Massages are an effective way to reduce pain and stress. There are many ways stress impacts your wellbeing, so it’s important to alleviate it before it creates serious health issues. With colder weather comes a higher amount of time indoors, making our bodies more prone to stiffness. Learning how to give yourself a neck and shoulder massage at home allows you to tackle tension areas and de-stress amidst the hustle of the holidays. These tips will help you figure out how best to incorporate the practice at home.
Face
Many people overlook the amount of tension they hold in their face muscles. Massaging your face can reduce headaches and leave your skin looking firmer. Applying a small amount of product to your fingertips before getting started will make it easier for them to glide across your face while massaging.
First, using your fingertips, motion upwards from your brows to the top of your forehead. Move your fingers outward and repeat, making sure to lift your fingertips and bring them to your brows as opposed to motioning your fingertips back down. Make light circular motions around the rest of your face, particularly where the jaw connects. To finish, give your ears and earlobes a gentle rub.
Neck and Shoulders
The main reason you want to know how to give yourself a neck and shoulder massage at home is probably that this is where you tend to carry most of your tension. When we’re working, many of us let our shoulders slouch forward, making the muscles in these areas tight. For example, virtual meetings and work-at-home set ups involve long hours in front of the computer, which leads to neck and shoulder pains.
Allow your shoulders to drop away from your ears. Tuck your chin into your chest, stretching the back of your neck. Firmly place a few fingertips where the neck and shoulders meet. Press and hold, rolling your shoulders back and forth as desired. If you experience sharp pain or any numbness, you’re pushing down on a nerve and should reposition your fingertips.
A neck massager can give your neck and shoulders a deep, relaxing massage. Neck massagers work through TENS Technology which involves application of targeted electric impulses, gently moving through the skin. It supports muscle-deep relaxation, stress reduction, and pain reduction. When shopping for a neck massager, only buy from a trusted seller to ensure good quality product, such as RelaxUltima.com.
Lower Back
The lower back commonly experiences tension because of poor posture and sudden movements. Lower back pain is a common reason for consulting physicians. While pain relievers can provide relief from pain, they are usually only temporary. Massage can help ease lower back pain, along with early diagnosis and other medical interventions which would rule out the real cause of pain.
Place a tennis ball between your back and the wall. Press against the ball so that it compresses slightly, making sure that your body isn’t experiencing any pain. Move the ball along the wall, rolling it in every direction to cover all areas of tension. You can also perform this massage by laying on the ground with the ball between you and the floor. However, you should only perform this move for a few minutes at a time to avoid irritating any sore tissue in the back.
Feet
To massage your feet, use a tennis or lacrosse ball. Sitting down, place the ball under one foot, and roll it around the entire bottom surface area, applying mild pressure. Roll from heel to toe, then switch feet and repeat.
Recommended Massage Oils For At-Home Spa
- Jojoba Oil: This massage oil is good for massaging problematic skin. It has antibacterial properties that can speed up wound healing and treat eczema, acne, and other skin conditions.
- Avocado Oil: This green fruit isn’t just for your favorite salad or your toast. Avocado oil can also be used as a massage essential oil, which is fully-loaded with vitamins A, D, and E, and omega-3 fatty acids, perfect for parched skin. Because avocado oil is quite heavy, it’s best to mix it with lighter massage oils such as almond and apricot kernel.
- Sunflower Oil: This lightweight oil extracted from sunflower seeds works well on any skin type. It won’t leave your skin feeling greasy after the massage. Also, sunflower oil is packed with vitamin E which has antioxidant properties. Thus, you get to protect your skin from harmful free radicals while getting a soothing massage. Sunflower oil contains essential fatty linoleic acid, helping skin retain moisture.
- Grapeseed Oil: Extracted from the seeds of grapes, your skin can benefit from this lightweight oil as it smoothly glides on your skin, offering long-lasting moisture. Grapeseed oil is often used on sensitive and acne-prone skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
The holidays are a joyous time, but they inevitably bring on lots of stress. Provide yourself with the gift of rest and relaxation throughout the holiday season by taking a moment to get or give yourself some massage therapy.
