Touch therapy is proven to be one of the best stress relievers because it invigorates not only the body, but also the mind and the soul. A massage clears the passages towards the harmonious function of ones mind and body, thereby unifying the two elements.

In the physical sense, a massage will definitely induce relaxation and good blood circulation. The motion from the massage also induces the excretion of toxins from the body.

People go to massage therapists every now and then to be able to experience a good massage. However, learning how to administer massage to other people is definitely something wonderful. Just think about giving a massage to your loved one and effectively relieving her of the pains in her muscles and joints.

There are many ways of giving massages. If we are going to be strict about it, there are more than 30 formally recognized types of massage all over the world. Which one do you use? Which one shall you opt to learn?

This chapter tries to give some basic tips on how to properly execute massages over the different prominent parts of the body. We shall discuss how to massage the back, foot, leg, hand and arm, neck and chest, face and head.

Back massage

One major body part that usually needs massaging is the back. The back usually hurts because of the posture and body structure of the person. A person who works all day in a chair will surely feel some stress on his back after a hard days work. A person who has a big belly can also expect to feel pain in his back because of the unwanted weight that it supports.

In giving a back massage, remember that the three parts that benefit most from a back massage are the spine, the shoulder blades and the hipbones. You can employ smooth circular presses along the shoulder blades to relax the muscles around the area. Smooth straight slides can be used to relax the muscles in the spine area. The hipbones are to be massaged with slow circular presses.

Foot and leg massage

An average person takes thousands of steps per day. Those who come to work with high heels or hard shoes will definitely suffer from foot pains after their work and will definitely want to have a foot massage. A good foot massage will allow for better circulation of blood in the foot. Stroking in an upward motion from the ankle to the leg will relieve the tension from the blood vessels. Ankle rotation is also one good way of relieving foot stress. And of course, one should not forget to gently massage the sole of the foot by giving circular presses around the painful areas.

Hand and arm massage

Making smooth stroke patterns along the arm and the hands will induce better blood circulation. Rotate the arms in a circular motion as well to loosen the joints. The hands should always be massaged gently to avoid causing further pain.

Neck and chest massage

Bad posture can lead to pain in the neck and chest area. Starting from the area below the ear, one should make smooth downward strokes up to the shoulder area. This would relieve the tension from the neck. Double-handed circular motion finger presses should be employed at the neck area at the back.

Face and head massage

Yes, the face can be massaged as well and a face and head massage can be very relaxing indeed. One of the best parts to massage in the face and head area is the pair of temples. Give some pressure while pressing the temples in a circular motion. Massage the cheekbones and the forehead as well for added comfort.

These are some pretty basic tips on how to give a whole body massage. At the end of the day, technical know-how and massage execution are very important, however, its the love and willingness to relieve your loved one from his or her body pains that really counts.