Giving a Full Body Massage
Contrary to popular belief, giving a basic full-body massage is not actually all that difficult. With a little preparation and planning you can learn how to give your partner, friend or family member a simple, relaxing massage.
The key to any massage is the atmosphere in which it takes place. When preparing for a full-body massage, remember that the room needs to be both ambient and comfortable. Scented candles, dim lights, soft music and plenty of cushions and towels all help amplify the relaxing effects of massage, whilst any kind of solid but padded surface (anything from a bed to a gym mat on the floor) is an ideal substitute for a professional massage table.
To begin, have your partner remove their clothes to whatever degree they feel comfortable, lay them on their stomach, and apply scented essential oils to their back. Using the tips of your fingers, stroke up and down the sides of the neck, exerting light pressure as you move along your partner’s skin. Stroke up to the temples before coming back down to the base of the neck. Applying pressure with your thumbs, begin moving out towards one shoulder. Pay particular attention to the area where the neck and shoulder meet—a lot of people carry plenty of tension here!
After using your thumbs to work out any knots in the shoulder area, apply a little more oil to your hands and work your way down the sides of the spine with smooth, outward circular motions. Return to the top of the shoulder area, taking care to massage their sides on the way up, and run your hands down their arm, kneading the triceps and bicep, and exerting mild pressure on their forearms and palms.
The lower back is a very important area. This is where most people store their stress and tension, so spend some time on this area. Rub up and out on the lower back area, using the heel of your hand to apply as much pressure as your subject finds comfortable. Begin to move down to the buttocks, thighs, and calves before taking time to work on their feet.
At this point, ask your partner to turn over. Starting from the feet, move back over their legs, paying attention to the quads and pelvic region, then begin to move up and over the abdomen. Remember to lessen the pressure when massaging the abs, as pressing down on someone’s stomach can be very uncomfortable. Knead in large, slow circles, moving up towards the ribcage.
Start to move your hands towards the chest, focusing attention on the breastbone. Using your fingertips, lightly rub from the middle to the outside of the pectoral muscles, going from the bottom of the ribs to the collarbone. Finish at the neck, kneading each side gently, and rubbing lightly with your thumb along the jawbone to just below the ear and back. Many people also like a light temple and head massage at this point, just to finish off the treatment.
