Aromatherapy is relaxing and beneficial.
Aromatherapy massage is not only relaxing, but offers the body a variety of benefits when used with essential oils. Essential oils, when breathed in or massaged into the skin, offer many therapeutic benefits. For example, they may relieve stress or tension or even work as decongestants, antiseptics or anti-inflammatory remedies. Using an essential oil as part of aromatherapy massage is an ideal way to receive benefits from the oil as well as the relaxing treatment of massage on the body. Aromatherapy is easy to do at home by yourself whenever you need to relax.
Instructions
1. Mix two drops of your favorite essential oil fragrance with a tablespoon of carrier oil. Mixing the two will prevent any irritation to the skin, and it will help you massage the oil in. Lavender is a common aromatherapy oil to use with massage for relaxation.
2. Relax your body before massage. Dip your fingers into the essential oil blend. Begin by practicing effleurage, which is a light touch used to warm up the muscles. Firm the hands, but keep them relaxed as you apply soothing strokes to the legs, arms, feet and hands. Use the entire hand to apply pressure to the muscles. Use firm or light strokes that feel comfortable to the body.
3. Practice petrissage, which means using the thumbs to knead knots or areas of tension on the body. For example, apply a slight pressure with your thumbs on the calf muscles, kneading the muscle with a circular motion. This will increase circulation, release toxins and relax muscles.
4. Massage away tension in the face and scalp. Dip the fingers in the essential oil blend, and massage the scalp as though you were shampooing. Use the pads of your fingers to apply gentle pressure to the scalp as you massage the oil in. Work from the forehead down to the base of the neck.
5. Use both effleurage and petrissage to massage the shoulders, arms and legs with essential oil. Enlist a partner to massage the back. When massaging the legs, use effleurage to stroke the leg upwards, or concentrate on fatty or muscled areas with the petrissage method.
6. Massage the stomach using light effleurage strokes. Lay flat on your back, dip your fingers into the essential oil pot and massage the stomach in a circular clockwise motion.
7. Finish with a foot massage. Use the petrissage method to knead the arch. Then massage the top of the foot with your fingers and between the toes with your thumb.
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