Self massage techniques

Self massage techniques

Self massage techniques that help stimulate blood flow, relaxing motions and keeps a body staying healthy and looking healthy.
When you start rubbing your neck, shoulders when your muscles are sore or tense, instinctively you are giving yourself a self-massage, a holistic healing method. Self-massaging is also more then a pain releaser, it is also a good health motive. If you are already in good health, self-massaging on a routine schedule is an excellent way to prevent illness. If your ill, self-massaging can help with the healing process.
Self massage is a proven remedy for fatique, insomnia, muscle tension, muscle weakness, circulatory disorders, skin problems and joint pain. If performed slowly and carefully, self-massaging relaxes the body, improves ones circulation and helps reduce swelling. Performed quickly, it lessens fatique and revitalizes the body. You can use your hands, a massage belt or massage glove to give your massage.
The effects from a self massage will stimulate blood flow, thereby relaxing tense muscles and relieving the pain. It also helps heal some injuries, such as sprains, by bringing fresh oxygen to the injured tissue. Depending on the technique used, you can either stimulate yourself or harmonize your nervous system. First before you begin, you must be in the correct position. Lie down on the bed or couch or sit in a comfortable chair that supports back and neck. Massage one part of the body at a time, don't rush yourself, give yourself about twenty minutes if possible.

Techniques for self-massage:
Rubbing: To stimulate circulation and release muscle tension, rub your muscles in a circular motion with palm of hand or fingers.
Vibrating: Use rhythmic knocking or light slapping with flat of hand to improve blood circulation and to help relax muscles.
Kneading: Using a warm vegetable oil or essential oil of your favorite aroma, lavender is very calming, knead your muscles as if you were working with bread dough.
Final Stroking: End each massage with gentle strokes, slowly moving outward motion.

A facial massage:

Using the pads of your fingertips, apply an oil to the certain areas of your face.....in order; forehead, temples, nose, cheeks, chin and then ears. Start from center of each area and slowly move outward. Then place your middle and index finger between your nose and upper lip, move in circular motion around your mouth.

Third; place the tips of your index, midle and ring fingers close together on your forehead and rub outward towards the temples, making circular motions and applying gentle pressure. Next, move in circular motions from your nose, across your cheeks towards your ears. Move down to hinge of jaw and massage jaw arra. To fnish up, lightly tap your entire face with index finger and middle finger on both hands, moving from center of face outward.

If you want to use a tool in your self-massage, I would recommend you use a loofah mitt or any other glove made from natural fibers. These tools are good for reduce fatique. begin with your legs, gently brush your skin in a circular motion. Work upward and in towards the heart. This massage is great to do in the morning before a shower. It will help you wake up and at the same wake up your blood flow for the day.

Warning: Look carefully at your skin before beginning any massage. In areas where the skin is red, or broken out be extra careful with massaging these areas, do not use harsh pressure, and keep in an outward motion.

Rugs: North American Rugs - Navajo rugs, American Indian rugs and native American rugs

Rugs: North American Rugs - Navajo rugs, American Indian rugs and native American rugs

North American is the name given to flat weave rugs and blankets woven by Native Americans in the Central Western areas of the US, mainly in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. These rugs are better known as Navajo rugs.

The weaving of Navajo rugs is the continuation of a long tradition of excellent craftsmanship that dates back nearly three centuries.

It is believed the Navajos learned the craft from the Pueblo Indians around 1700, as early examples of Navajo weaving show the close parallels between the two groups. The principal difference between Navajo and Pueblo weaving is that the Navajos used wool, while the Pueblos used cotton.

In the mid 1800s, the Navajos started using dye sources and yarns from the Europeans, especially the Germans and Spanish. Along with dyes and commercial yarn, the Europeans brought designs that could be incorporated into the flat weaves of the Navajos. These were usually Oriental patterns, which the Europeans apparently couldn't get enough of.

From the Navajo's own designs, the most famous examples were the 'Chief Blankets', which were worn on the shoulders of the tribe's chief. These items were extremely popular with the other Plain's Indians.

Navajo weaving changed radically in the last twenty years of the 19th century. Commercial ready-to-use yarns were available in a variety of colors, and by 1890 the Navajo Indians were weaving mainly for the trading posts and white tourists.

The traders were a great influence on the weavers, and the requests for pillow covers and bed covers to decorate white homes resulted in a proliferation of quickly woven, inferior pieces.

By 1890, after many years of blankets and bed coverings, white settlers were demanding covering for the floor. The Navajo rugs were born as the Indians were quick to oblige.

The Indians were now weaving less of their traditional simple and abstract geometric designs and more American pictorials designs including patriotic patterns and railroad scenes and houses. The traditional rugs are virtually lost and very rare today and designers seem todesire their 'Aztec' look for modern settings.

There are a few settlements that might still be weaving Navajo rugs, but much like all the other aspects of the Indians' culture, the Navajo rug is but a faint memory to them.