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Chest Massage

 

Relaxing the chest and rib cage with massage helps your partner to release tensions and breathe more fully.

 

The Benefits of Chest Massage

The chest area plays a vital role in the breathing process. If it is constricted by tension, the ribcage is unable to expand and contract as we breathe in and breathe out. Excessive tightness in the chest can even lead to conditions such as panic attacks, hyperventilation (over breathing) and other anxiety states where an individual may mistakenly believe that he or she is experiencing a heart attack. Massage of the chest area enables us to breathe more deeply and evenly and also aids the elimmination of toxins and mucuc. Emotional problems may often be stored in the chest area - in our everyday language we have the expression 'get if off your chest'. Massage encourages us to release these bottled-up emotions.

How to Give the Chest Massage

The Massage

  1. Using the fingertips, work in between the upper ribs stroking from the center of the chest outward. Repeat three or four times moving down to the next rib with each repeat.
  2. When you travel upward turn your hands, eventually your fingers will slide downward by the underarms. Glide your hands down towards the waist. Turn your hands again and start over.
  3. Gently massage by kneading each one using lifting and slight compressive movements. Include moderate pressure compressions to move out the stagnant fluids. You may also gently twist each one, using both hands, in a wringing motion.

But do not:

  • apply heavy pressure to the delicate areas of the chest
  • massage inflamed or sensitive areas
  • massage infectious skin conditions
  • work directly over recent scar tissue, open wounds or recent fractures
  • massage over lumps: these should be checked by a doctor.

 

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