I believe that massage plays a key role in maintaining health and that is why I advocate its practice as part of my Lifestyle Programme.

Massage has long been practised as a means of relaxation, muscle toning and therapy. Though popular in Eastern traditions, the West has so far been less keen to recognise the healing qualities of massage. Conventional medicine states that muscles only contract they do not expand. It can however, be shown that muscles do indeed expand. Take the spine for instance. In the morning people can be as much as 3.5cm taller than in the evening. The muscles in the spine shrink as they tire during the day and expand during the night as they recuperate. If you tone them up by massage they do not tire as much.

How To Massage

Before You Begin

• Keep the room warm and well ventilated.
• Work at comfortable height on a firm bed or mat
• Don't wear jewellery, wrist watches or anything that could scratch the skin
• Keep fingernails smooth and as short as you can
• Warm up your hands

During

• Keep talking to a minimum
• Play relaxing music but not music that is heavily rhythmic

Avoid

• Doing it straight after a meal
• Any obvious weak areas such as : varicose veins, the abdomen of a pregnant woman, injuries, infections or fractures of bony areas.

Self Massage

It is quite possible to massage certain areas yourself. Use your thumb or finger to look for sore spots. Press down a line of points on each side of the bones and down in the middle of the muscles. You'll soon find them. Then gently rotate your pressure to clear the soreness.

To keep good circulation in the limbs, take your calf and forearm muscles by the handful and squeeze then release.

Massage With a Partner

Massage from a partner is an even more beneficial way of doing it.

Pour the oil onto your hands, not directly onto your partner. Use your whole body action and focus on what you are trying to achieve.

Start by massaging the muscles in the limbs and buttocks then progress to the spine. Use your finger and thumb to run up either side of the spine. Dig gently into the cavities between the sides of the vertebrae.

Shoulders and neck are particularly important. Dig your thumbs into the muscles above and below the shoulder blades and up each side of the neck.

Don't forget the scalp!

Follow this routine each and every night before you go to bed and you will be amazed at how it improves your sleep and your performance.