Magic Wand Massager

This technique is one I call the "Ambassador" because it's easy  to get a shy person to agree to try it. I guess they think that, what the heck, it's only my hands. Massaging the hands is an important part of a whole body massage, but can be done separately. It's a good method to use for someone who uses their hands a lot. I could'nt say that it may help those with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but I'm sure that it would'nt be harmful. In my view, it would be a great help.

As with a foot massage, I encourage the recipient to soak their hands for a few moments in warm water. It seems to help the hands to relax. After that, dry off the hands  and apply a small amount of any good hand cream to the hands. When completed, have your volunteer be seated. You must sit close enough to him or her to be able to reach the hand comfortably. Now, let's begin.

Place your partner's hand in your left hand, palm up. Take the second knuckles of your right hand and rub them briskly on your partner's palm, making half inch circles as you rub. Be reasonably firm. Cover the entire palm, but not the fingers. Do this for about a minute. Next, take the hand and put both your thumbs on the palm, fingers on the back of the hand. Massage firmly using small circles once again, and cover the entire palm. Also cover the heel of the hand and even move up onto the wrist for about one inch, but with a gentler stroke. Rub around the bones of the wrist carefully.

Now you're ready to work the back of the hand with your thumbs. Be gentle. There are many sensitive nerves here. Once again, do the main body of the hand and about an inch of wrist. Feel around the small bones of the wrist and rub them carefully. When you're done, go to the next step. While the hand is in this position, ask your partner to extend their fingers. When they do, you'll see the tendons of the fingers going to the wrist. Starting with the valley between the first two tendons, rub your right thumb tip along the valley from the wrist to the web of skin between the thumb and forefinger. When you get near the web of skin, use your fingers on the other side of the hand to oppose your thumb and gently pinch the skin as your fingers come off the hand and meet together. Do the first and second valley using your right thumb. It will be easier to use your left thumb to do the two valleys on the left. Rub these valleys just once.

The next move is to take the hand, palm down and grasp it firmly with both hands. Place the heels of your hands on the back of your partner's hand and your fingers underneath in the middle of the palm. Apply pressure on the back of the hand and squeeze with your fingers simultaneously. Now alternately rub outward away from each hand, letting the heel of your hand come off of the side of your partners hand. Keep your fingers in place and let the heels of your hand one at a time rub outward. Do this for about a minute.

Now it's time for the fingers. Take your partner's hand, palm down, and grasp the thumb with your fingers at either side of the thumb. Pull on the thumb while doing a twisting motion back and forth with your fingers. Let your fingers come together at the tip of the thumb as you pull away. Do each finger in this manner only once.

The final step is to put your partner's hand between yours, your right hand palm down and your left hand palm up, with his or her hand palm down. Wait for a moment to let the warmth of your hands sink into your partner's hands. Then slowly pull your hands toward you opposite each other and coming together at the end of your partner's fingertips. Do this three times.

You may do all the steps on one hand first, then move to the other. Or, you may prefer to do each step first on one hand and then the other. Your choice. All my directions were given assuming that you are right handed. If not, then switch accordingly. You will find that when you touch someone with a massage, there is a communication that transcends words. Always be respectful of people's feelings with your words as well as your hands.

At this point, I wish to point out that I am not a professional masseuse. I consider myself a gifted amateur. Please take this advice with that in mind. I do know that this will be a better world if more people gave massages of all kinds. The physical act of touching is a very important and often neglected deed. We all could use more of it.

By: Willam Wyndham Wyatt

About the Author:

Bryce

A sad fact of life for a large number of women is that their thighs, hips, and stomachs are particularly susceptible to fat storage. Fat deposited just below the skin in these areas often takes on an unsightly "orange-peel" or dimpled appearance and is known as cellulite - the bane of many a woman's existence. Daily self-massage can improve the overall appearance of these areas of cellulite making the skin look firmer and smoother, and even give the illusion of weight loss. If your cellulite is solid and hard, you should use firm movements to soften the area and simulate circulation. If the cellulite feels soft and watery, your movements should be more gentle to encourage lymphatic drainage.

Use an oil blend that meets your needs. Marjoram and peppermint are noted for soothing the abdomen; rosemary and geranium for their invigorating effect; and juniper helps reduce fluid retention.

Abdomen and hips

Sit comfortably and rest your left hand on your diaphragm while your right hand applies about a teaspoonful of oil with clockwise strokes around the navel. Now introduce your left hand so that both hands are circling the navel.

Knead your hips, waist, and abdomen by squeezing and lifting your flesh with one hand and releasing it into the other. Knead all over this area, wherever you can pick up enough flesh.

With your left hand on top of your right hand, use your fingertips to apply gentle circular pressure all around your navel.

Finish by gently stroking all over your abdomen and hips. This is very soothing and stimulates lymph drainage.

Avoid using counterclockwise moves when you massage your abdomen as this opposes the natural working of the intestines.

Thighs

Apply more massage oil if necessary so that your hands move smoothly over your skin.

Gently stroke up from your left knee, directing your movements toward your inner thigh. Then stroke from the back of your knee up to your buttocks.

Knead your thigh from your knee up to the top of the leg. Use deep strokes to squeeze and lift the flesh. This stimulates the circulation and helps reabsorb excess fluid and wastes into the lymphatic system. Repeat on the back of your thigh.

Applying firm pressures, rotate the knuckles of both your hands all over the front and back of your thigh.

Place your left hand on the back of your outer thigh, and your right hand on the back of your inner thigh. Pull the flesh up to the top of your thigh, release, and cross your hands down the other side. Repeat this criss-cross movement several times.

Stroke very gently and smoothly from above your knee to the top of your thigh, and from the back of your knee to your buttock. This repetitive stroking encourages lymph drainage.

Repeat steps 1-5 on your right thigh.

Further tips to help in the fight against cellulite include: drinking at least eight glasses of water a day; eating a balanced, healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding salt, sugar, and processed food; and rubbing the affected skin regularly, during a bath or shower, with a loofah sponge or glove.

By: Robin Brain

About the Author:

Blaise

Prostate massage, when performed on a regular basis, can be used as a preventative treatment against prostate cancer. It is good for prostate health in general, and can decrease the risk of prostate enlargement--that is, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). Prostate massage is also a form of sexual play. Whatever your reason may be, let’s say you would like to do prostate massage on your husband or partner. Here is how to go about doing it.

First of all, make sure he is okay with having a prostate massage. Let him know the procedure so that he understands what will happen. If he seems comfortable with it, then you can go ahead with it.

Keep your fingernails neat and trim. File off any jagged edges.

Ask your partner to urinate or do a bowel movement before having a massage. It is important that he should be as relaxed as possible. You may want to try a relaxation technique as well.

Clean your hands, use a sterile latex glove, and dab a bit of water-based lubricant on the glove’s fingertips. Then gently insert your fingers into his anus. Carefully push them inwards and upwards, against the rectal lining towards his front side. Move your fingers roughly the direction of his navel.

You do not have to push in too far, just a little more than an inch--about 3 cm. Then you will touch the prostate gland, a small round bulb of tissue about the size of a large walnut. Give it a gentle massage by rubbing it lightly along its sides. Do not press hard on the gland’s central portion, as that is where some sensitive nerves are located. Do not touch the prostate gland with your fingernails.

At some point, your partner may feel like he wants to urinate, even though he does not have to. That may feel somewhat confusing, but try to reassure him and, if he is okay with it, you can continue.

Your partner will become stimulated and may even ejaculate--but it is all right if ejaculation does not occur, as it doesn’t always happen.

And that is how you give your partner a prostate massage.

By: Joseph Ducat

About the Author:

Hayden

Massage, a common method of relieving migraine headaches, can be done by a professional – or you can do it yourself using this technique.

A light massage combined with migraine pressure points will give you the greatest relief. You need only a few simple points about how to massage a migraine headache.

Migraine Pressure Point Defined

It is important to learn the migraine pressure point or points that bring relief. A migraine pressure point is a point on your body that, when pressed, will lessen the pain in your head. Surprisingly, a migraine pressure point is not necessarily the point that hurts most.

A migraine pressure point may be pressed and released in slow, rhythmical fashion, and deliberately massaged to gain relief. This will release congested energy and blood from the head and ease your pain.

Migraine Pressure Point Technique

You will be treating each migraine pressure point with these simple steps.

* Use only the pads of your thumbs or first two fingers – never the ends.

* Keep the pressure light to moderate, depending on how sensitive the point is to your touch.

* Press hard enough so you can feel hardness or tension under your thumb or fingers.

* If a migraine pressure point hurts so much that you can’t take a deep breath, apply less pressure on that point.

* Let your fingers sink into the migraine pressure point as you apply pressure gradually. Feel your thumb or finger going gently, gradually deeper and deeper.

* While your thumb or finger is as deep as you want to go, massage the point with tiny, circular movements of your finger.

* Keep your thumb or finger on the migraine pressure point until you feel a movement or change there. It may feel softer or warmer.

* Now slowly, gradually release the migraine pressure point until your thumb or finger leaves the skin.

* Repeat several times at same point.

Migraine Pressure Point Locations

Remember to be firm, but gentle. Insufficient pressure on a migraine pressure point will not be effective – too much pressure will create tension in your surrounding muscles.

Here are a few migraine pressure point locations to get you started. Start with the first, and work your way through each point, consciously relaxing as you do so.

1. Migraine Pressure Point at Base of Skull

Locate the bony base of your skull in back. Place your thumb pads under the skull’s base, each thumb about 1 inch from your spinal column. Holding your thumbs against the two points, tilt your head back slightly. Now press upward gradually, counting to 10, and breathing deeply as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage with tiny, circular motions of the thumbs, still holding the pressure. When you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 again. Repeat 5 times.

2. Migraine Pressure Point at Mid-Forehead

This migraine pressure point is located at the middle of your forehead, right between your eyebrows. Using the migraine pressure point technique described above, and your thumbs or one of the first two fingers, press inward gradually, counting to 10, and breathing deeply as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage with tiny, circular motions, still holding the pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.

3. Migraine Pressure Point at Eye Corners

Feel the face at the outer corners of your eyes. Move your fingers away from the eyes until you find the spots just behind the bone. Using the migraine pressure point technique and one or two finger pads, apply pressure gradually inward, counting to 10, and breathing deeply as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage with tiny, circular motions, still holding the pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.

4. Migraine Pressure Point on Hand

Surprisingly, you have a migraine pressure point on each hand. It’s the fleshy part between your thumb and index finger. Using the thumb pad and index finger of your opposite hand, gradually squeeze the upper portion of this migraine pressure point, counting to 10 and breathing deeply. When you reach the deepest point, massage with tiny, circular motions, still holding the pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 as you do so. Repeat 10 times.

5. Migraine Pressure Point on Foot

The last point you will use to massage migraine headaches away is located on the top of each foot. Locate the place where the bones come together between your big toe and your second toe. With thumb or finger pads, press downward gradually, counting to 10, and breathing deeply as you do so. When you reach the deepest point, massage with tiny, circular motions, still holding the pressure. As you feel a change in the point, slowly release the pressure, counting to 10 again. Repeat 10 times.

Different bodies respond differently to pressure points. These should work for you. If you want information on additional migraine pressure points, ask a local shiatsu professional. A professional will also be able to give you a complete treatment for relief or prevention of migraine headaches.

By: Anna Hart

About the Author:

Kelsie

The type of massage you use depends on the intensity of the headache and what your partner prefers. You can use very gentle feather stroking or deep firm pressure. It is generally best to start with slow, superficial stroking and then as the pain subsides and your partner relaxes and feels confident of your touch, you can apply firm pressures to key points.

Although every headache is different, I find that I get the best results by following this general pattern. Always use smooth, rhythmic, and compassionate movements.

Stroke up the forehead very gently and slowly, then rhythmically stroke the chest and shoulders, and up the back of the neck. Apply circular pressures behind the shoulders, up the back of the neck on either side of the spine, at the base of the skull, and on the scalp. Gently stroke the whole face from the center out to the sides. Press the bridge of the nose, then pinch the eyebrows, and press on the temples. Press in the middle of the cheek, directly under the cheekbone, and then apply a line of pressures up the center of the forehead, from between the eyebrows to the hairline. Circle around the eyes, stroking out along the eyebrows and gliding back gently under the eyes. Stroke rhythmically up the forehead with one hand following the other, as you did at the beginning.

If there is very little time, or I am treating a very severe migraine, I get the best results by imagining that my hands are magnets, drawing out all the tension and pain. Use the feather touch, and stroke the tension away from the head and off the body.

Many other types of massage can help relieve headaches including back, face, neck and shoulder, and hand massage. Shiatsu, reflexology, and aroma therapy may also help.

Self-help for headaches

One of the best ways to relieve your headache is with self-massage. First massage the back of your neck and head, then concentrate on your forehead, around your eyes, and on your temples. Very gentle, light stroking on your forehead also helps relieve even the most stubborn headache.

Shiatsu for headaches

Shiatsu is often very helpful, particularly for severe headaches. Many of my clients have told me that they can control headache pain by massaging acupressure points, particularly those found in the hands, wrists, ankles, and feet. One of the best shiatsu points to press is known as the "Great Eliminator." This is situated between the thumb and the forefinger; press around the area until you find a point that usually feels quite distinctive.

Do not press the "Great Eliminator" point during pregnancy; it's not called that for nothing! 

By: Robin Brain

About the Author:

Benny