Bend the hands and feet back and forth to stretch the muscles as you massage them.
End with the face and head. Kneel behind the person you're massaging and use your
fingers to rub his or her temples in circles. Gently rub the forehead and sinus area.
Place your fingers on the person's scalp and massage it using the same motion you'd
use to shampoo your hair.
Creating a Soothing Setting
Choose a peaceful room. During a massage, outside distractions should be kept to a
minimum. Traffic noises, outside music, and the sound of people's voices can disrupt
the relaxing mood that makes massages so emotionally beneficial. The bedroom is the
most obvious choice, but if there's another room in your house that's more removed
from the main action in your home, consider using it as the massage room.
The massage room should be clean, without excessive clutter or messy areas that
could make the person you're massaging feel anxious or stressed out. If you're using
the bedroom and there's a pile of laundry in the corner, clean it up before you start
the massage.
Choose a room with plenty of privacy. Find a place where you aren't likely to get
interrupted by children, roommates or pets wandering in. If the door to the room has
a lock, you may want to consider using it.
Make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable, so that the person you're
massaging doesn't get too cold or warm.
Prepare the massage area. Professional massages take place on massage tables, but
any flat, comfortable surface is appropriate for a home massage. You can use a bed,
the floor, or even your dining room table, as long as you're sure it's sturdy enough to
hold the weight of a person without collapsing.
Line the massage area with clean, soft sheets. If the person you're massaging tends to
get cold, you could also line the area with a warm blanket or two. The surface you're
using should be flat and smooth, so the person being massaged feels as comfortable
as possible while also being supported.
Provide a small pillow for the person to rest his or her head upon during the massage.
Set up a table with massage supplies. To give the most basic massage, all you really
need are your hands. However, certain equipment can make the experience more
effective and pleasurable. Prepare for the massage but setting up a small side table
with these items:
Massage oil or lotion. Applying some oil or lotion before you begin rubbing the
person's body will help your hands slide smoothly across his or her skin. This prevents
chafing and irritating or painful friction.
Special massage oils are sold in health and beauty stores, but you could also use
almond oil, jojoba oil or another cosmetic-grade oil from the health food store.
Make your own massage oil by mixing coconut oil with a few drops of essential oil,
such as lavender, which promotes relaxation, or lemongrass, which is energizing.
A few clean towels. If you decide to use oil or lotion, it's good to have a few towels in
case you need to wipe up spills or excess liquid as you go. You might also use the
towels to cover parts of the person's body that aren't being massaged so they stay
warm while you work on other parts of the body.