How annoying is it when your SO/friend/boss (JK – that would be weird), asks you for a massage? Instinct is as follows:* No. I cannot give you a massage, I don't want to give you a massage. I want a massage. Can you give me a massage?* So next time someone asks you, redirect them to this page, or if you fancy one yourself, don't be that guy that we've already established that you kind-of hate. Now you can bloody do it yourself, thanks to this imgur thread, using only a tennis ball (sometimes). Here's how:
The One That'll Save Your Feet
Take a seat and start rolling the tennis ball under your feet. If any parts are particularly killing you, work on that area with small circles.
The One That'll Help Tension Headaches
You know those horrible headaches that feel like your forehead is about to split in two? Yeah, they're tension headaches. Get rid of it by lying down with your legs bent and, using your thumb and forefinger, hold a tennis ball in each hand on either side of the bottom of your head. Start to roll your head side to side and up and down.
The One That'll Help When You're On Your Period
This one's for that horrible lower-back pain that your period kindly gives you. Lie down with your legs bent, place two tennis balls at the base of your spine and raise and lower your hips on to them to massage it away.
The One For A Tight Jaw
If you're prone to clenching your jaw, this one's for you. Start at the apples of your cheeks and press your fingers up under your cheekbones, working along their line and opening and closing your mouth as you go. When you get to your sideburns, rest your thumb at the base of your jaw and pull your fingertips down the side of your face. Repeat this along your jawline, moving toward your chin.
The One For Knee Probs
Sitting at a desk all day does nothing for achy knees, so give them a stretch to loosen up the knots that form when you've been sitting for too long. Stay sitting but straighten your leg out and start massaging the sore spot in a star-shape for 10 seconds to work out the knot. Bend and straighten your knee twice and repeat the whole thing two or three times for each area that's giving you jip.
The Sore-Bum Fixer
Whether it's from all that aformentioned sitting or just because you've been nailing the squats at the gym. Sit on the floor with your legs bent and place a tennis ball under your bum cheek, then lift the same leg off the ground and move in circles over the ball to work out any tense spots. Then repeat it on the other side.
The Forearm Sorter-Outer
Desk-dwellers rejoice, here's something to sort out that forearm you get from keyboard bashing all day err'day. Hold your arm out with your palm facing up and hold it under the elbow with your other hand. Still holding it, start twisting your arm so your palm faces upwards then downwards, etc, and move the holding-hand down your arm to your wrist as you do it. Swap over and do the other side.
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
The Best Arm Exercises If You're Scared To Go Sleeveless This Summer
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.