Getting or giving a massage without the right information is something you need to avoid. If you aren’t prepared for getting or giving a massage, you can really end up hurting someone or even yourself. Instead of just diving into the topic and thinking you know everything, take some advice from this well written article below.

Make the most of your massage by drinking lots of water. Why? Because a good massage gets your circulation going, but water is needed to flush toxins out of your body. Hydrating before your massage makes your blood less sluggish, making it easier for the masseuse to rub excess lactic acid out of your muscles. Staying hydrated after aids your body in processing and eliminating these toxins.

If your goal is to calm the massage recipient, use movements that are slow. If you move your hands too fast or generally attack the back, you’ll definitely not create a relaxing atmosphere! Instead focus on being calm yourself. Slow down your pace and move slowly but deliberately. Wait for cues from the massage recipient as to whether to speed up or slow down even more.

Consult with your masseuse before the massage. Knowing what will happen during the session will help you to relax. This is also an opportunity for you to discuss any allergies or concerns you may have with products used during the massage. Ask for music if you like, or anything else that will increase your comfort level.

When you’re giving a massage to someone, you should use slower movements so that they’re more calming. As you work on the back, try to use more than just one finger so that you don’t start to feel discomfort yourself. Use the force of your weight as well; this will help your arms to not get tired.

Try to save conversation for after the massage. You may love chatting with your massage therapist, but talking during the massage prevents you from ever relaxing fully. In fact, it may actually cause some muscles to tense up, making your therapist’s job even more difficult. Do speak up about your needs, however — if the room’s too cold, the music is too loud, or any other factor that prevents you from sinking deep into relaxation.

When you want to get a massage, get a good communication relationship going with your therapist. You’ll feel more relaxed and at ease when you are comfortable with the person giving you the massage. Before jumping right in, get to know your therapist, at least on a casual basis, so that you can relax and feel safe.

When your massage therapist tells you to drink water, listen! It is easy to become dehydrated quickly after a massage because toxins and fluids are released from your body. Drinking lots of water will help to replenish the fluids you are losing. If you choose to drink caffeine filled sodas or alcohol instead, you will suffer the consequences.

Be on time, or a little early. Besides being good etiquette, being punctual can actually help your massage be effective. When you are running late, you are usually in a frenzied state, increasing stress levels and putting your body on edge. In a massage, this means it will take you longer to unwind and you may not get all of the benefits of a relaxing rub down.

If you are going to be giving a massage, make sure that you are using lubricant. Lubricant can be any form of lotion or even therapeutic oils. Whichever you choose, make sure that it is appropriate for the recipient of the massage. Lubricants can help you glide across the body without disturbing the rhythmic movements.

Massage therapy may be something to consider if you rely on medication to treat pain. Getting regular massages will help relieve achy muscles and joints, and allow you to relax. If you are lucky your insurance policy will cover a health related massage.

A great massage technique for reliving shoulder pressure is providing yourself with a bear hug. To do this, put the right hand on the left shoulder and the left hand on the right shoulder. Tightly press on each shoulder and release. Do this three times. Finally, begin to work your hands down your arms squeezing and then letting go until you get to your wrists.

A great massage to relieve strained shoulders is a bear hug. To begin, cross your arms over your chest. Grab your shoulder with either hand. Then, squeeze a shoulder and release it about three times. Do this for both of them. After that, move down your arms, squeezing and releasing them until you reach your wrists.

If you have a less than pleasant experience having a massage, try not to write them off completely. Everyone has their own style and techniques and no two massage therapists are the same. Ask for a recommendation from a friend for someone new, and explain your experience to them so they can do their best to make your massage with them as pleasant as possible.

Many of us have old injuries from playing sports, accidents, or just normal wear and tear on our bodies. If this is the case with you, it is very important that you let your masseuse know about any injuries you’ve sustained or areas of your body that are particularly sensitive.

Learn the proper finger techniques for doing a back massage at home. It’s true that you will be mainly massaging using a finger and a thumb on each hand. However, massaging using only those digits will cause you to wear your thumbs out, so try using the other fingers on your hands to support them.

Reading this article probably did not take too much time on your hand. However, the things you’ve probably learned about getting or giving massages can really stick. If massages are something of interest to you as a whole, it is something you really need to research. Apply all that you’ve learned from this article for future success.