The Newsy Neighbbour Magazine
August Issue 118
Article Provided By: Cynthia Barnesky
If you have children, don’t forget that massages can also
help calm kids down!
A small study was conducted by the Touch Institute
(University of Miami) on kids ages 7 to 17 who suffer from Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study involved giving them 2 massages per
week over the period of a month.
The results?
Those who got massages twice per week behaved better and had
better mood regulation than the control group. It’s definitely worth a try, and
keep children’s massage sessions to 20 minutes or so.
Benefits of Self-Massages
Of course, massages, including those
you give to yourself, offer significant health benefits. They may not be as
great as those offered by professional massage therapists, but they have the
added convenience of being available any time, any place.
·
Feeling
blue? Massages, including self-massages,
can help reduce depression, fatigue, pain and anxiety.
·
Head is
pounding? Give yourself a self-massage around
the neck and shoulder area.
·
Feeling pain
where you can’t reach? It can
sometimes be difficult to self-massage certain areas. Try massaging another
area nearby, and you may be surprised to notice a reduction in pain in the
other area. It’s because massages alter your brain chemicals.
·
Stressed
out? Of course, massages can decrease
your stress levels. This has been proven by looking at the level of Cortisol in
people’s saliva before and after a massage session.
·
Prone to
hypertension? A 2005 study conducted in Florida
reported significant improvements in blood pressure for patients who received
ten 10-minute massages over a three-week period.
Go ahead, give yourself a good rub! Your stress levels will
go down and your mood will go up!
Five Self-Massage Techniques
Your muscles deserve some relaxation and you don’t need a partner
to perform the following self-massage techniques. You can easily massage these
five body areas on your own:
Hands and Lower Arms. Spending too much time on a keyboard? Massage your hands
and lower arms for about 15 minutes to reduce the odds of developing inflamed
nerves.
Start by massaging your hand with the thumb on top of the
hand and fingers inside the palm. Rub in a circular motion. Gradually move up
onto the arm and massage your entire lower arm, then come back down to the
hand. Repeat with the other hand and arm.
Finish off by making a fist with both hands during five
seconds and releasing to expand your fingers fully, five times.
· Feet. You’ll need a tennis ball and
a wall for support. Place the tennis ball on the floor and put your foot on
top. Gradually transfer your weight to that foot, using the wall as support.
Move your foot slowly and allow the ball to roll and massage your arch, heel,
toes and forefoot.
· Stomach. You can help improve
digestion, especially after a large meal, by rubbing your stomach in a
clockwise direction. By doing so, you’re helping to stimulate digestion.
· Head. Close your eyes. Using your
index and middle fingers, make small circles on each temple. Let your fingers
“walk up” your hairline, making small circles along the way, until they reach
the middle of your forehead. Then “walk” them down until you reach your eyebrow
line, and make the same circles outward heading back to your temples along your
eyebrows, lingering on tense or sore areas. Finish when you reach the temples
again.
· Back. You’ll need a soft surface for
this, possibly a yoga mat. Lie down with your back on the mat. Bring your
thighs against your chest, with your knees bent, and wrap your arms against
your legs. Your body should be in a ball. Gently roll against the floor and let
it massage your back. You may find it helpful to push your legs against your
arms to give yourself some momentum.
Doing massage on yourself or your children, there are so
many benefits to self-massage that outweighs not doing self-massage; so go
ahead and promote the sharing of love, connection, relaxation and healing!
No comments:
Post a Comment