Massage Oil, a couple of key notes, some basic starter info....There are many types of massage oils. The main thing to consider is to let your own hands be the judge. It's also wise to check with the client if they have any skin allergies, Use a small amount first inside the elbow, and check for a rash or irritation before the session begins. Some oils are thicker and have less "glide", while others are very thin, and are less "tacky". I'll try to keep all this very simple, and give you "just the best of the bunch" to start with. These oils are also great "base oils" to mix essential oils into, for an aromatherapeutic effect. The main thing when giving a massage, is, don't use too much oil!!! You want to have contact with the skin. Some forms of massage, such as Hawaiian "Lomi-Lomi", use copious amounts of massage oil. That work tends to be lighter than other forms, such as Swedish, etc. One thing to keep in mind with oil: Oil will go rancid if left in a heated area or sitting around too long. Your nose will tell you this immediately. Jojoba massage oil: Jojoba is THE traditional favorite. It's chemical composition is very close to that of the "sebum" or the naturally secreted oil of human skin. It comes from a desert plant, and is fairly expensive to produce. It has a nutty smell. It will, however, stain the sheets, so if you use it in a session. It has a light brown/tan color. Coconut Massage Oil: My personal favorite. It has to be warmed to liquify, as at cooler temps, it will be solid. I use the "Non-virgin" (second pressing) type, it's less expensive, and doesn't smell like coconut, but the "Extra Virgin" is wonderful too, if you want that scent. Has lots of vitamin E. A lot of commercial massage blends incorporate some type of coconut oil in the mix..Doesn't stain the sheets if you wash them immediately... Grapeseed oil: Some swear by this, I'm not a huge grapeseed fan, but it's ok in a pinch. Lighter feel, yellowish color. Almond Oil: I feel the same way about this as grapeseed oil. Sort of "eh, it's ok, I guess.." This can be hard to describe sometimes. Olive oil: Is very heavy, can be used for deep tissue work, but use it sparingly. has a strong odor in the extra virgin, try the regular or non-virgin. Mixes well with Chamomile oil. These are some of the basic massage oils that you can use without breaking your wallet. Some commercial blends, however, do a nice job of combining properties of different "base" oils, in various proportions, and adding some essential oils to that. There are some advantages, for example, to mixing coconut oil with a bit of olive oil, and maybe some arnica oil. A lot of the commercial blends are all-natural, but it all blends down to what feels best for the client. There is a lot of variation in the proportions of each oil used, and so results will vary widely. But experimenting is fun! Essential oils are the ones that produce the aroma or healing effects. They come in those little tiny bottles, because they're a lot more expensive. Many are produced by cold-pressing the flowers of plants, and this is time and labor consuming. They are generally not used all by themselves in massage, as they are concentrated, and can be expensive. But add a few drops to a base oil, and you have a wonderful, aromatherapeutic,massage oil. One commercial blend I absolutely love is at the link below: You can find all the major brands at this site also. If you go there, search for some Rosemary oil and maybe some Chamomile and Arnica too! These three essential oils will give you a nice start into Aromatherapy, to play around with, but this blend from BIOTONE below is simply AWESOME!!! Not too expensive, you can probably do 25-30 massages with a bottle of this. The "BUY" button below is just a site entry- link button, no obligation for any thing, don't worry....
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