How To Do A Relaxing Hand And Arm Massage

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Get comfortable

Your volunteer should take off any bracelets and watches, as well as any rings they don't want to get oil on.

Seat yourself in front of your volunteer, slightly to their right side.

Take both hands in yours and make sure there are no open cuts or bandages, as they may be affected by the use of oil.

Take a few deep breathes and focus on how the hands feel, noting where there is tension or gripping. These areas will need more attention.

Step 3: Apply the oil

Place the person's hands down and put a small quantity of massage oil in your cupped hand. Rub it between both hands to warm it up before applying. Lift their right arm and whilst alternating your hands, spread the oil up the forearm and over the hand, being sure to get the fingers as well.

Step 4: Arm spreads

Hold their arm close to the elbow with their palm up and your fingers beneath and thumbs on top. Now begin to spread the muscles by gently squeezing their arm between fingers and thumb and pulling toward each side.

Move down towards the wrist a few inches and repeat. Carry on until you reach the wrist, then begin again from the elbow.

Repeat this 3 times.

Step 5: Thumb striping

Now take your volunteer's hand in your right hand and place your left hand at their wrist with your thumb straight. With gentle pressure, run your thumb in a stripe up to the elbow then rotate the hand around to the outside of the forearm and draw the thumb back up the arm.

When you reach the wrist, let go with the right hand and support the hand, palm down with your left. Now place their right hand at their wrist with thumb straightened and run a stripe up the back of the forearm, again allowing the hand to rotate out when you reach the elbow and draw the thumb back toward the wrist, and swap hands again.

With practice this can become a smooth, rhythmic technique that is guaranteed to bring relief to tired arms. Carry on for about a minute.

Step 6: Thumb circles

Once more support your volunteer's arm with both hands at the wrist with the palm up. Now bring both little fingers around over the top of the hand and catch the thumb and little finger and spread the hand. This manoeuvre may take a bit of practice at first, but when done with a fluid motion it creates a seamless transition to the hand work.

Gently spread the hand open and make circles on the wrist with the thumbs. This is especially good for anyone who works with computers or suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carry on for about a minute.

Now begin to make circles over the entire palm, focusing on the base of the thumb and fingers and any other areas that seem tense.

Without breaking the rhythm of your circling, release the little fingers and slowly roll the hand over palm down and do circles over the back of the hand, again focusing on the wrist and knuckles where the fingers connect.

Step 7: Finger massage

Supporting their hand in your left, begin massaging the base of the thumb between your thumb and index finger. Slowly work your way up to the finger tip, gently squeezing the sides of the nail before give a quick tug.

Now change hands and repeat along the little finger. Continue alternating hands until you've massaged every finger.

Step 8: Wrist rotation

Take your partner's hand in your right hand in with thumbs interlaced and fingers wrapped around. Supporting their forearm with your left hand, slowly begin to rotate the hand around the wrist.

Begin with small rotations then slowly increase the range of motion as long as there is no resistance or discomfort for your partner. Repeat in the other direction.

Step 9: Finishing strokes

Release the hand grip and once again apply long smooth strokes from wrist to elbow with alternating hands as we did when applying the oil.

Carry on for about a minute, allowing the pressure to become lighter towards the end, until finally your hands float off as you lay the arm down.

Now, repeat these steps with the other arm.