How to Give a Massage in a Chair

Most likely when you think of learning how to give a massage you think of the person being massaged as laying down on a massage table or even a bed. At any rate they are prone. But there is a place for giving a massage to someone in a chair. You may have even seen this being done if you go to some holistic or health fairs. I have even seen it done at a flea market.

Chair massage is sometimes called corporate massage since it's frequently practiced in the workplace. But it can be performed anywhere with the right equipment. It uses a specially-shaped chair that allows the client to sit comfortably, face-forward at a slight downward angle. The legs are bent, knees propped up and the whole body is relaxed even though the person isn't lying but sitting.

Gravity relief is similar to specialized office chairs that prop the knees up, lying back at an angle. This relieves stress on the lower back and the neck. Specialized chairs of that type are sometimes used by home office workers who spend long hours at the computer. In this case, the body is simply flipped 180 degrees, to face down instead of up.

That allows easy access to the neck, shoulders, back and arms, which are the main areas of chair or corporate massage. Leg, glute and feet work are much less common in these circumstances.

The benefits are numerous. Work-related stress is one of the most common ailments, accounting for billions in lost productivity every year. Even though sessions tend to be shorter - 10-30 minutes rather than the usual hour - they are effective in relaxing and re-energizing the recipient.

The practice has several benefits for the massage therapist as well.

Chair massage practice requires that therapists make 'housecalls', but many do that anyway. When traveling to the recipient's home, there is extra time and hassle required, and the occasional risk. Often it's difficult to charge enough extra to make the added effort worthwhile. In a corporate setting, many clients can be accommodated in a central area in a shorter time. That increases income and produces more happy workers, too.

The same practice can be carried out at the therapist's office as well. But chair massage can also be performed in the client's home if lugging the chair isn't too difficult.

Since the chair provides an effective angle for work, elbow and forearm work is made easier. That saves a lot of strain on the hands, always a concern for massage therapists. A large amount of force isn't required to produce the desired result. A simple lean with the therapist's knees, allowing gravity to work rather than muscular strength, is all that's needed. Placing the leg closest to the client behind, align with the client's back, with about a foot of space between, and a simple natural angle is achieved.

Be sure not to hunch over, keep the line of the shoulders open and parallel to the client. Then let your body weight sink into the client. Gravity does much of the work for you. This reduces any arm or hand pressure required, saving the therapist effort and possible work-related stress injury.

Hands come into play during work on the neck, but even here the forearm can be made use of, again saving those important hand and finger muscles for when they're really needed. The client receives an excellent massage and the therapist reduces effort.

How to Give a Massage - Massge Techniques for Neck and Shoulders

Now that it seems with virtually everyone using a computer for long hours every day, the problems of neck and shoulder aches can affect anyone. Fortunately, a partial solution to these aches can be provided with a few simple, easy to learn massage techniques that nearly anyone can use. Just follow these quick guidelines to learn how to give a massage that will help the person with the aching neck and shoulders.

Have the recipient lie down on a mat or soft carpet as a massage table is not usually among the standard items of furniture in the average home. Have him or her take a few deep breaths, exhaling well to try to relax the whole body.

It may help to place a rolled towel briefly under the body at the top of the back, just below the base of the neck. This helps stretch out muscles which are tensed, prior to working them.

Now, positioned above the person, cradle the head with one hand, turning it slightly in one direction. Knead the chest muscles first. These, paradoxically, are often one of the primary culprits. If they're tight, they can cause the back muscles to tense, pulling the neck muscles with them.

Then work your way up, rubbing the trapezius at the top of the back, then onto the other muscles in the neck. The trapezius is one large muscle group - the top portion for part of the neck system, which fan out into large triangles on both sides of the spine.

Then, switch hands, turn the head slightly the other direction, and repeat.

Making small circles using the tips of the fingers, work the other neck muscles, then slide the fingers down the length of the muscle to the middle of the back and up again.

Turn the recipient over and repeat the procedure in reverse, starting with the base of the skull. Work down the trapezius pair, then over to the chest muscles. Sometimes a pillow under the chest will help create elevation that both stretches the neck and provides room to work. Move the head side to side very gently and stretch just ever so slightly.

Long, moderately firm, gliding strokes are ideal for this type of massage. Be prepared to go slowly and cover a much wider area than just the neck, since the source of the problem is often away from the spine and base of the skull.

I hope these massage techniques tips will help you along your path in learning how to give a massage. I am sure the recipient of this little massage therapy will be very grateful. For additional techniques, check out the Massage Therapy Handbook

Learn the Effluerage Massage Technique

I've published a few articles out on the general topic of how to give a massage. I will post them here over time.

In one, one of the massage techniques that is most common is discussed. This is the technique of effleurage. It is the general technique used in the massage style of Swedish massage which is the most common massage therapy style.

Effluerage is conducted, mostly, with the palm of the hand making long stroking motions. Different amounts of pressure are applied depending upon the part of the body being massaged and the intent of the massage. A massage that is part of a romantic evening for two will be different from a massage given as part of sports massage therapy.

You can consider effluerage to be the first of the strokes to learn as part of how to give a massage. It is easily practiced on the major large muscles of the back.

Learn How to Give a Massage Together

What a great idea from this article! You know how special a massage can be. So special you came to this site to learn about how to give a massage. And nothing is better than getting a massage from your loved one or giving a massage to your loved one.

But, as this article suggests, a very special gift would be for both of you to enroll in a class to learn how to give massage with the outcome that you have each other to practice on. The best thing would be the very romantic and special graduation party you could have just between the two of you practicing all that you have learned. A really great idea!

We'll be seeing some more tips from this article, so you might want to check her site out as well...especially if you are interested in having a happy her. ;-)

Mood and Warmth are First Considerations in How to Give a Massage

First things first in how to give a massage. Giving a massage starts with setting the mood and
environment in which you will give the massage. As one of the intentions of massage is for the
person receiving it to relax, the place where it takes place should be quiet and restful. Calming low music playing can add to the restful atmosphere you are trying to create.

Although your first inclination may be to set up your quiet restful environment in a room within a building, don't overlook the realxing areas that might be available to you outside. This is especially true if you are an outdoorsy person. Outside near the beach where you can hear the waves rolling up on the beach or beside a babbling brook listening to the water rolling down over the rocks can help begin releases all the stress and tension you hope massage will remove from your body.

However, another important component of setting the mood and environment is to have a warm place to conduct the massage. As we relax, our heart rate slows and we begin to cool down. If oils are used, those too could cool you down. It is best to maintain a comfortably warm temperature. 70 to 75 degrees is normally consider to be the zone but you may find you like it a little warmer. Keep towels and draping sheets available and after the massage, be sure to cover yourself or whoever you are massaging to maintain a comfortable body temperature and keep the relaxation going.

For more information on how to give a massage, you might want to consider the ebook listed in the left hand column. Good thing about an ebook is that you can always print another copy if you get oil all over it while trying to learn how to give a massage. ;-)

Pulled Muscles Benefit from Learning How to Give a Massage

Want a good reason why it's good to learn how to give a massage? In an article on speeding up healing found here , the author talks about an Australian study that found if a pulled muscle is tended to by massage therapy within three hours of starting to hurt, the muscle would be 1/3 less sore and swollen than it normally would be three days later with no massage. The massage techniques used relieve the soreness and reduce the swelling besides just feeling good. So learning how to give a massage could just be the best gift you could give yourself or your family.

Massage Techniques Used for Sports

We will give more tips on sports massage as we go along here but first we are still setting things up. You might want to consider learning how to give a massage to help further a loved ones sports efforts. Here's what we mean:

In an press release dated 22 August, there is news of the Cortiva Institute - Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy sending therapists along to the Major Lacrosse League Championship to provide sports massage therapy both before and after games. Further details of how the Cortiva Institute got involved with the lacrosse players and what they will be doing at the championship games is provided in this pr release here.

Difficulties of Being a Massage Therapist in Some Towns Still

Used to be and still is to some extent that to find a massage therapist was difficult in some towns. It still can be hard to open a decent massage therapy storefront in some towns due to the old connotations of someone giving someone else a massage. To insure that a massage therapist was actually using massage techniques in an effort to aid and provide health benefits, some towns levied some stiff requirements.

In this article from SGVTribune.com, you can see the requirements to open a massage "establishment" in the town of La Verne. This town had required 500 hours of state board approved instruction and that the massage therapists have national certification. Whew! Now they have lowered it to 300 hours with a recognized school if they have 1000 hours, and can prove it, of experience as a massage therapist. Ouch! Wonder how they have to prove that. And if you can't work till you get 1000 hours, then guess you have to get that 1000 hours outside the town.

This just goes to show the long way some people have had to go to overcome the old image of massage therapy. Even in my own nearby town, there has been a good deal of discussion between the local authorities and those wanting to offer massage therapy in their establishments.

So as you go along your travels to learn to be a massage therapist or just learn how to give a massage to that someone special with the tips you pick up here, realize what a long road some have had to travel to give legitimacy to what is a grand health giving profession.

Welcome to the Newest Blog about Massage Techniques and Tips on How to Give a Massage

You come back from a long trip and walk into your home to be greeted by your loved one. The lights are low and the music is soothing. Better yet, there are scented candles burning in your favorite scent scattered around the room. What awaits you?

If you are very lucky, the first thing that awaits is a warm bath to ease your travel weary muscles. As you finish getting clean and and relaxing a bit, maybe even with a nice glass of wine, you are lead to your bedroom where further comfort and relaxation await. After you lie on your bed, you hear a top being removed from a bottle by the tinkling sound it makes. In just a moment, your back is being rubbed with a warmed scented oil and the wonderful massage begins. Slowly the last of your fatigue leaves your body as your muscles are kneaded and you feel as if you are sinking right into the bed.

What awaits you further on this night I will leave to your imagination. Perhaps just the best sleep you've had since you left on this trip. Perhaps...later.

If the above scenario arouses any desire in you for such an event, then just maybe the articles and tips for how to give a massage posted here can lead to this scene. You may be on the receiving end or on the giving end, but how nice it will be to learn how to give a massage. We'll look at different massage techniques and the different ways massage is used in therapy as well. I hope you will enjoy this little adventure as we bring you news, articles and tips from around the web.