SELF MASSAGE
We believe that practising simple self-massage techniques on a regular basis, even if only for a few minutes at a time, two or three times a week, will help to tone the body, relieve tension, ease muscular strain, and generally improve one’s health. What is not always appreciated, however, is that even when you are in good health, practising self-massage will help to maintain health and prevent susceptibility to illness or disease.
It is, after all, a quite natural reaction, when feeling tension or discomfort in the neck or shoulders, for example, to rub the back of the neck, or rotate the shoulders. Gentle friction at the side of the head, below the hairline and above the eyes, can be relaxing when you are “headachy”. Squeezing the calf muscles or stroking the arm, perhaps using baby oil or talcum powder, is also beneficial when arm or leg muscles are feeling strained. Pressing and rotating the fists into the small of the back, or above the buttocks, can ease backache and tiredness.
This is not to suggest that such self-massage is a cure for all muscular problems that may derive from physical or emotional causes. It is not. And if symptoms persist despite any of the techniques described here on in accompanying articles, then professional help has to be sought. But very often a simple ache or bodily dysfunction can be eased considerably by self-manipulation. Because massage stimulates blood flow it will relax tense muscles and relieve pain.
There are available, these days, a variety of simple massage tools that help people to “reach the spots that . . . “ hands alone will not reach, both electrical and manual.. Unfortunately there are also a lot of people and companies designing a whole variety of tools, seats, and other devices that will separate the gullible from their money, and that sooner or later find their way into cupboards or attics, never to be used again.
It is no part of our brief to extol the virtues of any of these devices. But we do believe that the primary device of all – the hands – may be taught techniques that will produce positive results. And self-massage, using the hands, can perform a dual function: if the massage is slow and gentle, it will be effective in relieving tension and relaxing the body; if it is performed quickly and firmly it will be invigorating, reducing fatigue and revitalizing the body.
A word of warning: if the skin is particularly tender, or if pain in a specific spot is particularly fierce, self-massage should either not be attempted or should be used extremely gently, without much pressure.