Massage for relaxation

Get up on fabulous massage techniques to indulge in a relaxing experience and soothe your cares away.

The calming power of touch forms the basis of many complementary therapies, including massage.

During massage, a variety of strokes are used to stimulate the soft tissues of the body, such as rubbing, drumming, kneading, wringing, friction strokes and applying deep pressure. It can be combined with stimulation of acupuncture points in which thumb pressure or fingertip massage help to balance the flow of Qi energy throughout your body.

The best known example of acupressure is Japanese Shiatsu – a word that means 'finger pressure'. In Shiatsu, practitioners may also use forearms, elbows and sometimes even their knees or feet, as well as their fingers, thumbs and palms to massage pressure points on the skin.

Enhancing benefits
As well as encouraging general relaxation and calmness, massage is helpful for easing muscle tension, anxiety, circulatory problems, high blood pressure, back ache, insomnia, low mood and stress. It also stimulates release of the body's natural painkillers to relieve discomfort. Massage also calms the mind by freeing unexpressed emotions that build up in the nervous system to cause muscle tension. By freeing these emotions, massage re-balances the mind, body and spirit to induce profound relaxation, strengthen the immune system and improve general health.

Pleasuring your partner
Giving and receiving a massage is a relaxing, pleasurable experience. Prepare a room so it is warm with gentle light, scented with your favourite aromatherapy oil, and play relaxing background music.

Ask your partner to lie face down on several towels lain on a firm surface, such as a mattress or the floor. Cover him or her with a large bath towel(s), and expose each area as you work on it.

Warm massage oil or lotion by rubbing in your hands before applying. Begin with long, flowing, gentle strokes that follow body contours and warm the skin. Always stroke towards the heart, and keep one hand in contact with their body at all times. Start to vary the pressure and length of stroke you use, if you wish, keeping movements flowing, rhythmic and gentle.

When you have finished massaging each area (back, arms, legs), recover with a towel before moving on. When you have finished massaging the back, ask your partner to turn over so you can work on their front. Finish by holding your partner's feet for a few seconds as this helps to 'ground' them.

Massaging your little one
Babies can also benefit from a regular massage to help them relax. The healing power of touch means that babies who are massaged regularly are more active, fall asleep better and gain more weight than unmassaged babies - as well as being better tempered, more sociable and less likely to cry. Premature babies who were massaged and gently stroked for 15 minutes, four times a day, were found to thrive better, put on weight 50% faster and develop improved co-ordination and ability to learn compared with babies who were not touched and massaged.

Only start to massage your baby when she is in good health and has passed her six-week health check Wash your hands thoroughly and remove your watch and jewellery Play some quiet, relaxing music. Show your baby lots of love and affection during the massage and talk or sing quietly to her throughout, maintaining eye contact as much as possible Make sure the room is warm, wrap your naked baby in a fluffy towel and place her on a soft changing mat on the floor Pour a little baby oil or lotion into your hands and rub them together to warm them Gently stroke your baby's chest using sweeping, gliding motions that are firm enough not to tickle but gentle enough not to hurt. You can also make small circular motions with your thumbs Repeat the massage on her arms, tummy, legs and back. Circular, clockwise massage around the navel can help to relive colic Finish the massage by stroking your baby softly and smoothly down her back with one hand following the other Be careful holding your baby afterwards, as she will be slippery.

Some babies get upset during their first massage. If so, wrap your baby in the towel and cuddle him close. Try again another day. Special classes to show you baby massage techniques are available in many areas - ask your health visitor or midwife.

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