Hand massage for grounding/relaxation

[zen_racer]

During my recent massage therapy visit, the massage therapist spent a bit of time massaging my hands.  It reminded me of when I learned how to massage my own hands for relaxation.  I'm no expert, but it seems like one of the points of grounding exercises is to become more present in our bodies.  I just figured this may help.

To my knowledge, it doesn't matter which hand you start with.  To massage each part, I generally support the hand/finger on the back side with my fingers, and do the massaging with my thumb.  This is with a little bit of pressure, but not a lot.  I'd say medium to light pressure.

Start with the tip of the index finger.  Massage in small circles around the pad of the tip of the finger for 5-15 seconds, whatever feels like enough time.  Move on to the tip of the middle finger for the same time, then the ring finger, then the pinky.  After massaging the tips ending with the pinky, move down the pinky to the middle section between the two joints.  Progress from the pinky back across all four fingers to the index finger, again with 5-15 seconds for each finger.  Once again, move down one more section closer to the palm on the index finger, and continue to the pinky.

Once you're done with all the fingers, move down to the part of the palm between the pinky joint and the horizontal line across the top of the palm.  Rub towards the middle finger between that line and the finger joints.  I do an oval pattern.  I know it feels like you're leaving out the index finger at this point.  I don't know that it would hurt to include the index finger right now, but this is just how I learned.  After that, rub along the palm from the pinky joint down towards your wrist, and then back up but moving a little bit towards the ring finger.  Make slightly triangular ovals on this area for 5-15 seconds.  When you're ready to move on, come back down towards your wrist, and then massage up the diagonal line on your palm up to the index finger joint.  When coming back down to the pinky side near your wrist, I like to move in towards the center of the palm, again with a slightly triangular oval pattern.  After this, move on to the muscle for the thumb on the palm.  Here, you can add a little bit more pressure to massage that muscle, about the same time frame, whatever feels good.  You can end by moving up the joints of the thumb similar to how we started with the fingers.  For an extra bonus, turn your hand over, and use your thumb to massage the web between the thumb and rest of the hand.

If you have time, do both hands.

For another little extra after massaging both hands, spend a little bit of time, maybe 5 seconds at a time, alternating between clenching your fists, then opening the hand/fingers as far as you can.  You don't need full strength for this, but enough that the muscles are activated.  After doing this 5-10 times, then let your hands be loose and shake them around a little bit.

If you've never tried anything like this, I bet you'll be amazed at how relaxed your hands can feel.

I can't verify how well it works for grounding, as I'm only just beginning to recognize EF's or the need for grounding at all, and still can't recognize them as they are happening.  I just figured it might help, or at the very least promote being a little more relaxed.

For the little bit I remember about why, this method does hit specific pressure points, but I don't recall the specifics.

[NarcKiddo]

Do you use lotion?

[zen_racer]

I do not, but it probably couldn't hurt.  For most of it, I think it's mostly hitting pressure points and stimulating nerves, so there doesn't need to be much pressure.  Start light, and feel free to increase pressure until it feels right.  I'll have to try it with lotion.