Taking time to slow down together.
Generally speaking when people think of massage, it is usually along the lines of going
to a spa or place, where someone works on you, as you relax and lay there passively.
Today I am going to share about the power of self massage and some fun techniques
you can use on yourself as a parent, and on your kid(s). There are countless benefits of
massage therapy, and when we share this practice as a ritual, it is also a form of
bonding and taking time to coregulate together, adding a drop into the well of self care,
love and relaxing together. When you share massage, it invites us to slow down, take
time to light a candle, some incense or simply, to sit and enjoy the feel good sensation
massage brings.
Benefits of massage therapy (just to name a few):
-Decreases heart rate
-Calms nervous system
-Improves quality of sleep
-Decreases cortisol levels in the bloostream- stress hormone
-Touch increases release of serotonin – feel go hormone
I recommend using a high quality oil such apricot, jojoba, sunflower, or you can even
use coconut oil as well. If you would like an added benefit of relaxation on your nervous
system, you may also add a drop of lavender, or another essential oil that is soothing to
you. Find a comfortable place in your home or in nature, take a seat and prepare to
relax together.
Simple self massage or partner massage sequence:
- First start by rubbing some oil between your hands, and take 3 deep breathes
together. Feel free to get silly on the exhales, release an audible “ HAAAAAA”
sigh or make a raspberry sound with your lips on the exhale (my personal
favorite), again whatever feels most releasing to you. - Then take both hands and cradle your head at the base of you neck – let you
head rest in your hands, close your eyes and take a deep breathe , next place
your hands on each side of your cervical spine and pretend like you are playing
the piano on the muscles on the side of your neck, move slowly, breathe as you
go.
- Move to your upper shoulders and squeeze the top part of your shoulder with
your palms and fingers. You can have your kiddo stand behind you and use their
forearm on your shoulder (upper traps) and tell them to lean a little forward and
move their forearms back and forth slowly. Try and find a rhythm of
communicating with each other, playfully but mindfully as you go. - Now move to the legs and feet, sit in butterfly pose facing each other and play
with moving side to side and bending forward. - Next open your feet up like they are a book and begin to massage your own feet
for a bit. - Take you kiddos feet, and start to massage each foot with firm pressure from the
heel towards each toe, one by one, giving a little squeeze to the tip of each toe
when you get to the top. - Now lay down on the ground, maybe play a relaxing instrumental song, and just
breathe together for a few minutes to end the session.
As you begin to explore this self massage practice together, start to make it your own by
creating new techniques, and also incorporating tools like tennis balls, or rollers to the
mix. Most of all have fun and feel happy that you made time and space to slow down
and be present with your child(ren).
