Self Head Massage - Basic Techniques

Before you start

First thing before a massage is to warm up your hands. Make sure your hands are warm before doing this, if needed, wash your hands with warm water and apply hand cream or massage oil. Rub your hands together very quickly, this warms them even more and builds up energy in your palms. Try to empty your mind from all the problems and stress. Now you are ready to start.

Begin with a neck stretching

Place your hands on the place where neck joins with shoulders and start with a side stretching left - and right. The stretching has to be done in a slow motion and the extension should be in the limits of comfort. Do this a few times each side. Keeping your hands on the shoulders, continue with stretching forward – backward in the same slow motion. Continue the stretching with alternative rotations; one clockwise the next one counterclockwise this time the move should be even slower. Repeat this several times. The focus is not only on the muscles on the neck it is also on the throat where stretching will activate the glands and lymph nodes.

Shoulder squeezing

Place your left hand on your right shoulder near your neck and squeeze the muscle between your palm and your fingers. Do this on the shoulder muscles and the trapezoid muscle. Repeat this with your right hand on the left shoulder. Ideally you should do this directly on the skin. Avoid rubbing the skin too much if you are not using oil.

Neck squeezing

Place your hand on your neck and gently squeeze it.
Do not grasp between your thumb and your palm, you rather use only the palm to apply the squeeze. You can use any for the hands. This stroke is improving the blood circulation in brain.

Eyebrows friction

Starting from between your eyebrows rub with both of your middle fingers along the eyebrows to the temporal bone.
When you reach the temporal bone search for a small cavity and do a small circle fingertip friction.
Alternatively this can be done with the thumb. This is an excellent tool against headaches and fatigue.

Ear Massage

Ear massage will help reduce the stress, improve digestion, improve body temperature adjustment.
Pull the ear backward with light force. Squeeze the ear between thumb and index applying a light pressure. Pull the earlobe downward with light force and release. This stimulates all the energetic points on the ear. This is very similar to auriculotherapy. 

Friction behind ears. Place the thumbs on the bone behind your ears. Applying a moderate pressure, (strong effleurage), move your thumbs downwards to the neck until you meet the shoulders. This feels great and helps the release of endorphins. Ideally you use some lubricant with this move.