There are certain simple massages you can do yourself. Massage is a great “pick-me-up” after a hard day of work. You can also get benefits of massage by immersing yourself in a Jacuzzi with the water doing the massaging. Many massage and wellness centres offer workshops on massages and partner massages. It may be worthwhile going for a workshop to get some familiarity with this technique.
For the exercises given below you don’t need anything other than a few tennis balls, a quiet corner and your own two hands.
Head
Pressure points in your skull can relax your whole body. There are two very significant acupressure points at the base of the skull on what’s called the occipital ridge. If you apply consistent pressure there, you can achieve total relaxation.
How do you find these points and apply pressure on those spots? There is a simple solution.
Put two tennis balls in a sock and tie the end. Lie on your back on the floor and place the sock behind the upper neck, so that the two balls each touch the skull ridge that’s right above the hollow spot. Stay like that for 20 minutes.
If you like, you can listen to soothing music. The pressure on those acupressure points send messages down the spinal column to relax all the muscles and it is very effective.
Face
Just touch your face. There’s no need to knead it. With a very light touch, cup your cheeks and temples with your hands using no more pressure than the weight of a nickel.
Hold your hands there for a minute. The warmth of the hands relaxes the muscles and connective tissue, bringing on an overall sense of relief.
Jaw
Pull the sides of your ears gently straight outward, then straight up, then straight down. Or, with your index finger, press the tender spot next to your earlobe, where it attaches to your head. Press and release. Now do it on the other ear. Repeat, alternating ears, 10 to 15 times.
Torso
Get a quick boost by rubbing the area above your kidneys. That’s at waist level where the tissue is still soft. Rub briskly with your fists in a circular motion. This energizes the whole body.
Feet
Foot massage is very soothing. After you try the following techniques on one foot, switch feet and repeat.
Sit on a chair and place one foot on the opposite thigh. Rub some massage oil or lotion onto your foot if you like. Apply pressure with your thumbs to the sole of your foot, working from the bottom of your arch to the top near your big toe. Repeat five times.
Make a fist and press your knuckles into the bottom of your foot, moving from your heel to your toes. Repeat five times.
Massage each toe by holding it firmly and moving it from side to side. Extend each toe gently out and away from the ball of your foot. Then apply pressure to the areas between your toes.
Hold your toes in one hand and bend them backward holding them there for five to ten seconds. Then bend them in the opposite direction and hold for five to ten seconds. Repeat three times.
Press and roll your thumbs between the bones of the ball of your foot.