Branislav Ostojic | Dreamstime.com

There’s nothing like a nice, relaxing massage to make you feel like a million bucks, eh? But maybe you don’t have the funds to give yourself that experience very often. In fact, it might be totally out of the question for you, financially or logistically.

In that case, go DIY: Do It Yourself.

I remember being at a conference several years ago, talking to a friend there about getting enough exercise. “I know doing yoga every day would be so good for me, but I just don’t do it,” I said. She was a coach who helped her clients take tiny steps to make significant changes.

She suggested sitting down on the floor and rubbing my feet. “Just enjoy that,” she said. “Then massage your calves and shoulders and enjoy that.”

She said she often found that taking some time to massage her feet and other sore spots got her in the mood to do yoga or other exercise.

She was right. Many years later, I can report that giving myself a little massage often ushers me into a full yoga session, even when I don’t feel like it at first.

In fact, I often massage myself in the middle of yoga or while I’m watching a movie. It’s all part of the practice of honoring my body and all it does for me.

Because, if you think about it, our bodies take us everywhere and do everything for us. It’s appropriate to bring some well-deserved pleasure to our flesh and bones to show our gratitude for all they do.

Text and graphic by the author; illustration by Alexandra Pavlova | Dreamstime.com

By the way, when’s the last time you gave your body a big hug? Has it been a while? If so, do that now—a big, lovey, huggy hug.

Doesn’t that feel nice?

Fire and ice

For years, when I worked for a daily newspaper, all hunched up over my computer keyboard in a definitely non-ergonomic chair, I’d come home at night with my neck and shoulders on fire from strain and tension. There were many nights when I’d take a large ice pack to bed with me to put out those flames so I could sleep.

During those years, a massage once or twice a month was a necessity. And I was earning the money to support that kind of healthy intervention.

But some of us just don’t have that in our budget. Now retired, I haven’t been to a massage therapist in years. I consider it a luxury these days (and, thankfully, I don’t have the stress and strain that I was accustomed to in my working life. Plus, I have a much better chair.)

Give me a hand

Now, I focus massage more on my feet and hands, where I’ve got some arthritis, and my butt, where sciatica flares up from time to time.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, moderate pressure is needed to stimulate receptors under the skin. Massaging those receptors reduces the pain and stress signals traveling to the brain, thus bringing relief.

The Arthritis Foundation recommends warming up using long, firm strokes, before focusing on specific sore points with smaller movements. For those long strokes, you might want to use oils or lotion to allow your hands to glide easily across the skin. You might also consider applying heat before massaging; that can help loosen your muscles so you get more relief from the practice.

I had no idea there were so many products specifically made for massaging your hands until I read this article. It lists several hand massagers that use kneading, rolling, vibrating, or general massage, giving pros and cons for each product. (I’ll have to check them out. Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of the hand massagers listed.)

Back and shoulders

There are many products that can help get at those tense muscles in your back and shoulders. Some are inexpensive and might be lying around your house, such as tennis balls. [None of the links in this article are affiliate links.]

Foam rollers have become popular in recent years. They are great for relieving tension throughout the body. There are many different kinds of rollers—soft, firm, textured, heated and cooled—and many exercises you can try to get at specific areas.

To reach any problematic parts of the back, you might try a Theracane. It’s a massage hook “that makes it easy to get to hard-to-reach spots, increasing circulation and soothing away stress and knots in your back,” according to the web page. I’ve used one. It’s surprising how it gets right into those nooks and crannies.

Then, there’s the $10,000 Super Novo Massage Chair, which looks like a giant cocoon about to blast off into space. It “delivers three-dimensional massage along the entire length of your spine all the way down to your thighs,” the web page says. It also hooks up to Alexa for “3D and 4D massage programs,” and might even cook your dinner if you ask nicely.

YouTube videos

If you want step-by-step instruction for self-massage, you’ll find plenty on YouTube. You can narrow your search for specific areas or needs:

Or you can settle in for a full guided self-massage.

Of course, you can always just listen to your own body and follow its needs and wants without prompting or guidance.

Havening

While we’re at it, I’d like to also mention havening, another technique that can help you relax and release tension and stress. Havening is often used for folks who are experiencing anxiety and depression or dealing with trauma.

I have found it to be a wonderfully calming technique, and it’s easy to do at home. Basically, you cross your arms over your chest, like you’re giving yourself a hug. Then stroke your arms slowly in a downward motion, from your shoulders to your elbows. You can say, “Calm and relaxed,” over and over as you do this. There are more havening techniques you can try, but that’s the foundational practice.

Here’s a demonstration of a daily self-havening practice to reduce anxiety and enhance your well-being.

Just love yourself

Your body does so many astonishing things for you without you even thinking about them or directing the processes. You breathe, digest, have your blood pumped, walk around, read, work, and play, all without much thought or appreciation for what’s happening just under the skin.

These easy, free techniques can make your body function more smoothly and allow you to feel loved and cared for, too. I hope you’ll take time to care for and appreciate your body with some soothing, loving touch. ❤️