For those following along with us, we are ready to massage the hand because we finished our Swedish Back Massage, Swedish Face and Neck Massage, Swedish Chest and Stomach Massage, and Swedish Arm Massage.

In the arm massage portion I already hyped you up for the hand massage. Hand massages and foot massages are extremely relaxing to your body, and I am talking like drowsy relaxing sometimes. There is more tension in our hands and feet than we actually realize. Secondly our hands and feet have many Acupuncture points that are very important and helpful. Also hands and feet have been considered reflex zones of the whole body. In this case it makes sense why we feel so good and relaxed if a simple massage is working on balancing your entire body!

Hand massage is pretty simple, but good technique makes a good amount of difference on effectiveness. there are lots of little muscles in there and effectively getting circulation through there is really helpful. Lets also keep in mind about our friends with arthritis and other hand problems we can help! this doesn’t just have to be a continuation of a full body circulatory massage.

Lets get to it:

The hand requites very little oil. What you have left on your own hands after massaging the arm will be more than sufficient.

1. First place the person’s hand palm up in the palm of your own left hand. Make a fist with your right hand and massage the palm with your knuckles. Move the knuckles in circles a half an inch to an inch wide. Press firmly. Cover the entire palm without moving on to the fingers.

2. *Next go over the same area using the tips of your thumbs. Hold the back of the hand with your fingers and press hard with the thumbs, moving them also in small circles. This time, however, continue up over the heel of the hand and, pressing more gently, an inch or so on to the inside of the wrist.Want to try something more elaborate? Do this stroke on the palm (but not the wrist) while holding the person’s hand as follows. Have the person’s hand palm up. Place the little finger of your left hand between his forefinger and middle finger; the fourth and middle finger of your left hand between his forefinger and thumb; and the forefinger of your left hand on the other side of his thumb. At the same time place the little finger of your right hand between his middle and fourth fingers; the fourth finger of your right hand between his fourth and little fingers; and the middle finger and forefinger of your right hand on the other side of his little finger.Got that? Now push all your fingers as far on to the back of his hand as you can. Then push your fingers hard against the back of his hand. See what this does? If you are pushing correctly you will have bent his fingers back so that the entire surface of his palm is stretched taut as a drum. And now, keeping his fingers bent back, begin working the palm with the tips of your thumbs. Press hard, and go patiently into every tiniest nook and cranny. As you will find out the first time it is done to you, this stroke is more than worth the extra effort.

3. Now work the back of the hand with the tips of your thumbs. Be thorough. Go also an inch on to the wrist, paying particular attention to all the tiny bones your thumbs will find there.

4. For this stroke you will have to follow some anatomical guidelines. Hold the person’s hand palm down in your own left hand, and for a moment study the back of his hand. Notice the small raised cords, just under the surface of the skin, that appear to run from the base of the wrist to the first knuckle of each finger. These are actually the tendons that are used to extend the fingers. (If you have difficulty locating them try looking at the back of your own hand by itself while stretching your fingers as far out and back as they will reach. This will raise the tendons and make them more visible.)Now, thinking of these tendons as ridges and of the spaces in between as valleys, slowly run the tip of your thumb down each valley in turn. Go all the way from the base of the wrist to the little flap of skin between each successive pair of fingers. Use enough pressure for the person to be able to feel each valley as perfectly distinct; use a little less, however, as soon as you reach the flap of skin between the fingers. Do each valley one time, using your right thumb for the two valleys nearest the right side of the hand and your left thumb for the two valleys nearest the left.Here is a flourish you can add, if you feel so moved, each time your thumb reaches the little flap of skin between two fingers. Press the underside of the flap with the tip of your forefinger as your thumb begins to press from above, by this means giving a gentle pinch to the skin as your thumb and forefinger slide off it. It will make a nice stroke feel even nicer.

5. Although a little difficult at first, this stroke is quite simple once you get the knack of it.Hold the person’s hand palm down with both your hands. Have the heels of your hand pressing against the middle of the back of his hand, and the tips of your fingers pressing against the middle of the palm underneath. Have the heels of your hands touching each other, and the corresponding fingers of both hands also touching one another.Now begin pressing very hard upwards with your fingertips and downwards with the heels of your hands. At the same time begin very slowly sliding the heels of your hands from the middle of the hand to both edges. Stop when the heels of your hands are at the edges of the person’s hand.Do this stroke three times.

6. Now do the fingers themselves.Hold the person’s hand palm up in your left hand. With your own thumb and forefinger lightly grasp his thumb where it joins with the rest of his hand. Now slide your thumb and forefinger slowly from base to top of the thumb, twisting your hand from side to side in a corkscrew motion at the same time. Pull a little as you go. End by going right off the tip of the thumb into the air.Do each finger once in the same way.

7. “Here is a nice way to finish your work on the hand. For a minute hold the person’s hand sandwiched between both of yours. Make contact with as much of its surface as you can. Be still, go inside yourself, and concentrate on your own breathing. Then focus your attention back on to the person’s hand and try to let the energy of your breath seep from your own hands into that of the person.
This pause need not be long – thirty seconds is fine. Afterwards you will find yourself refreshed, and the person will have opened himself a little more to what is yet to come.

Stay tuned, we still have to finish off with the leg massage!