Email 
Bookmark 
Print Give Yourself a Massage
by by Sue AugustineBe thine own palace, or the world’s thy jail. – John Donne
If you spend a lot of time alone or are dealing with considerable stress and can’t get to a massage therapist often enough, you can practice self-massage. Start with your face. Rapidly rub your hands together until they feel warm. Then place them on your forehead, temples, or cheekbones. Hold your hands still for a few seconds, then rub them in a circular motion. Massage all around your ears and down along the jawbone.
Then move to the scalp. Using peppermint essential oil provides an invigorating, luxurious treat for the scalp and hair. Position your fingertips at your back hairline and, with dime-size circular movements, work over the entire scalp until you reach the front hairline. With a rhythmic motion, move slowly toward the center and back again, this time applying deep pressure. Bring your fingers down to the midpoint of the back of your neck and stroke in a circular direction. Finish off by tapping vigorously all over your scalp. Continue with a facial or by simply washing face with a textured washcloth and warm water.
And since your hands continually get a workout, whether at the keyboard, in the garden, on the steering wheel, or on the golf course, give them a treat by holding them under warm running water for a few minutes. Squeeze one hand with the other in firm, five-second grips. With gentle pressure, wring each finger and thumb from its base to its tip. Next, press your thumb into your palm for four seconds at a time, progressively working your way across the width of the hand.
For stiff necks and tender shoulders, try rolling a tennis ball between your back and the sofa, wall or floor. To massage your feet, roll them in a basin filled with marbles.
Reprinted with permission from 5-Minute Retreats for Women, by Sue Augustine. Harvest House Publishers, 2001.
Sue Augustine is the author of With Wings and There Are No Barriers, a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul, an internationally known speaker at corporate and professional events, and a frequent guest on national TV and radio programs. She also offers dynamic and humorous workshops that address issues such as overcommitment, stress and perfectionism. Sue and her husband live in Canada. Click here to e-mail her.
