Neck Massage
If you sit at a computer the whole day or have a job that entails carrying heavy objects, you are probably no stranger to neck and shoulder pain. Even a desk job that demands long hours sitting in one place or crooking your neck to cradle a phone for too long or sleeping awkwardly can aggravate the muscles, nerves and tendons around your neck and shoulders and cause chronic pain and tension. Stress along with bad posture and even poor breathing can add to neck aches and injuries. Having a neck massage is a surefire way to combat these problems. The best neck massages address the nerves and muscles around the head and shoulder region. A trained masseur or therapist will know exactly what neck massage technique to use and when. But neck massage therapy need not be only done in spas and massage parlors. There are a few simple massage techniques for neck pain that can be administered by yourself or a willing partner. 

Before beginning any neck massage therapy, it is recommended that you loosen your collar or if possible remove your shirt or jacket completely. The more access you or your therapist has to your muscles and the greater the direct skin contact, the more enjoyable your massage will be. Use the time taken for a massage as a time to centre your attention and focus on the moment. Even if you are just taking five minutes of your busy day to enjoy the neck massage benefits, make sure you are totally in the present. If you want to know how to do a neck massage by yourself, you can check out a number of videos and sites available online. One easy exercise to reduce neck stress is shrugging your shoulders. Lift your shoulders as high up to your ears as possible and hold for a few seconds before dropping them back down. Shrugging like this can increase the blood flow to these overworked muscles and restores their mobility. One should remember that the more mobile your neck and shoulder muscles are, the less tension they store.

Self massage techniques: Here are some basic techniques to give yourself a massage.

For the shoulder:

Hold and squeeze the opposite shoulder with the other hand, and knead it firmly. Change sides and repeat the movement. Do use some massage oil or lotion while giving yourself a massage.

To give others a massage:

• The person you are giving a massage to can lie sideways. He must use a pillow under his head and his top leg can bend forward.
• Then you can gently massage the side of the neck and the arm.
• Then with both your hands, move the shoulder upwards and downwards, and backwards and forwards.
• Then you can make circular movements with your fingertips below the shoulder blade to release the tension.
• Then do the same movements on the other arm.

Self massage for the neck:

Hold the back of the neck with a hand, and firmly squeeze to relax the muscles.
Bring up your shoulders till your ears and hold the position till your count five before releasing. Repeat this movement for relaxation.
There are a lot of ways of giving yourself or others a neck massage. We suggest you learn from a therapist before doing so.

Benefits of Neck Massage:

• You can give yourself a quick neck and shoulder massage at any time and place.
• If you can do the massage for 5 to 10 minutes, then you can feel the relief and the stress draining away.
• Neck massages can relieve stiffness from the shoulders, the head and the back.
• It can also improve the blood circulation and ease the knotted muscles.
• You can feel totally relaxed after a quick massage.
  

Apart from massage therapy, there are also several back and neck massager and shoulder and neck massager products available in the market. These are motorized tools that replicate the action of a masseur and help loosen tight muscles without too much effort. You can check out these products online or at a health / aromatherapy store near you.