The secret to improving your wellbeing is at your fingertips…
Knotted back? Migraines disrupting your day-to-day life? A build-up of tension in the body can cause pain, lack of sleep and, unsurprisingly, feelings of irritability. But you don’t need to reach for the medicine cabinet as soon as those niggles develop. Instead, gentle, self-administered massage and acupressure can often have similar results, minus the price tag that comes with depending on over-the-counter remedies. These expert-approved tricks can help release stiffness, soothe sore muscles and boost your wellbeing.
Loosen up shoulders
1 Roll shoulders up, back and forward. Place hands on shoulders and make large circles with the elbows.
2 Extend arms and make large open circles.
3 Repeat all the above in the opposite direction.
4 Make a fist with your hand and pat up and down over the muscles of the shoulder and down the arm.
5 Finally, squeeze your muscles around the shoulder, towards the neck and down the arm with your hands.
De-stress your hips
1 Our hips and feet are connected, so massage feet first. Place your fingers between the toes and go back and forwards. Follow with circular movements; then, using your thumbs, massage the soles.
2 Sit cross-legged with your feet under your knees. Warm up by moving the body from the hips in circular movements as if you were hula-hooping. Do several in each direction.
3 Lie down, bend your knees and raise them towards your chest. Place your right lower leg (just above the ankle bone) on top of your left knee to form the number four. Put your arms through to catch behind your left thigh and gently pull. Direct your pelvis downwards. Rock gently from side to side, then swap to the other side.
4 Finally, lie on your side, place your legs on top of each other and bend so that you’re lying i
