Massage: hands

Stiff necks, sore shoulders, lower back pains and restless hands – these are the symptoms I see most often in my work as a massage therapist, as so many of us spend hours at a computer each day. There are points of the hands, which relate to the different parts of the body. You can use this simple technique both to relax your hands, and to stimulate other parts of the body.

1. Close your eyes and breath deeply.
2. With your out breath press your right thumb firmly but gradually into your left palm. The other fingers of your right hand can support underneath the left hand.
3. Start to make 5 firm circles around the pressure spot
4. Repeat 2 and 3 in a different spot .
5. Go from one place to another until you cover a whole palm.
6. Do the same on the opposite hand.
7. When you have finished drop both hands down and shake them vigorously.

Originally published in Stella Magazine, the weekly supplement of The Sunday Telegraph