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Whole Body Massage Techniques Top

Detailed below are massage techniques that encompasses the whole body, from head to toe. 

During the massage you will need to need to frequently rub small amounts of your chosen massage oil between your hands. Before starting, make sure that you have enough to complete the massage.
 
Front:
        Neck, Head & Face
        Chest & Abdomen
        Arms & Hands
        Legs (front)
Back:
        The Back
        Legs and Feet (Back)

Massage Basics

From Head to Toe:

Neck, Head and Face

  1. Lay your partner on their back and sit behind their head.  Rest your hand on each shoulder and press down gently, but firmly until both shoulders are laying flat
  2.  Moving your thumb in a circular outwards motion,  massage the shoulder joint.
  3. Gently move your partners head slightly to one side. While keeping the head supported,  carefully massage the neck.  Repeat this action a number of times.
  4. Slowly progress upwards to the crown of the head, using a circular motion. Repeat the action and then repeat the whole procedure on the other side of the head.
  5. Place and keep your hand gently on your partners forehead and encourage them to take steady deep breaths.
  6. Next smooth the centre of the forehead with your thumb.
  7. Move to the temple and  gently massage it using small movements.
  8. Concentrating on the cheeks, start at the temple and smooth the skin downwards, then upwards stretching it slightly.
  9. Using upward and outward strokes, smooth the small area between the upper lip and nose, before extending outwardly over the cheek.
  10. Using your thumb, smooth their chin upwards.
  11. Using your  whole hand,  smooth the skin between the chin to the temple in an upward direction.
  12. Next focus on the ears. Use your thumb and forefinger to massage it.
  13. Carefully stretch the neck a little.
  14. Gently move the head from side to side.  
  15. Complete the massage by gently tugging the hair.

Chest and Abdomen

  1. Sit next to your partner. You will be massaging the side opposite to you.  
  2. Using your thumb in a circular motion, massage the chest muscles below the collar bone.
  3. Using the flat of your hand, massage around the breast and downwards over the sides of the ribs.
  4. Keeping your hands flat, start at the side and massage upwards and diagonally over the ribs and across your partners abdomen.
  5. Repeat the above action a number of times, exchanging your hands each time.  Switch sides and massage the other side of the chest and abdomen in the same way.
  6.  Next, focussing  on a part of the abdomen, use your fingertips to massage it  in a circular motion. Repeat this     action a number of times. 
  7. Maintaining the circular theme,  progress to the next area  of the abdomen.
  8. To complete the massage,  place your hands on the side of each side of your partners abdomen, while    encouraging them to inhale and exhale deeply.

Arms and hands

  1. Your partner should be laying on their back. Sit at their side and hold the hand closest  to you.  Start at uppermost surface of the arm.
  2. Using your thumb in a circular motion, massage the muscles that lay between their neck and shoulder.
  3. Next, using the same technique, massage the joint at the top of their arm.
  4. Continue massaging down the arm, until you reach the hand.  Repeat  this action.
  5. Next, massage the back of the arm using an identical massage technique. Repeat  this action a number of times.
  6. Lay the palm of their hand into your palm.  Using  your free hand, use your thumb  to make miniature circular movements to gently massage the fingers. Next stretch and slowly rotate their fingers, in a clockwise followed by an anticlockwise direction.
  7. To complete the arms and hand massage, firmly stroke down the whole length of the arms.  Repeat  this action a number of times.  Switch sides and massage the other arm and hand in the same way.

Front of leg and legs

  1. Place one hand on the back of your partner’s knee to support it.  With the free hand, work diagonally from inside the knee to the upper outer thigh.
  2. Using your thumb and adopting the circular method,  massage the length of the thigh muscle.
  3. With one had positioned behind the knee and using the same circular motion with your thumb,  massage your way down the outer edge of the thigh.
  4. Next, keeping the knee supported,  use the same massage technique to work your way back upwards, this time along the inner thigh and finish by sliding the muscle downwards Repeat the above action a number of times.
  5. Maintaining the knee support, use your thumb to massage the muscles around the knee. Repeat  this action a number of times.
  6. Next use the same circular tomb motion to massage downwards from the calf muscles to the foot, first on one side and then on the other.
  7. Concentrate on the lower leg near the foot, massaging in a circular motion, using both thumbs. 
  8. Using the fingertips of both hands,  massage the muscles around the ankle bones.
  9. Focussing on the foot, use circular movements to massage the inner heels.
  10. Use the heel of your palms to massage the top of the foot.  Repeat this action several times.
  11. Using your thumb, massage the sole of the foot moving upwards from the heel to the toes.
  12. Finally, stretch and gently massage the toes, rotating them carefully.

 

The Back

  1. To begin, sit next to your partner, who is laying face down, you will be massaging the side opposite to you.
  2.  Place your hands, onto the small of your partners back. Massage in a large circular motion, down the sides and then up to the shoulder blades.  
  3. Utilising your whole hand, negotiate around the shoulder blades , moving out from the spine, with firm strokes. Repeat  this action a number of times.
  4. Using your fingertips gently draw the muscle towards you, then push it away again with the flat of you hand.
  5. Repeat  this action a number of times.  Move to the other side and massage it in the same way.
  6. Next, position yourself behind your partners head, place your thumbs on the muscle on each side of their spine (avoiding the spine) . Using small circular movements, work you’re your way downwards.
  7. Firmly work your way upwards again, using the flat of your hand.  Repeat  this action a number of times.
  8. Taking  care to avoid the spine, firmly stroke downwards using the flat of your hands.  
  9. Firmly stroke the arms in a similar way. Repeat this and the previous action number of times.
  10. To complete the back, intermix light and firm massage strokes all over it. Do this a number of times

 

Backs of legs and feet

  1. With your partner laying face down, knell down and lay both your hands on the top of  one of their thigh. 
  2. Using your thumb to create small outward circular strokes, work your way down their leg, massaging all  the muscles as you progress downwards.
  3. When you reach the foot, adopt a spiralling circular motion.
  4. Raise the foot by bending the leg at the knee, and repeat  the foot massage as described above.  
  5. Placing one hand just below the ankle and holding the end of the foot in the other hand,  gently rotate the foot slowly in a clockwise followed by an anticlockwise direction.
  6. Keeping the leg lifted, move it unhurriedly from side to side.  Pay careful attention to your partner and stop if there  is any pain or discomfort. 
  7. To complete the back of the legs, firmly stroke down the length of the leg.   Massage the other leg in the same way.

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