly. If she refuses then respect her decision.
For the last part, finish the body massage by massaging her face gently. Also, be sure that you spent enough time on her hands and feet, since they are equally important.
Through all these, bear in mind that relaxation is your primary goal. If you’re unsure about your skills, try going to the library and reading up some material on body massages. You can even try to get some tips from a masseuse or a physical therapist. In addition, pay extra attention to the massage oil you’re going to use. You might want to use a lightly scented oil to put her senses into an even better mood. After the body massage, lie next to her and hug her, taking care not to make her notice if you are aroused. Tell her you love her, don’t be shy. That would be your best gift to her, the body massage just a bonus.
You don’t have to be a ‘sex expert’ to know what erotic massage is. The only thing you should know is erotic massage is probably the best in all of the categories of sensual massage.
In this age where people are constantly seeking spice and pleasure in their sex life whether with their partners or lovers, alternatives and options—no matter how absurd it may seem to others—are revealed and exposed for public consumption. Nowadays, more and more men and women often complain how dissatisfied are they in not achieving what they within their sex life without asking themselves why that happens, what they want or need from a relationship. This often leads to deeper misunderstanding and will eventually lead to break ups. To avoid this kind of problem due to unsatisfied sexual urgings, it is very important for people to start discovering themselves and what they want by knowing their body’s needs and desires when it comes to sex.
This is where erotic massage ushers in: to make people understand that self-erotism can help them to understand the messages the body sends continuously and their meaning. In reality, giving a hug, holding, touching, living the sensation of a warm body close to yours, is more than you might think: it’s intimacy, participation, abandon, essential ingredients for creating harmony and warmth, and thus achieve the pleasure that can satisfy both the male and female.
The preliminaries
It is innate for a human being to have a profound need of caresses. And this concerns not only males but females as well. This yearning for constant intimacy through touching shows how important the influence of erotic massage is for a couple.
In order to enjoy the thrills of pleasure that can lead to orgasm without any foreign erotic stimulator or intercourse, learn how to give and receive an erotic massage. Aside from giving you and your partner total relaxation, erotic massage will also help you to experience extended or multiple orgasms. But, in doing erotic massage, it is very important for the couple to understand the premises of a “give and take.”
Whether you will be the first to give and receive the erotic massage, keep in mind that it’s best to perform erotic massage while your lover is lying on a flat surface. After preparing your space to be warm and pleasing, you can start with a sensual and relaxing general massage before shifting the focus to your partner’s sex centers. The general idea here is to bring your partner to high levels of arousal and keep him or her there hanging for a while.
Although both of you will enjoy erotic massage, it has its own rituals for men and women. Erotic massage for the male is best done through verbal or non-verbal communication, which allows stimulation to be slowed down, changed, or stopped before ejaculation becomes inevitable. For the female, erotic massage is best done by using G-Spot or the clitoral massage to bring her to multiple orgasms, which naturally tend to take place over an extended period of time. Although erotic massage is ideal for opposite-sex partners, it can work equally well for same-sex partners.
After the erotic details
Selfishness has no room for this very special and arousing type of massage. After climaxing in the pleasure brought by erotic massage, it is very important to keep the communication lines open especially if it’s your first to do it. Aside from learning some other skills that will help you to unleash your sexual prowess, it is equally important to take some virtual notes about your partner’s arousal levels and channel this knowledge to make the relationship better.
Studies show that the most common cause of today’s health problems is stress. Aside from improper diet, and unhealthy life style, prolonged periods of stress subconsciously affect many systems of the human body. More than we could ever imagine, stress is an indispensable part of our everyday lives. No matter how hard we try, we couldn’t combat it when it starts to strike us. The least we could do is to acknowledge the portent of the things to come and find ways to prevent possible health problems such as gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, memory loss, and decreased immune function.
Apart from stress-relieving tablets and capsules advertised in the television, one of the most popular stress-reduction being practice nowadays is massage therapy. By definition, massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues that include muscle, skin, tendons, and associated fascia, ligaments. Massage therapy also concentrates in treating joint capsules in the body. Apart from decreasing muscular tension and increasing the removal of metabolic waste, massage therapy also promotes nutrient delivery to healing tissue caused by extended periods of stress.
The blessings of massage therapy
Indeed, massage therapy has become a significant part of general health care for many people living in today’s stressful world. Numerous professionals and even traditional healthcare systems throughout the world recognizes that massage therapy can play an important role in treating chronic ailments can and contribute to a higher sense of general well-being.
Considered as the modern antidote for stress, massage therapy helps combat stress by trying to reduce the tension build up in the muscles. Aside from boosting the body’s immune system, massage therapy prevents the decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues. Known as one of the ultimate “stress reducers,” more professionals are advising their patients to include massage therapy in their health care treatment plans.
People, especially those who live by the rule of stress, find massage therapy very helpful in so many ways. Among the extensive benefits of massage therapy, most people consider the therapeutic affect of the treatment on their bodies. Since massage therapy causes diverse physiological effects due to the therapist’s hands moving over the body, its therapeutic affect is proven to improve health by acting directly on the muscular, nervous, circulatory and immune systems.
Aside from aiming to develop, maintain, rehabilitate, or augment physical function, massage therapy also relieves or prevents physical dysfunction and pain. Massage therapy also relaxes tight and tense muscles while improve circulation, recovery time, and immune system function, which reduce overall stress. And with the continuing research on the beneficial effects of massage therapy, its effectivity was also discovered in controlling chronic or acute pain.
Concentrated in creating different movements that can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia, massage therapy also encourages the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms, and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system.
But, far from the common conception, elementary knowledge of massage therapy is not enough for ordinary individuals to practice it. Being a regulated health profession, massage therapy requires professionals who have completed hours of education at accredited schools and have extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, assessment, bodywork techniques, and pathology to know when massage therapy is or is not suitable.
With the array benefits massage therapy offers to people especially in stress reduction and in creating a sense of relaxation and well-being, it is no wonder that a wide patronage of it will increase energy and will improve people’s outlook on life.
Want to de-stress and detoxify yourself after a long week of tension, panic and chaos? Why not try a massage to ease that nagging back pain or that perpetual crick in your neck?
One of the most common Western form of massage must be the Swedish or full body massage. In this treatment, not only is special attention focused on your back, legs, arms and neck, it will also tackle your stiff shoulders, your bulging stomach and your ticklish feet.
The Swedish massage was developed by Pen Henrik Ling in Sweden in the 1830′s. It employs light to medium pressure and aims to hasten the return of blood from the extremities back to the heart. It is designed in such a way that muscles relax by applying pressure to them against deeper muscle and bones while simultaneously rubbing in the same direction as blood flow back to your blood pump.
To professionals, the Swedish massage is a system of long, gliding strokes, kneading and creating friction on the uppermost layer of the muscles. It is a vigorous activity developed to bring energy back to the body through the newly stimulated circulation.
There are five basic strokes in a full body massage, all of which flows towards the heart. In this treatment, blood flows back to the heart not through venous pressure but by the action of the muscles. The soft tissues are manipulated to aid this flow and to reduce the pressure in the veins. As it is, it produces a good circulation without increasing the work the heart has to do. This prevents overworking your heart and slims down the chance of contracting any disease connected to it.
Since this is a full body massage, patients are usually requested to lie on the massage table, devoid of clothing. Not to worry though, since most of the body is draped with a towel or a blanket. The masseuse only bares the parts to be massaged and works on them in a manner that will not threaten the client’s privacy.
Why are so many people into this? Well the answer lies in the numerous benefits you’d gain from this full body massage. It induces general relaxation of the body, relieving stiff muscles and joints. It also soothes away pains especially on the back and neck areas. It stretches the ligaments, keeping them pliant and supple. Plus, it improves muscle tone and retains smooth, soft skin over the whole body. Ooh la la!
Amongst other things, full body massages is said to help remove metabolic waste products in the body. Since circulation is stimulated, the removal of toxins from the cells, as well as the lactic and uric acid, is accelerated. Another is that a massage gently stimulates the weak and infrequently used muscles of the body, toning them in a way that exercise can’t.
And not only that, the rhythm and pacing of movements lull the client into a more relaxed state, allowing emotions to be sorted out and stress to be relieved. A calm mind and clear thoughts surfaces allowing for more responsible decision making and analysis.
And lastly, a full body massage along with some nice music and natural ambience makes for a sense of well being and reduced anxiety. It creates a connection between the body and mind, an awareness of the body’s physical state and kindles energy from all levels.
