Friday, October 17, 2008

Massage for slimming yourself

By Kelly Anderson

Effleurage: Effleurage, which in French means roughly "to skim," is a slow and rhythmic series of strokes, applied with both palms and fingers, used to warm up muscle tissue before further message techniques can be used.

This massage movement is applied to melt fat on the forehead, face, neck, chest, shoulders, back, arms and hands. While massaging, the hand is held loosely, the wrist is kept flexible and fingers should conform to the shape of the area being massaged.

Petrissage (Kneading movement): This movement involves palm of hands, pads of fingers and thumbs, and applied with light but firm pressure. This massage movement promotes blood circulation and helps in melting fat on back, shoulder and thighs. This massage technique softens and relaxes hard contracted muscles, eliminates fatigue, stimulates sensory nerves, increases blood and lymph circulation and helps to tone and strengthen muscles.

Tapotement (or Percussion): In this massage technique comprising of tapping, slapping and hacking movements, the pressure is applied with the sides of hand with partly flexed fingers or fingertips.

This massage movement effects increase in blood circulation, strengthens and tone the muscles, stimulates sensor)' nerves, increases lymph circulation and redistributes fatty tissue.

Friction (Deep rubbing movement): This movement will slim down arms and legs while increasing blood circulation and break down fibrous adhesion. The movement is comprised by light circular movements produced by the finger tips and thumbs, which is used on the scalp, face, neck, and arms.

Vibration (Shaking) Movement: The masseur should be careful applying this technique as messaging in the wrong direction will cause both skin and muscles to sag. A skilled masseur will message along nerve path with rapid muscular contractions of the fingers and thumbs to achieve the desired results and avoid the complications this can cause. This movement stimulates nerves, loosens scar tissue, and relieves pain when done properly. - 15359

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