How to Give a Good Hand Massage

Hand massages can be very relaxing.

Massaging the hands may promote relaxation and relieve aching joints. Hand massages benefit just about anyone but can be extra helpful for anyone who works with her hands a lot, such as athletes, those who type all day or play musical instruments. Whether you are massaging your own hands, or the hands of a friend, certain techniques make the experience more pleasurable and therapeutic.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Massage oil

1. Place a drop of massage oil in your hands and rub your palms together briskly. Your hands should be warmed before beginning any type of massage. If you don't have massage oil, you can use just a small drop of baby oil or vegetable oil.

2. Apply one drop of massage oil to the palm of the hands to be massaged.

3. Press your thumb into the center of the palm while holding the back of the hand securely. Rub the center of the palm in gentle but firm circles, as suggested by Alternative Health Guide.

4. Rub the periphery of the palm, rubbing upward toward the fingers. Start by pressing your thumb where the palm meets the wrist and push upward.

5. Rub the index finger of the hand, starting at the base of the finger and rubbing both sides at once with your thumb and index finger or middle finger. Work your way up to the tip of the finger, then give it a gentle tug to loosen the joints.

6. Massage each finger and the thumb the same way you massaged the index finger and then switch to the other hand.

7. Hold the other person's hand (if applicable) between yours and press then rub lightly, stroking the back of the hand with your fingertips.

Tips & Warnings

• According to reflexology, you can also stimulate pressure points in the hands this way. Consult a reflexology chart for the points and the bodily systems and organs they stimulate.

• Check with the other person often to gauge how much pressure you should apply. Some people prefer or tolerate more firm pressure than others.

References

• Alternative Health Guide: Arms And Hand Massage
• Chinese Holistic Health Exercises: Printable Hand Reflexology Chart