Massage to Reduce Stress

One of the best ways of discharging stress and staying happy and healthy is by having massage. What is massage?Massage is rubbing, kneading, tapping or otherwise manipulating the soft body tissue with the hands or with some instrument designed for this purpose. Massage relaxes tense muscles, eases stress, relieves pain and can help you get to sleep.

Where did massage originate?

Like acupuncture, massage therapy originated in China about two thousand years ago.

From there it traveled to India and took on a more sensual image. This is where the Hindu Tantric massage originated. It was used to awaken the kundalini or life force believed to lie coiled at the base of the spine.

Massage therapy traveled on across the land to Ancient Greece where it was used as a remedy for many ailments, especially those related to the athletic sports that were so popular. Even Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, used massage therapy in his practice.

From Greece on to Rome and to Persia. Now the full body massage became popular to loosen stressed muscles, relax nervous tension and increase the circulation of the blood.

Common Massage Techniques

The most common massage techniquesto reduce stress include effleurage, a light, firm and gentle stroking; petrissage, firm kneading and rolling of the tissues; frottage, or friction, deep direct pressure to release muscle tension; tapotement, hacking, tapping and clapping over the muscles and fleshy parts of the body.

Partners

If you or your partner are stressed then the massage technique below may help to reduce your stress levels.

Stand behind your partner and rest your hands softly over each shoulder. This is a hold, which will give her time to relax into the warmth and contact of your touch. After a stressful day, the caring, gentle presence of your hands on her shoulders will reassure her and help bring her attention to this area of her body, so that she can start to unwind.
Begin with passive movements, which will help to relax the shoulder joints and arms. Stand just in front of and facing your partner's right shoulder. Place your left hand lightly over it and clasp her hand in your right hand. Encourage your partner to let the whole weight of her arm drop and to allow you to make all the movements. Keeping her elbow flexed, extend her arm away from her body and rock it gently and rhythmically back and forth and up and down. The more confidence you display in your hands with the movement, the more she will be able to relax the weight of her arm and consequently the tightness in her shoulder. Now repeat these passive movements on the left side of her body. Stand behind your partner and rub a little oil or lotion into your hands, then begin to spread it with soft, flowing movements around the mid-to-upper back, shoulders, and upper arms. These stroking motions will begin to warm and relax the area, easing away stiffness from tense tissue. Let your hands fan out, encircle, and define the rounded
shape of the shoulders, shoulder blades, and sides of the body.

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