Massage Your Hands (mano y mano)

Every active person needs the benefits that massage can give their hands. Here’s how to get those benefits whenever you need them.

Eight Steps to Happy Hands

Step 1: Glide
Glide your hands against each other to warm them. This rubbing should produce an energy or force in your hands. After briskly rubbing the fronts of your hands together for about 30 seconds stop. Hold your hands palm to palm about a quarter inch from each other without touching. When you can feel the force you’re ready to move to step 2.

Step 2: Finger Pull and Squeeze
Script: Squeeze each finger beginning with your thumb. Make a fist, put a finger in the center of the fist. Squeeze the finger, pulling and twisting it out. When you’ve massage all five digits on one hand massage the remaining five. Squeeze the skin on the side of the hand below the pinky.

Step 3: Hand Squeeze
Squeeze your left hand with your right hand. Begin at your wrist, move your right hand towards your finger tips re-squeezing every inch or so until you’ve covered your hand. Then do the other hand and alternate a few times between the two until you’ve got it covered. Relax, look for tender spots, and breathe deeply.

Step 4: Press and Roll
Front of Hands
Interlace your fingers, rest the back of your right hand on the outside of your left thigh, stretch your right hand with your left. Press and press & roll your left thumb into your open right hand. After covering your right hand reverse positions and use your right thumb to massage your left hand.
Back of Hands
With the fronts of your hands facing each other and your fingers interlaced, press and roll the fingers from your right hand into the back of your left hand. Massage between the bones in the back of your hand. Just below the knuckles feels especially good. Massage the muscle tissue between your thumb and index finger. When the back of your left hand has been massaged, return the favor and massage your right hand. Then release your hands from their embrace and massage the backs of each hand by pressing and rolling the fingers from one hand into the back of the other.
Going Deeper
For an extra deep massage rest your left hand, palm up, on your right thigh and press and press & roll your right elbow into it. If it feels good on your left hand massage your right hand.


Step 5: Gliding
Repeat Step 1 by gliding your hands together.

Step 6: Drumming
Drum, slap, or tap your hand with your fingers, fist, or palm.

Step 7: Rock’n Roll
Shake your hands. Let them dance.

Step 8: Breathe Deeply & Sit Quietly
Take three deep breaths into your lower belly and feel the difference a good hand massage makes.

Suggested Time: 5 minutes.
Conclusion: Try variations on this routine every time your hands deserve it.


Benefits of Hand Massage
Relieves muscle pain and soreness
Prevents Injuries
Renewed flexibility to hands
Younger happier hands
Improved muscle performance
Energizes
Releases trigger points
Feels good
Activates acupressure points
Relaxes
More powerful hands

For more information on hands: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand