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[1, 2, 3]
How to Give a Simple Loving Massage
Chapter 2
Area of contact: begin with broad hand contact, using your whole
palm, then get more specific by using smaller areas, like fingers,
thumbs and elbow to apply more direct pressure, finishing with several
minutes of broad hand contact again.
Pressure: always begin with light pressure when addressing any
area of the body. Gradually increase the pressure, and always finish
with lighter pressure again. Let your hand's sensitivity tell you
if this pressure increase is tolerated. Notice muscle twitches,
any signs of resistance, movements in other parts of the person's
body. Ask if the pressure is okay and be willing to alter what you
are doing. Don't lean so much on your partner that you are off balance-always
be prepared to take back your weight. Deep pressure can result in
the receiver being sore afterwards, and can potentially cause damage.
Direction of pressure: remember you are basically pushing blood
towards the heart. It is important to accentuate each massage stroke
with slightly deeper pressure towards the heart when you are working
on arms and legs.
Massaging each area of the Body
The Head: a nice place to begin. In supine position, lightly place
your hands on the head with your thumbs together at the forehead
and fingers spread out towards the ears, cupping the scalp. Slowly
and gently, circle your fingertips into the scalp. As you massage
the scalp, allow your fingers to travel to the sides of the head.
Turn the head to one side, supporting with one hand, and with the
other, continue kneading towards the back of the head and base of
the skull. Repeat on the other side. If there is enough hair to
grasp, try running your fingers through the hair and grasp a wide
handful of it, gently giving a tug. Finish with light stroking over
the hair from the forehead to the back of the head.
The Face: wipe your thumbs over the forehead several times, slowly
and gently. Use your first two fingers to circularly massage the
temples (between the eyes and the ears). Lightly wipe the same fingers
over the bridge of the nose, down the cheekbones, back to kneading
the temples. Wipe from the chin, up the jaw line to the temples
again. Repeating each of these movements three times can be very
soothing.
The Neck: cradle the head in your hands, with your fingertips at
the base of the skull. Continue with the gentle kneading motion.
Be very careful when moving the head to access the neck. Be firm
but gentle. Press your palms on the tops of the shoulders, and slide
your fingers in behind the neck as you draw your hands upwards towards
the base of the skull. Return your hands by gliding them down the
sides of the neck back towards the shoulders. Make this a fluid,
circular motion with a broad hand contact and repeat many times.
Use your knuckles to begin kneading the tops of the shoulders at
the base of the neck by making soft fists. Use your fingertips to
press into the muscles along the back of the neck as you repeat
the fluid circular stroke from the base of the neck to the base
of the skull, several times. You can work one side of the neck at
a time by supporting the head in one hand and gently using your
fingertips to glide down the side of the neck, up the back of the
neck, and down the side again. Take your time as you feel the texture
of the neck muscles. Imagine you are pressing along the length of
these long ropy muscles. Finish by gradually decreasing the pressure,
and return to the broad hand contact with fluid circular motion.
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