Massage tips and tricks Lower back painA great way to strengthen and stretch your lower back is with some yoga. This cobra pose will feel so good. But you've got to be very careful. I'm including this short video from
eHow.com to help you do it correctly.
posted June 12, 2009
Self-massage, kind of...
Wouldn't you love to know how to take care of some tight muscles in between massages? And how bout if it doesn't cost you much at all? Wouldn't that be
great? Just don't start thinking that you won't need me anymore. ~wink~
You'll need a tennis ball or a tee-ball. You want a ball with a little bit of "cush" or "give" so don't use a baseball or a golf-ball. This is all the "equipment" you'll need.
Now get on the floor with your ball. You're going to lie down on the floor placing the ball underneath you. Make sure to stay on either side of your spine, never directly apply pressure to your spine. Position the ball anywhere you're feeling tension. This could be under your back, your glutes, hamstrings, etc.
You'll know you found a spot when it feels a little sore or tender. You don't have to consciously apply pressure either. The beauty of this little trick is that you'll be using your body weight and gravity to apply the pressure for you.
This static pressure is similar to the type of work I do when I massage. You should be able to feel the muscle relax a bit after holding the ball on your muscle for a short amount of time. Remember to breathe; this helps your muscle relax.
I use this on my upper back and when sciatica flares up in my glutes. Hope this helps you!
posted June 12, 2009
Tight calves
This is so easy you may wonder how in the world you didn't figure this out yourself! Cross one leg over your other leg. Now all you have to do is use the knee cap of the bottom leg to massage your tight calves. You can work nearly the entire length of the muscle this way.
You can do this either sitting down on a chair, lying on the floor, or even in bed.
posted June 12, 2009