How to Give a Wonderful Back Massage

Who doesn't love a great back massage? And the good news is that learning how to give a proper and relaxing back massage is actually not that hard at all. Even if you never attended a masseuse school, you can still learn the basics of giving a great back massage.

Some Tips on how to Give a Back Massage

Here are some basic tips that you can apply in order to give a soothing and adequate back massage. Have your partner lie on their stomach on a firm and comfortable surface, such as a massage bed if you have one. If not, you can find something else that will do the job easily enough. Just make sure that you have complete access to their entire back without having to reach or strain yourself.

Stand or kneel by their side, placing one your hands on their lower back and the other hand goes up between the shoulder blades, or the heart. Then warm up their back by applying pressure with your thumbs along both sides of their spine simultaneously. You should start at the lower back and work you way up to the neck the area, rather than the other way around.

Then you would use a delicate stroke to apply the massage oil. You do this by using one long stroke and then sliding your palms down either side of the spine to the pelvis, and then you scoop your hands around their hips and back up the sides to the shoulder blades. Remember to constantly maintain contact with the back and always glide your hands rather than removing them completely when you are moving to another area of the body.

You should concentrate on the areas that feel hard or tight. These areas that feel tight are known as knots. If you can loosen up these knots, the person will feel looser and more relaxed. Always perform in a clockwise circular friction with your fingertips along the muscles that are close to the spine and around the shoulder blades, as these areas tend to be the tensest in a person. Also remember to always rotate the arms gently, one at a time, in order to help loosen the shoulder joints and enhance the blood flow.

There are many tremendous benefits that can be gained from a good back massage. Some of the benefits are; increased relaxation, improved circulation, increased body awareness and improved lymphatic drainage for release of toxins. One more thing to remember is that when you're giving a back massage, you must never put any direct pressure on the spine. Also avoid any broken skin, blisters or areas of possible infection.