How To Give a Great Back Massage

Knowing how to administer a great back massage is a great gift at those times, or any time. A great back massage is fairly simple. Learn massage therapy to be a part of the personal wellness palette for maintaining good health. Part of learning to give a great back massage is knowing when it is appropriate for a personal massage and friendly one.

With shirt removed, the person to be massaged lays on a firm, comfortable surface at a height reducing bending required to administer the massage. Massage oil reduces friction from hand-to-skin contact.

Standing on one side of the massage surface, place one hand just below the shoulder and the other hand at the base of the spine. Apply even pressure starting gently and increasing to stretch the muscles in the back gently pushing arms apart the stopping for a few seconds before repeating. For a more intimate back massage, keep hands in contact with skin when releasing the pressure. Keeping hands always in contact with the back is the difference between an intimate and friendly massage.

Starting with the left side of the back, gently and with increasing pressure, knead the muscles around the shoulders. With hands curved apply smooth pressure with fingers while pivoting from the wrists. The heel of the hand and fingertips are the pressure sources. Move the muscles on the left side in a counter-clockwise direction and clockwise on the right. Repeat this process in an even pattern from shoulder to waist.

When reaching the waist, instead of kneading, run the fingertips along the waistline with a leading and trailing hand each making circles on the skin, one hand clockwise, the other counterclockwise. Move the motion to the right side. Place hands on the shoulder muscles and repeat muscle kneading. For an intimate effect, when moving to the shoulder, let fingertips of one hand trail very, very lightly up the spine.

When finished with the right side, repeat the muscle stretch that started the back massage several times. In a sensuous massage, the perfect finishing touch is to run the back of the hand with fingernails touching the skin very lightly, while simultaneously letting the fingers of the other hand lightly swirl up the side of the back. The hands should meet at the base of the neck, and then join together for a simultaneous movement to the very top of the neck at the base of the head, then lift off the contact.