Personal Massage

Um yeah, nice title.  Now my dear readers, go ahead and grab your minds and pull them back out of the gutter!

I don't know about you, but I could use a live in masseuse and besides spending $$ and going to the spa to get an actually bonafide massage or begging my husband, I have found this to be the next best thing.

What is it you ask?

Well it's this of course:

Nope, your eyes are not playing tricks, that IS your basic tennis ball.

Alrighty, lets start a the bottom and work our way up.

Feet.

See, I like to run. And it seems the more miles I log, the more my plantar fasciitis flares up.  Not fun, not fun at all!

Enter tennis ball.
Sit somewhere comfortably (personally, I prefer the couch).
Set the ball on the floor:

Roll your foot over the tennis ball ~ use as much pressure as you want.
Ahhhhh.......

Next ailment of mine ~

Hamstrings and gluteus maximus.... yep, that would be my butt.
I have a bit of Piriformis Syndrome.  If I pay attention to my running and spinning form, stretch well and massage it, I can keep it under control.  I do however find it hard to sit for long periods of time.  Anyway, enough about me. 
So, to massage those hamstrings, take your handy dandy tennis ball.  Place it on a semi hard chair

Strategically place your hamstring or tush over the ball and roll, using as much or as little pressure as you need.

FINALLY, Shoulders.  
I don't know about you, but I always seem to have a few knots in mine. 


For this, you will need your tennis ball a tall (tube) sock and a wall.

Place the tennis ball into the sock and push it all the way down to the toe area.

Hold onto the calf area of the sock and sling it over your shoulder.

Lean up against a wall and roll, roll and roll some more.  Of course, like the last two areas above, use as much or as little pressure as you need.  And be careful, you may have knots you didn't even know existed.

I will admit, I learned this trick from my sister in law. She brought this little homemade contraption to hubby's parents at Christmas and we all spent our fair share of time rolling around the wall. Quite the sight we all were :)

So there you go ~ hopefully these simple tricks help keep you loose and relaxed :) 

 I know they do for me!