Top to Toe Self Massage in later life

Lavender:  is uplifting and refreshing 

Rose:  has a calming effect.  

Geranium: is regarded as balancing for mind and body. Can be overwhelming, so use sparingly. 

After bathing, carry out the massage in a quiet, warm and darkened room.  Light candles to add atmosphere.  Sit upright in a chair, feel squarely on floor, unless exercise states otherwise. Carry out each of the movements for a few minutes. 

MASSAGE: 

Scalp:  

• Start by using fingertip pressure all over the scalp, by placing and lifting  fingertips on the scalp using a pressure that suits you.  Now move your fingers in small circles, making sure you are moving the scalp and not the hair.

• Carry out a zigzag movement across the scalp, again with the fingertips moving up and down.

Neck and Shoulders: 

• Start at the base of the scalp and work down to the shoulders, using the middle fingers of both hands either side of the neck, carry out this with circular movements.

• Use both hands on either shoulder, do a pinching movement working from the neck out to the shoulders.

• Use circular movements with both hands of same area.

Hands and Arms: 

• With arms out in front, use the right hand to grip the left wrist. Now move up the arm and shoulder gripping and releasing all the way up. Work down the arm and repeat again.

• Repeat with the opposite arm.

• Finish with light stroking up the arms.

• To work on the hands, start by using the right thumb to massage left palm.

• Now do the same to the right palm using the left thumb.

Back: 

The back is a very difficult area to reach yourself, so using an implement of some sort may help.  For example, put a tennis ball into the middle of a sock, tie a knot and put another tennis ball in and tie another knot. 

• Now lie on your back with a tennis ball either side of the spine, use your feet to push you up and down the tennis balls.

• If you are feeling confident try a similar method on each shoulder blade.

NB: These movements should be carried out on the floor or they can be done standing up against a wall.

 Feet: 

• Use the sock implement on the floor:   sit on a chair and roll your feet backwards and forwards along the balls.  As an alternative to the sock implement you can use a large empty glass bottle.

 Enjoy!

Why not visit Ragdale Hall?

Take a look at our previous article about Health Farms, called Six of the Best,  for more details of Ragdale Hall.

Also in this month's laterlfe interest  see what Maggie Bailey, who won our competition, has to say about her wonderful trip to Ragdale.

To view previous articles in this series - see the laterlife interest index page

The above article is part of the features section of laterlife.com called laterlife interest. laterlife interest contains a variety of articles of interest for visitors to laterlife.com written by a number of experienced and new journalists.

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