The act of massaging yourself is an action of personal comfort, as classified by Desmond Morris in his book “You”. In other words, it is an action that we do almost without realizing it: when we take off a tight shoe, when we finish a race, when we leave a meeting tired, we invariably feel a tense musculature in the hope that the body will return to state. normal. This means that the physical body feels and suffers the consequences of our psychological problems. But the reverse is also true: when we have a physical problem, our psychological side also suffers. And self-massage has both physical and emotional benefits for the practitioner. Let's meet them:
- Activation of blood circulation: improved oxygenation of the body and elimination of impurities;
- Reduction of muscle pain: with the application of self-massage, the muscles relax and the consequent reduction in pain and fatigue symptoms (muscle fatigue);
- Relief of emotional tensions: the daily practice of self-massage reduces the tensions caused by daily problems.
The application of self-massage depends on the practitioner knowing the point to be treated and pressing this region for a few minutes. A practical suggestion for self-massage is that the most important points to be treated hurt when pressed.
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Below are some points that, when pressed, tend to treat a specific part of the body. For a more pleasurable practice, rub your hands well to warm them up and use massage oil.
1) Calm the mind: press your thumb between your eyebrows;
2) Relax the muscles and relieve cramps: press the side of the foot and leg (below the knee) simultaneously;
3) Face: pressure from the temples helps to reduce stress, relieve headaches and improve sleep quality;
4) Pain relief in the cervical spine: press the right side of the back of the neck with two fingers of the left hand. Repeat with the right hand on the left side of the neck;
5) Whole body: firmly press the center of the sole of the foot, stimulating the region with your thumbs
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
PE - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "Self-massage: benefits for the body and mind"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/automassagem-beneficios-para-corpo-para-mente.htm. Accessed on June 29, 2021.
