TouchyTips.com http://www.touchytips.com Massage Therapy tips, massage spa information, and tips on good touch Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:16:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/http://www.touchytips.comhttp://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/fb_pwrd.gifTouchyTips Feed Image977310http://www.feedburner.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe now for free to get instant updates from TouchyTips.com! How to massage your infant http://www.touchytips.com/2008/02/05/how-to-massage-your-infant/ http://www.touchytips.com/2008/02/05/how-to-massage-your-infant/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:26:27 +0000 Sam http://www.touchytips.com/2008/02/05/how-to-massage-your-infant/ Not a commonly practiced form of massage in clinics or spas, infant massage I believe is one of the most important and intimate times you can share with your child.
TO BEGIN: My first action to prepare for an infant massage is clearing all distractions so the baby knows you are there for her. I would then proceed to make the baby aware of my intentions because after all no one likes to be blind sided without having some sort of control. It is my belief that children understand far more than that we give them credit for. And after all they too being human beings, by nature are looking for some sort of security and safety, so allowing them the ability to understand and control to the best of their ability one should so politely OFFER an infant the massage. My favorite time to massage my children is right after bath time. They then are calm and semi distraction free.

BELLY: I take a small amount of gentle lotion and rub it in my hands and say to the baby…”I’m going to rub your belly” of course in a voice that would sound very cheerful and loving. I would LIGHTLY rub the babies belly in a CLOCKWISE motion in slow circles always going towards my pinky finger if I were using my right hand. Being careful NEVER to massage on any bone or even the belly button. You will be massaging the baby’s intestines and therefore will break up some spots of gas, so don’t be surprised if during or even shortly after your massage your baby lets out a few toots. Do this for as long as your wish never putting too much pressure on baby’s belly. Because after all they are sensitive and cannot withstand the same amount of pressure we adults can. I have found in my years of practicing that people often massage in areas and in depths that they feel is comfortable to have done on their body…please do not do this to your child. They have not had the same amount of wear and tear on their body, therefore it does not have need for the same in-depth massage.

LEGS: Moving on…I would add more lotion to my hands make sure it is well rubbed together to avoid putting any cold lotion on your child. I would work on the legs one at a time doing superficial squeezing and circular motions with my thumbs. Making my way down to the feet. I would only use my hands as my massaging tools…I would never take any massage tools or fore arms or elbows etc. to my child. Repeat on the other leg.

ARMS: Adding more lotion to your hands moving up to the arms not massaging in the armpits or wrists repeating the same squeezing and circular thumb movements up and down the arms. After you have finished with the front you can then turn your baby over, if at this point you still have a willing participant. It is very important that you never massage your baby if she is declining your effort, as heart felt as they may be, it may cause more harm than good.

BACK: On baby’s back I would use the palm of my hands or finger tips to rub in a circular motion. With many of my palm strokes being directed up towards the baby’s head. If you like you can massage baby’s bottom with light pressure as well.

Infant massage is really what feels comfortable for the baby. If she likes it then continue, always bearing in mind that
her health is the main reason we are massaging. If at any point there are cries of discomfort, impatience or frustration from baby (or you :) ) you should discontinue the massage and try again another day or perhaps at a better time of day for your little one. Now like I said at the beginning I always let baby know where I am going to touch them next, it is a courtesy extended for the baby’s peace of mind. Please be aware that if your baby has any health related issues and you worry about the effect it will have on them please consult their doctor before attempting a massage. Please also be aware your child does not always have to be undressed to receive a massage and you don’t always have to use lotion. Please keep in mind that if you choose to not use lotion there is a chance that you can pull the skin causing an uncomfortable feeling, so please mind your pressure and never drag your fingers across the skin while pressing in. And one final word and perhaps one of the most important…to those of you parents out there blessed with little boys, if you choose to massage your little guy while he is unclothed please be aware that there is a good chance that you might get sprayed…so please take the appropriate steps to prevent this if you have a little one that fires at his own will! :)

Benefits of infant massage:
-aids in relieving colic
-helps your baby love you more and feel safe and secure
-teaches your baby good touch (because after all there is enough bad touch in the world, your baby deserves to know the good side of it)
-helps healthy digestions to occur
-helps baby relax before bedtime
- relaxing routine to share with baby to help teach them bedtime
-promotes self confidence

Good luck and enjoy, and drop a comment below if you have any questions or even any topics you would like to learn more about.

]]> http://www.touchytips.com/2008/02/05/how-to-massage-your-infant/feed/ How often should you get a massage? http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/27/how-often-should-you-get-a-massage/ http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/27/how-often-should-you-get-a-massage/#comments Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:07:20 +0000 Sam http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/27/how-often-should-you-get-a-massage/ “How many massages should I get in a month?” The answer to this question depends on a few factors.

  • What kind of lifestyle do you live?
  • Are you a physically active person engaged in regular sports or a physically demanding job like construction?
  • What kind of medical conditions do you suffer from?
  • What kind of stress level are you surrounded by daily?
  • What do you have time for?
  • And then there is the big question of what can you afford?
  • And lastly, what are your goals while you get a massage? Do you wish to alleviate back pain, sciatica, migraines, realigning the muscles in your body to look as they should or just an overall relaxing time to help carry you away for a bit from your high stress life?

All of these play into the answer that I would give. However a very generic answer that I would say is safe for almost anyone is 1-2 times a month. A massage is a great way to relax, enjoy healthy touch and to start a little bit of the healing process from the many burdens that you carry.

If you have serious health conditions , blood clots, taking strong medications or have high blood pressure I would recommend talking to your Doctor first to see if a massage would be right for you. Most of the time they are safe for these conditions but nothing too deep. I would say a Swedish Massage or as I like to refer to them as a “light and fluffy” would be just perfect for you. You are still able to relax and enjoy your special time but it wouldn’t be adding to the health conditions you are already suffering from.

And remember this time is all about you. Leave your concerns and worries at the door. Don’t feel obligated to talk to the massage therapist, other than telling them what you would like more or less of during your massage. If you have any questions on how often you should get a massage please leave a comment below.

Enjoy your massage!

]]> http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/27/how-often-should-you-get-a-massage/feed/ 5 Things to look for when searching for a good massage therapist http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/23/5-things-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-good-therapist/ http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/23/5-things-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-good-therapist/#comments Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:24:35 +0000 Sam http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/23/5-things-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-good-therapist/ Now you know why you should get a massage, now I will give you things to search for when locating a good therapist. This is a difficult question to answer only because everyone is looking for something different. However, when I get a massage there are a few universal qualities I look for. My top five are:

  • cleanliness of the establishment (clean laundered sheets, fresh air/NOT stale to me there is no bigger turn off than stale air smelling of sweaty bodies…YUCK!)
  • training of their therapist
  • feedback from recent clients
  • malpractice suits?
  • is the therapist groomed (i.e. clean clothing, TRIMMED nails, and did someone say HALITOSIS? yes believe it or not it is one of the big turn offs if a therapist has bad breath :))

There of course are much more that are important to others but these are my main things I look for before I am willing to entrust myself in the hands of a professional. Really no different than you look for when searching for a family doctor, and quality grocery store or even a great bank.

Happy hunting!

]]> http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/23/5-things-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-good-therapist/feed/ Top 10 Reasons to get a Massage http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/19/top-10-reasons-to-get-a-massage/ http://www.touchytips.com/2007/06/19/top-10-reasons-to-get-a-massage/#comments Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:25:27 +0000 Sam http://touchytips.com/?p=3 Orange Candles at Spa

1. Relaxing.

2. Healthy.

3. Time away from world.

4. Release tension.

5. Feel pampered.

6. Increase blood flow.

7. Improve posture.

8. A good massage is like a great workout.

9. Lose cellulite.

10. It’s just plain enjoyable and you deserve one!

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