Learning Aromatherapy Massage
Massage with essential oils
Aromatherapy massage can be part of a healing process, or
a way to apply essential oils to the right places. It isn't difficult or
complicated. Anyone can do it - to their friends, families and even to
themselves.
Use essential oils in all massages. Massages should be
carried out with the flow of the body - towards the heart. When massaging
children use gentle, comforting effleurage movements. Last, after an aerobic
workout, petrissage movements are useful to release toxins and keep muscles
supple.
Effleurage
Effleurage is the most useful movement in Aromatherapy
massage. It is a series of gentle, soothing stokes, which enable the
essential oils to penetrate the body, causing relaxation and calm
throughout. Use your whole hands, not just your fingers, in strokes that can
be either long or short, firm or gentle. Muscles will be relaxed and nerve
endings soothed, stress and tension relieved and circulation increased.
Keep your hands relaxed but firm in this movement.
Petrissage
Petrissage is like gently kneading dough. Each movement
should be slow and careful, never causing pain. These movements are often
helpful on fatty areas and on backs. They can relax the muscles, increase
circulation, aid the release of trapped toxins and help lymphatic flow.
Use slight pressure on your thumbs in this
movement.
HEAD MASSAGE
When using Aromatherapy massage on the scalp, put the oil
on the fingertips and use the fingers, working all over the scalp.
For migraine and headaches massage around the base of the
neck and work upwards to the base of the scalp. Continue massaging this are
for a few moments. Use your fingers in firm effleurage strokes to apply the
appropriate essential oils.
NECK MASSAGE
Use small, firm circular movements, working from the base
of the neck, either side of the vertebrae, to the base of the scalp. Work to
the sides of the neck and repeat the movements, this time very gently and
work down again. Repeat several times with the appropriate essential oils.
SHOULDER MASSAGE
Massage into the muscles with effleurage and petrissage
movements. Using your thumbs and palms, make firm strokes from the shoulder
to the neck and back again.
ARMS MASSAGE
Massage up towards the armpit, using effleurage or
petrissage on the fatty or muscular areas only.
BACK MASSAGE
Firm or gentle effleurage or petrissage can be used. DO
NOT massage over the vertebrae. Start from the lumbar region of the back and
with two hands, stroke all the way up to the shoulders. Slide the hands over
the shoulders and return down the sides of the back. Repeat this movement as
many times as you like (or they would like you to!!!). The longer the
massage, the more relaxing it is.
STOMACH MASSAGE
Use circular movements only, in a clockwise direction.
Effleurage is the best stroke to use for this.
LEG MASSAGE
Always massage legs upwards. Use effleurage alone or with
petrissage on the fatty or muscular areas only. NEVER massage over varicosed
areas.
FOOT MASSAGE
Massage from the toes to the heel, thumbs under the foot
and fingers on top. You will find this very soothing.
FOR WOMEN ONLY!
For women's reproductive problems, massage
using effleurage movements. Begin at the lower back and slide over the hips.
Now slide each hand separately over the abdomen and repeat the whole
process.
