by Silvia Dekumbis

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: January 29, 2010

Your friend just got a divorce. She is working full-time, trying to raise two kids. Her exhusband is little help to her. You want to do something for her, helping her cope with some of her daily stress.

Massage Therapy has a very relaxing effect on our nervous system. But besides inducing deep relaxation, it also offers many other health benefits, such as increased circulation, increased lymph drainage, increased metabolism and just a feeling of overall wellness. Y

While it takes a trained Massage Therapist to give a professional massage, diagnosing the health of the muscles, knowing what technique to apply and which stretches to implement, there are some basic beginner strokes and moves that can be learned by anyone. Offering a friend in need a massage by following my simple massage instructions is a wonderful gift you can offer someone.  But before I teach you some amazing relaxing massage strokes, you need to prepare yourself for this small challenge.

Before you start the massage, make sure that you are calm yourself. If you just had a fight with your loved one and are still angry about it, you need to calm down first. Open the window and inhale plenty of fresh air. Practice some deep breathing until you feel grounded. This is very important as you could otherwise pass your irritating energy onto the person you are massaging.

A general full-body massage last a good 60 minutes. Don't rush through it as a fast-paced massage will not feel relaxing to the receiver. If you only have 50 minutes you should maybe shorten the time spent on each body part but instead focus on slow massage strokes. They are much more effective in relaxing the person in your care. Stay focused and never hurry through a massage. Remember we are all individuals, and every massage should be custom-built for the person in your care. It is not factory work. Work from your heart and try to listen what the body of the person in your care is trying to tell you. This might be difficult to understand at first. If you are a good listener and are interested in alternative healing, there will be no doubt that you can develop this special skill.

Before you start the massage, make sure that all kids are either with a babysitter or  have already gone to bed for the night. Turn off all the phones. Turn on some relaxing music that pleases your massage recipient's mind. Warm up your hands if they are cold.

Since most of us won't have a massage table, it is best to take an exercise mat or a

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