A full body aromatherapy massage can help ease tension, reduce anxiety, and help you live a happier life. Since I’m all about using aromatherapy in my daily life to ease the stress and anxiety that our busy adult life can bring, I’m sharing some information about aromatherapy back massage. Below you’ll find some tips on how to give a friend or loved one a soothing, aromatherapy massage using essential oils.
How do you massage with aromatherapy?
There are few things quite as relaxing as having an aromatherapy back massage. The combination of the essential oils and the gentle massage gives a deep feeling of contentment and well being. Although it is costly to experience a massage from a qualified aromatherapist, it is possible to give a general back massage to a friend with some essential oils that will put you on their Christmas card list for years to come.
What is full body aromatherapy massage?
A full body aromatherapy massage is a light and calming massage that uses essential oil blends, much like the ones found below, to ease tension we carry in our body. This aromatherapy massage will treat every area of your body from head to toe. This massage will provide relief of tension held within each part of your body from constant stress or anxiety that you’ve faced during your lifetime.
Getting a regular full body aromatherapy massage on a weekly basis from a friend or professional can help you maintain a peaceful state of mind and a relaxed body regularly. Continue reading to learn more about choosing essential oils for your full body aromatherapy massage session.
Choosing Essential Oils
Aromatherapists are trained practitioners who fully understand all the qualities of the oils that they have at their disposal. It is not possible to impart all their knowledge here, but what we can do is let you know about some of the more popular ones and give some tips on general massage techniques.
Lavender: a wonderful all round oil which is relaxing but refreshing
Peppermint: helps improve the immune system and good for colds
Sandalwood: relaxing and calming, de-stressing
Chamomile: helps with insomnia, relaxing.
Bergamot: uplifting, helps the nervous system and helps alleviate depression
Geranium: great for hormonal problems, tension and stress
Giving Therapeutic Massages using Essential Oils
1. Make sure that the recipient of the massage is made comfortable, lying on their front. Ensure that they are warm enough and can relax completely. Also position yourself in such a way that you are easily able to massage their back without placing undue strain on your own.
2. Mix the essential oils in a carrier oil. Olive oil is fine for this. Use about six drops of essential oil for 30ml carrier oil. It is not recommended to use a blend of more than three oils.
3. Start by massaging with long strokes from the bottom of the back up to the shoulders with your hands flat. It is good to do this with one stroke on either side so that you never leave contact with the body. This is important throughout the massage. Continue for a few minutes.
4. Now you can concentrate on specific areas such as the shoulders. You can knead this area gently as if you were kneading bread. This loosens and relaxes the muscles. You may also use your knuckles in a circular motion but make sure that you do not work too deeply and cause discomfort.
5. After each particular area, and also if your hands are getting tired, you can return to the long strokes up the whole of the back. Remember to never loose contact with the body.
6. As you move down the back you can continue with the gentle kneading action but do not use a deep knuckle action over the kidney area and be gentle around the rib cage if your massage recipient does not have much of a covering of fat. This can be uncomfortable. Only work very gently over the spine.
7. This knuckle action is, however, good in the area around the top of the buttocks. Many people suffer with a lot of tension and it may feel tender in this area so do not be too brutal.
8. Make sure that the whole of the back is included. Do not forget the side areas as the muscles here can become very tight.
9. An aromatherapy massage is usually a fairly light massage compared to a Swedish or sports injury treatment, so do not be karate chopping or beating your patient. Spend a lot of time gently working the oils into the body in a relaxing way.
How often should you get a massage?
Getting a twice-weekly aromatherapy massage is generally an acceptable number of times to get a massage at first. Once your full body massage has started to ease tension and push out those knots you’ve created from stress, you can start to go once a week or even longer in between sessions. The key to ensuring that your full body aromatherapy massage works is to be more aware of how your body and mind feel. Get familiar with where you hold stress, many of us hold it in our shoulders and know when your body feels slightly tense so that you can start to get your aromatherapy massage in before the tension is unbearable.
The firm, massaging strokes and kneading may not seem like much to you when you are doing it, but it is wonderful on the receiving end. Be sure to use these tips for an aromatherapy massage to give and receive. This is an excellent way to enjoy a date night at home with your partner after the kids have been tucked into bed!