How to Give a Shoulder Rub

Next time you decide to rub a friend's shoulder muscles, try this simple massage technique instead. You don't need anything special to do a shoulder massage, and it can offer a great amount of stress relief. All you need is a straight-back chair and a couple of pillows.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Ask your friend to straddle the chair and face the back. Place the pillows in such a way that they pad his stomach and chest and give some support to his chin.
2. Start by resting your hands gently on the upper-middle portion of the back and then move them slowly to the triangle-shaped muscle on the side of the neck (trapezius muscle). Use a gentle squeezing motion, and with both hands moving in unison, work your way down to the end of the shoulder. Gradually increase the intensity of the massage but keep it comfortable and relaxing, repeating the series of movements three times. End with your hands at the base of the neck above the trapezius muscle.
3. Continue on the same side, and without disrupting the rhythm of the massage, place one hand on top of the other with your fingers lined up on top of each other. With your arms extended, position the bottom fingers at the base of the neck and start making small circles with your fingers. As you work your way along the top of the trapezius, gradually increase the pressure of the massage until you reach the end of the shoulder. Repeat this three times before you move to the other side.
4. Finish the massage with light strokes which start at the neck and go down the back, gradually softening your touch and finally removing your hands. Your hands should remain in contact with the body until the last stroke is finished. The massage is a continuous, fluid movement from beginning to end.

Tips & Warnings

• A massage should not be painful.
• Avoid massaging over a bony prominence because it's irritating to the skin and can cause pain.