Students at the West Campus Apartments’ activity center learned there is a healing element to touch Tuesday night at the massage techniques program.
Kim Munro, from the LSU Wellness Education Services, said she encourages everyone to get professional massages at least once in their lives.
The student participants at the event were told to partner with someone. The receiver of the massage was told to straddle a chair and the giver was given mint-scented alcohol to cleanse their hands.
“Make sure the person wants you to touch them,” Munro said.
She explained that the first step to giving a massage is make sure you are respectful of “personal boundaries.”
The second step is to “warm the muscles” by making circular motions with the flats of one’s hands, Munro said. She said this is important because “metabolic waste gets congested.”
She began by demonstrating shoulder massages. She told the students to use “alligator hands,” hands opened wide but not flat, to push into the muscles and squeeze thumbs. She said to use big, soft motions, like kneading dough.
“The arms are often neglected but they’re my favorite because they feel like a big ‘ole hug,” Munro said.
She showed the students how to massage up and down their partner’s arms with the receiver’s arms relaxed at each side.
“This feels good,” a student said out loud as he received his arm massage from his partner.
Students finished by “smoothing out muscles” with palms of their hands while having their partners take deep breaths.
Munro also taught students a massage technique they could perform on themselves by taking a medium-sized rubber ball and leaning against a wall and applying pressure with body weight so it rolls up and down the muscles.
She also explained the importance of using the proper lubricant when giving a full-body massage. She said using a quality massage lotion is important because it will give the massager glide, so he or she does not have to keep reapplying, and it will not leave the receiver feeling greasy afterward.
Munro said that while oil warms faster than lotion when applying, it is greasy.
She said massage school gift shops and online shops are good places to find a quality massage lotion or oil.
The Rec Center has professional massages starting at $40 an hour, which Munro said is a reasonable price. She said massage schools also offer an affordable massage experience.
Raymond Areanet, an architect sophomore who received a massage from Munro as a demonstration, said he felt “more relaxed.” He said he came because he goes to the Rec Center every day and he wanted to get a massage to relieve the tensions of working out.
Munro, a licensed massage therapist, said relaxation techniques are an important skill especially for college students who deal with pressures every day.
Munro said the Wellness Education Department gives presentations on a variety of health topics upon the requests of organizations.
The program was organized by the Wellness Committee at WCA.
Shannon Francis, Wellness Committee member, said it is important to teach students to take “better care” of themselves.
Francis said there will be a sex education program in March.