Infant and Child Massage

The Art of Infant and Child Massage 

People have been massaging babies and children for centuries. It is considered one of the most effective healing arts of traditional culture through out the world. Although infant and child massage has not been accepted worldwide, it is an instinctive act from a parent to his or her child. 

In the last decade, the popularity of child massage exploded in the USA and other parts of the world. Many fathers, mothers, guardians, friends and grandparents today are seeking instructors to educate and guide them through the art of infant and child massage. 

Massage is helpful for all babies, but it is particularly beneficial to infants. According to a particular infant massage research; massage helps in increasing weight gain in premature infants of up to 45%. In addition, touching the infant and Kangaroo care – the practice of holding the baby on the adult’s chest – is now proven to shorten the hospital stay of the baby. 

Benefits of Infant and Child Massage 

Infant and child massage is important to develop and improve emotional, physical and psychological characteristics of your child. 

1) Relaxation – Although you may think that your infant’s life only involves a routine of changing diapers, eating and sleeping, they are actually caught up in a state of constant changes. Meaning, from the mother’s warm and comfortable womb, they are now in a world where everything else is new. 

Even infants and children are prone to stress. Since the fast-paced world causes adults to forget about relaxation, their infant or child notice this and they themselves cannot learn to relax. 

Massage eases the muscles, which leads to relaxation. When you practice massaging your child on a regular basis, he or she will learn the fundamentals of relaxation and eventually learn how to relax on their own. 

2) Parent Awareness – Since the adult will be regularly involved in helping the infant to relax, he or she will be able to understand the child’s needs. In addition, it is a great way to develop bonding with the infant at an early age. 

3) Relief – It is normal for your child or infant to experience pain. The most common discomforts of babies are spasm, gas and teething pain. Certain massage techniques can help relieve the pain, ease muscle spasms, disperse gas, relieve pains associated with teething, tone the digestive system and ease emotional stress. In massaging the infant, you can also purchase soothing oils, which have aroma that could calm the child. 

4) Stimulation – A child’s muscles can become tensed and may need to be massaged for relaxation. On the other hand, these muscles can also be loose, which can be stimulated by means of massage. 

Child massage not only helps in stimulating the muscles, it can also stimulate other systems of the body. For instance, massage helps aid digestion, which in turn, could ease the symptoms of constipation. 

Infants usually have cold hands or feet. When this happens, it means that the child has poor circulation. To counter this, massage the hands or feet until it becomes warm. Infant massage helps in stimulating blood flow. 

5) Parent-child Bonding – The bonding of a parent and child is a continuous process from the infant’s early age until he or she becomes older. Infant or child massage encourages a unique and strong interaction between the parent and child. 

When you make it a habit to massage your child daily, he or she will expect the schedule for the massage. You could either massage them once they wake up, after a bath or before going to sleep. 

Make sure that the room where you will be massaging your infant is warm and comfortable for you both. Remember that premature infants cannot regulate their body temperate, it is important to set the room temperature at a comfortable level. 

Several studies have shown that infants prefer massages with oil. Most massage therapists recommend aromatherapy, plant or vegetable oil, which can provide a gentle scent. Make sure not to use any other mineral-based oils, which are not easily absorbed. 

The first few weeks of the baby’s life may seem all about breastfeeding and mother-infant interaction. Since most fathers may feel left out, infant massage can be a great way to bond with the new child as well as alleviate certain body pains of the baby. 

Although infant massage can only eases pain temporarily, it is the most natural and loving act a parent could give their child at an early age.

The Power of Self-Massage

How Self-Massage Can Improve Your Well-Being

The Practice of Self Massage 

In ancient times, self-massage was one of the most popular methods of healing various ailments. Together with infusions or mixtures made from herbs with healing powers, self-massage was recommended by doctors to their patients as an effective way to alleviate pains. 

This practice is also used today. There were also several studies that showed beyond any doubt the benefits of self-massage for the overall health, as well as for specific medical conditions. 

It is well-known that the human touch has a very big importance in the development of children. Even adults who don't get their daily fix of human touch are more prone to developing depression than those who benefit from the touch of other persons. 

Self-massage has a broad range of benefits. It improves metabolism, speeds up the digestion process and helps eliminating waste more effectively. It also improves the blood circulation and relaxes the muscles. All these physical effects have their correspondent in psychical ones. The individual will feel more relaxed and even smarter, given the fact that massaging various centers in the body helps improving focus and clears the mind. 

The biggest advantage of self-massage is that it can be practiced virtually anywhere: in the bus, at work, while shopping or while waiting in line for various errands. It can also be performed while watching your favorite TV show. you can do it with or without your clothes on, as long as you find yourself a comfortable position. 

This article covers a basic massage technique for hands, shoulders and feet. You can use it for alleviating various pains in your body, so read carefully and give it a try. 

1. Hands Massage 

As you probably know already, we use our hands a lot each and every day. From cooking to eating, from driving to operating a computer, everything requires us to use the hands. They could benefit from a relaxing massage, so here's what you can do: 

Start by stroking one of your hand with the other one, using gentle, circular moves. If you want, you can use some hand cream for a better feeling. The next step is to squeeze your hand, then move towards each finger and press it gently from the base to the tip. Pull and stretch your fingers one by one, then repeat the procedure with the other hand. 

With your thumb, massage the palm of your hand, following a circular pattern. Work it from the base of the fingers to the wrist, making sure to insist on the joints and tendons. 

2. Feet Massage 

Feet are very important. Ancient Chinese believed that the entire human body with all its organs is represented on the foot. By massaging those zones, your organs will also benefit, thus helping you improve your well-being. 

For an effective self-massage of the feet, you need to rest one of the feet on the opposite leg, then use both your hands to massage your sole with gentle moves up and down, insisting on those areas where you fell tension or pain. 

Toes need a special attention. Take them one by one and rub them slowly with your fingers. When you are done, apply some nourishing cream or lotion on your feet and relax for a while in order to allow the skin to absorb the nutrients and the moisture. 

3. Shoulders Massage 

If you spend a lot of time at your desk every day, you probably know already how painful and tensed your neck and shoulders can become at the end of such a demanding day. You can alleviate neck pains and relieve the tension in your back and in your shoulders by applying a special self-massage during your lunch break or whenever you have a spare moment in your work. 

Start the massage by sitting in the right position at your desk. Mold your palms to the natural curves of your shoulders, then apply gentle strokes as you glide from the back of your neck towards the shoulders, arms and elbows. Repeat the strokes for about 3-4 minutes. 

Grab and pinch the upper part of your shoulders and start to apply gentle squeezing while you more up and down. You can also massage your face, as well as your scalp. 

It's true that a massage therapy applied by a professional can be extremely effective, but it is also true that in the absence of the therapist we can do little things like self-massaging our hands, feet and shoulders in order to improve our well-being and to put ourselves into a more cheerful and relaxed mood. Self-massage is very powerful and besides it is absolutely free and easy to do pretty much everywhere. Take advantage of it and enjoy your days more. It's in your power to feel better, all you need to do for this is to make good use of your hands. 

Self Massage 

In the old days healers made medicine by mincing and dissolving herbs and self-massage was a common practice for maintaining good health and relieving body pains. Self-massage is the easiest form of instant healing. When you unconsciously rub an aching knee or a throbbing head, the pain is relieved through a simple instrument – the hands. 

Until today, this practice has been used all over the world. With a large number of studies on self-massage, there is substantial medical evidence to prove the great value and power of human touch. 

The human touch is so natural that people without it are more likely to become irritable and depressed. Many studies show that children exposed to a family where touch is normal grow up healthier – physically and emotionally – and more capable of withstanding pain than those deprived of touch. 

Self-massage has numerous direct effects on the health of a person. It aids in digestion, relaxes muscles, improves circulation, speeds up the elimination of waste and stimulates the lymph system. Moreover, the psychological benefits of self-massage produce a feeling of relaxation and well being, which cannot be compared to any modern medicine. 

Self-massage can be done anywhere. It can be performed with or without clothes, while watching TV or talking on the phone, as long as you’re in a comfortable position. 

The following simple massage techniques for the hands, feet and shoulders, which you can perform by yourself, can be used to alleviate certain body pains. 

1) Massaging the hands 

The hands are probably the most abused part of the body. Just think about all the daily tasks you perform with holding or clutching actions and other hand movements. The following steps can relieve the tension around your hands. 

First, stroke the back of your left hand, push upward to the wrist and glide it back gently. Squeeze the hand completely and then press it between your palm and fingers. Next, squeeze each of your fingers all over, making circular pressures with your thumb. Hold your finger at the base and gently pull and stretch it. 

Using your thumb, stroke the joints and tendons at the back of your hands. Then, turn your hand over and support it with your fingers. Do a firm, circular pressure with your thumb, working up to the wrist. 

End the massage by stroking the palm of your hand from fingers to wrist. Then repeat the steps for your other hand. When both hands are massaged, apply your favorite hand lotion. 

2) Massaging the Feet 

The average person walks around 115,000 miles in a lifetime. Since the feet hold the entire body weight, it’s no wonder why many people suffer from foot pain. Once you ignore a foot ache, it can lead to back aches, bad posture and fatigue. When you massage your feet daily, not only can it rejuvenate your body, it can also prevent further body pain. 

Massaging your own feet is easy. Sit and rest one foot on the opposite leg. Put one hand on top of the foot and the other under the sole. Stroke it smoothly from the toes to the ankles and slide it back to the toes. Repeat the step. 

Work on each toe by squeezing it firmly and carefully stretch each toe with a mild pull. Put pressure down the sole’s center and lines using one thumb on top of the other. Then, using your fingertips, stroke around the ankles up towards the leg and glide slowly back to the ankles. Work on the other foot and finish the massage by stroking your foot as you did in the first step. 

3) Massaging the Shoulders 

Many people suffer from headaches, stiff necks and aching shoulders after an exhausting day at work. Massaging your shoulders can alleviate these typical pains and allow you to have a good night’s sleep. 

Stroke your left shoulder with your right hand. Mold your right hand to the curves of your shoulders. Start the massage at the base of your skull, down to the neck, shoulders, arm and elbow. Glide back to the neck and repeat the stroking for two to three times. Do the other side. 

Clench your right hand into a fist and pound it gently over your left shoulder. Keep your wrists flexible and repeat the step on the other side. Finish the massage by performing a “hypnotic stroke” with your hands smoothly stroking your face, neck, shoulders and arms. Do this with both sides. 

Although going to a massage therapist can completely rejuvenate your body, time and money can be a disadvantage for some people. With these simple self-massage techniques, you can alleviate any body pain in the comfort of your home while saving hundreds of dollars. The power of self-massage is in your hands; use it.

The Perfect Massage

Give a Perfect Massage

A massage is arguably one of the best things one can have after a very stressful day. Nothing relieves the body of the aches and pains that it experiences other than a well given massage. 

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 one’s 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 day’s 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 age 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, it’s the love and willingness to relieve your loved one from his or her body pains that really counts.

The Ideal Massage

How To Give The Perfect Massage 

Arguably, massage is among the best things to get after having a really stressful day. There is nothing that can relieve the body of pains and aches like a good massage can. 

It has been proven that touch therapy is among the best methods for stress relief since it not only invigorates the body, but the soul and mind as well. A massage helps to clear the passage towards the body and mind functioning harmoniously by unifying these two elements. 

A massage in physical terms will definitely induce good blood circulation and relaxation. Also, the motion created by the massage induces toxins to be excreted from the body. 

Individuals visit massage therapists every once in a while to enjoy the experience of having a good massage. Another thing can be really wonderful is learning how to give a good massage to others. Just think how nice it would be to be able to give your loved one a massage and effectively reliever her of any pain she might be experiencing in her joints and muscles. 

There are numerous ways to give a massage. From a strict sense, there are over 30 kinds of massages that are formerly recognized all around the world. So which one should you choose to learn? Which one do you want to use? 

This article provides some basic tips for how you can execute massages properly over various prominent body parts. We will be discussing how to best massage the head, face, chest, neck, arm, hand, leg, foot and back. 

Back Massage 

The back is one of the major body parts that normally needs to be massaged. Usually the back hurts due to the person's body structure and posture. An individual who works in a chair all day certainly will feel stress on her or his back after working hard all day. Someone with a large stomach is also likely to experience back pain due to all the extra weight that has to be supported. 

When you are getting ready to give a back massage, keep in mind that there are three areas that will most benefit from having a back massage. They are the hip bones, shoulder blades and spine. Smooth circular presses can be employed along the person's shoulder blades. This will help to relax the muscles that are in that area. You can use smooth straight slides for relaxing muscles in a person's spine area. Slow circular presses can be used to massage the hip bones. 

Leg and Foot Massage 

Every day, the average individual walks thousands of steps. People who work in hard shoes or high heels definitely will have foot pain when they are finished working. They definitely could use a good foot massage. Having a great foot massage performed will provide the foot with better blood circulation. Stroking with an upward motion starting at the ankle up the leg relieves tension coming from the individual's blood vessels. Another good way to relieve foot stress is to rotate the ankle. The soles of the feet should also be gently massaged by providing the painful areas with circular presses. 

Arm and Hand Massage 

When smooth stroke patterns are applied along the hands and arms, this induces better blood circulation. The arms should also be rotated using a circular motion for loosening the joints. To avoid further pain, always massage the hands gently. 

Chest and Neck Massage 

Bad posture can result in chest and neck pain. Smooth downward strokes can be made, starting below the ear up to the shoulder. This can help with relieving neck tension. Employ circular motion double-handed finger presses in the back of the neck area. 

Head And Face Massage 

The face can also be massaged. In fact, a head and face massage can be very relaxing. The temples are one of the better head and face areas to massage. Provide some pressure as you press the temples using a circular motion. For added comfort, massage the forehead and cheekbones as well. 

So those are some basic tips for giving an entire body massage. In the end, massage execution and technical know-how are quite important. However, what really counts is the willingness and love to provide your loved one with relief from her or his body pains.