- By Cloud Massage Brand Team
Stress triggers various unwanted effects, creating the need for self-massage since it eases tension. Actually, the American Institute of Stress claims that 33% of people experience extreme Stress while 77% develop stress, weakening their physical health. Another 73% experience stress which destroys their mental health. Stress can reduce a person's life span, and so it needs to be controlled. You can achieve that by adopting a self-massage technique.
Self-massage for stress relief is highly effective because it relieves muscle tension, helping your body to relax. The practice involves pressure-point applications and soothing rubs. Other than relieving stress, massage increases concentration and boosts energy levels. You don't have to involve a massage therapist to reap the benefits of massage, such as reduced muscle tension, improved relaxation, better skin tone, improved blood circulation, and more. Instead, you can use advanced self-massage tools to perform a massage yourself.
Here, we've explained stress-relieving massage and the best self-massage techniques for relieving stress. Keep reading;
What's a Self-Stress Relief Massage?
Stress relief massage involves kneading and rubbing parts of the body with hands in order to relax the muscles and boost blood circulation. This activity halts the release of stress hormones. During the massage, you should gently apply pressure to the joints and muscles to ease tension and pain.
Stress influences our physical bodies since it triggers the central neural system to produce stress hormones referred to as cortisol or adrenaline. These increase heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension. But massage to relieve stress makes all the difference, leaving you feeling calmer and happier.
Which Massage is the Best for Stress Relief?
Massage for stress falls into two categories, which include low-tech and high-tech. With the high-tech technique, you will need several batteries and a wall socket. You can purchase a self-massage for stress relief equipment, including a relaxation chair that enhances relaxation with a single switch tap. You can use a massage gun to self-massage your tired and tight muscles to enhance relaxation. Furthermore, you can give yourself a massage with your hands.
How Can I Give Myself a Massage?
If you are looking for how to give yourself a self-massage, you can do that in these simple ways;
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Face Massage
With your two hands on your face and your fingertips pressing the forehead, keep your palm's heels under the cheeks. Then, pull down your facial skin gently. Make sure you are pressing the skin under your palm forward. Repeat the process rhythmically and keep tightening and releasing your palms and fingers.
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Massaging the Feet
To try out this self-massage for anxiety technique, remove your shoes and socks. Then sit with your legs criss-crossed. Using your two hands, grasp your foot arches and press gently with your thumbs. Start kneading all parts of your foot, from the heel to the toes. Repeat the same with your other foot.
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Neck Massage
If you want to know how to give yourself a neck massage, you only need to use your right hand to massage the left side of your neck and vice versa. While starting, gentle circular motions will do, and then rub your shoulder and neck muscle using your middle and index fingers. Complete the self-massage neck with a firmer massage. Firmly squeeze the neck and shoulder between the other fingers and the thumb.
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Self-Massage the Arms
Self-massaging arms can be easy. Just start with the top of your forearm. Using your opposite hand, squeeze the fleshy areas below the elbow. Start with the inner part of your arm, then to the outside. The self-massage for stress relief should be gentle. Don't inflict pain on your arms. Instead, the process should feel comfortable and relaxing.
Is Self-Massage Worth it?
Yes! It's necessary because self-massage promotes your body's health. With increased stress levels, you are prone to many diseases, including blood pressure, heart diseases, and more. But a self-massage for stress relief increases blood circulation, encourages the body to detox, slows aging, and stimulates body organs to function optimally. Self-massage stress relief techniques also improve sleep quality, which is central in calming modern life-induced tension. You can get better results if you combine self-massage for stress relief with relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing or meditation.
How can to Perform Full Body Self-Massage at home?
Even if you intend to do a stress-reducing massage in your home, it should be the same or even better than one done in a spa. The best time to begin the massage is after completing stress management exercises. After that, take a warm shower and have your massage oil ready. A hot shower helps relax the muscles to get better results.
Other than the oil, make sure you implement other calming techniques, such as turning on your favorite soothing music and lighting a candle or two. You can start with a self-head massage. You begin by pressing your temples with your fingertips and then move your scalp back and forth gently. Make sure your fingers aren't sliding. Repeat the same with your forehead. After the head massage, move on to your face.
With some oils on your palms, locate your wrinkles/laugh lines, pull apart the skin, gently hold on for at least 3 seconds, then release. Repeat the process until your skin is relaxed. You can move down to the shoulders and the neck, then to the thighs. Keep stroking areas that feel stiff and sore. Also, stroke the area where the tendons and ligaments attach to your body muscles. Just like a regular massage, work your way to other parts of the body.
What are the Benefits of Self-Massage?
Massages reduce stress, but other than that, it's cost-effective and helps rejuvenate the body and the mind. Other benefits include:
- Detoxifies body organs; You experience excessive fatigue because of the accumulation of toxins in the body. A massage helps flush out toxins and impurities through the skin, leaving you feeling energized.
- Improves energy levels- Ayurveda advocates that life force or prana flows via channels (Nadis). And self-massage for anxiety stimulates the energetic channels, enhancing prana flow through the body and mind. Prana refers to the natural intelligence of your system, and if it's flowing properly, it activates the body's innate healing power.
- Prevents aging- Massage yourself to prevent aging. Massage may hinder the production of stress hormones, which causes one to age faster. Besides, massage stress relief exercise detoxifies the body, improves energy levels, causing you to look younger, joyful, and energetic.
