Relaxation Techniques Part 2: Shoulder & neck Massage

Here are some Shoulder & neck massage techniques you can apply, learn to do this with another person and you can massage each other.

These steps are for the person who is doing the massaging:
1. Let your partner sit comfortably.
2. Stand behind your partner

3. Suggest that your partner removes his/her glasses, closes his/her eyes and thinks of something pleasant.
4. Place your hands gently on your partner's shoulders as a "greeting"
5. Apply gentle but firm, even pressure with your thumbs across the top of the shoulders. Start at the neck. Work your way towards the ends of the shoulders and then back across to the neck.

6. Using both hands, massage across the top of the shoulders with a kneading motion, from the neck to the tips of the shoulders and back.
7. Locate the spine (backbone) at the base of the neck. Place your thumbs on either side of the spine and apply gentle but firm pressure away from the bone. Continue down the back and then up again. Do not press on the spine itself.

8. Locate the base of the skull at the back of the head. Apply rotating pressure on either side of the spine with your thumbs.
9. Place one hand on your partner'c chin and one hand behind the neck for support. Slowly and carefully rotate the head first in one direction and then the other.

10. Ask your partner to clench his/her teeth. Locate the tense jaw muscles. Ask him/her to relax. Use three fingers to massage the jaw muscles.

11. Use your fingers to massage the temples. Work across the forehead and back to the temples.

12. Place your hands gently back on the shoulders as a "goodbye"

Hope you have fun learning these relaxing massages :)