How to Give yourself a Massage

Massages increase blood circulation and the flow of lymph, which is a fluid responsible for carting away impurities and wastes. Massage also can decrease stress hormones and increase levels of endorphins, which are the body' s natural painkiller. They are great for reducing headaches, they promote sleep as well as fight cellulite. Take it from someone who is addicted to massages, they can get expensive. So if you can not go every month as I do, try giving yourself a massage. Here's how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Massage table
• yoga matt
• Blankets
• Pillows
• sheets
• scented oils

1. Head
   
   1. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to your hands and rub together. Pretend you're shampooing your hair. Moving your fingertips in small circles, rub all over your scalp, do not use your nails. Use both hands at the same time.
   
   2. Grab small handfuls of hair close to the roots and pull them gently. This feels so good and brings circulation and stimulates the hair follicles.
   
   3. Rub the back of your head, at the bottom of your skull and Make small circular motions with both thumbs, working from behind each ear in toward the center.
2. Neck
   
   1. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your hands and rub together gently. Now Gently squeeze the back of your neck at the base with one hand. Work upwards to the top of your neck and back again, gently squeezing and releasing. Repeat with the other hand
3. Shoulders
   
   1. Add some lavender oil to your palms and rub together gently. Put your right hand on the top of the left shoulder. Support your right elbow with your left hand.
   
   2. With your right hand, squeeze and release the muscles along your left shoulder.
   
   3. Then, inch down your back, massaging the muscles along the shoulder blade. Reach down as far as you can. Repeat on the right shoulder.
4. Feet
   
   1.Sit on the mat or blanket and rest one foot upon the opposite thigh where you can reach the foot easily.
   
   2. Put one hand on the top of the foot and the other hand on the bottom of the foot.
   
   3. Gently rub the top of the foot with your thumb as you hold onto the bottom of the foot.
   
   4. Now ... Stroke up and down with both hands in a continuous rhythm so that you are rubbing the bottom and top. One hand should be moving from the top of the foot to the bottom.
   
   5. Try with the other foot , repeating.
5. Heels
   
   Massage your heel by making small circular motions with your thumb. Move upward from the sole of the foot to your ankle. Then squeeze upward at the back of the ankle.
6. Toes
   
   Take each toe between your thumb and fingers. Massage each toe by squeezing and pulling
7. EARS. Make sure you are not wearing any earrings if you are, take them off.
   
   1. Lavender oil works well since it promotes relaxation. Massaging ears is rumored to treat nicotine cravings. Place your thumb behind your ear, near the top, and the side of the index finger in front of the ear. Squeeze lightly down the ear, working down to the ear lobe.
   
   2. Use the index finger to stroke in and around the middle rim of the ear.
   
   3. Gently tug at your ear lobe.
   
   4. Stroke the back of the ear with the index finger
   
   5. Massage the upper and outer rim of the ear between your thumb and index finger.
   
   6. Repeat on the other ear.

Tips & Warnings

• Touch is a healer and it helps. We instinctively rub our bumps , cuts and scrapes and bruises. We pat our babies to sleep, and put an arm of comfort around the sad and people who are down. But can touch actually help heal specific ailments? Apparently so.