Belly massage is an undeniable wellness ritual: it supports healthy digestion, drains toxins, improves circulation and releases tension. Yet it remains a largely overlooked practice in Western cultures. The belly is still something of a taboo — unloved, a source of insecurities, the seat of our emotions and, sometimes, discomfort. It tends to be seen as a vulnerable area we’d rather not show or touch. Here are a few tips to help you get started with draining belly massage and feel slimmer and lighter every day.
First tip: before massaging, breathe
Before performing any draining belly massage, it is recommended to practise a few abdominal breathing exercises. Why? Simply because breathing prepares the body and ideally complements massage movements. Abdominal breathing offers many benefits: it promotes better blood flow to the abdominal area, supports digestive function and elimination, and it reduces stress and its effects (bloating, abdominal tension, digestive discomfort…).
Before any massage:
- inhale deeply through the nose, from the perineum up to the collarbones — the belly, abdomen and then the lungs gradually fill with air;
- exhale in the reverse direction through the mouth, progressively releasing air from the throat, chest, abdomen, belly and lower abdomen.
To better feel your body’s movements, place one hand on your belly and one on your chest, and practise these slow, deep breaths.
Finally, practise this abdominal breathing for 5 minutes. You can then move on to the massages themselves.
First draining belly massage: circular massage
This massage is well known as the most recommended technique for digestive discomfort. It should be performed clockwise, following the path of the intestines. Using a massage oil to ease the movements is also recommended. Our Anti-Cellulite Massage Oil is perfectly suited for this: lightweight and enriched with slimming (grapefruit) and draining (ivy) actives, it helps optimise every movement.
- Start with broad strokes, using the pads of your fingers, applying no pressure but with a firm touch.
- Place your fingers at rib level and move down along the left side.
- Pass below the navel, across the lower abdomen, then move up along the right side, returning to just below the ribs.
- Gradually tighten the circle around the navel.
- Finally, finish the circular massage using your full palms.
This massage can be performed every day with no risk.
Second massage: pinch-and-roll
A highly regarded massage technique known for its toning, slimming and fat-releasing benefits. It is THE anti-cellulite massage par excellence, as it promotes adipocyte drainage, restarts microcirculation, oxygenates tissues and helps eliminate interstitial water and toxins. The pinch-and-roll technique can be performed by hand. However, using a cupping cup makes the process much easier. Our compact Anti-Cellulite Cupping Cup perfectly replicates the pinch-and-roll motion:
- the suction mimics the pinching movement;
- gliding the cup over oiled skin is equivalent to rolling a fold of skin between the fingers.
The belly pinch-and-roll doesn’t need to be lengthy (3 minutes with the cup is enough), but it must be consistent (daily) to be truly draining. It is also recommended to perform it:
- from bottom to top, to encourage blood flow towards the heart;
- starting from the centre of the belly, moving outward towards each side.
Third massage: deep drainage
To complete your draining belly massage routine, it is advisable to incorporate movements that improve deep circulation. To do so:
- place the edges of your hands on either side of your belly, at the level of the oblique muscles;
- gently draw the skin towards your navel, sliding your hands inward;
- then, using your palms, gently tap your belly;
- repeat for at least one minute.
Fourth massage: Gua Sha
The Gua Sha, before being a tool, is a wellness method rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to its ancestral principles, it involves “scraping away what ails the body”. In its contemporary application, it consists of scraping the skin with a flat tool with a smooth, defined edge, to boost lymphatic flow and thereby help the body release toxins and reduce water retention.
How to perform a Gua Sha draining belly massage?
- start by applying a massage oil to the skin;
- next, stimulate the lymphatic pump by activating the lymph nodes. For the belly, the aortic and iliac nodes are involved. Use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure at the solar plexus and the groin creases;
- then perform the massage using the appropriate edge of the Gua Sha, stroking from the navel upward toward the heart (to drain lymph toward the aortic nodes), then from the navel downward toward the lower abdomen and groin creases.
- finally, repeat the pumping movements to ensure lymphatic circulation is properly encouraged.
The Gua Sha massage can be performed 2 to 3 times a week to help achieve a flatter belly and reduce abdominal cellulite.
Our Body Gua Sha is ideal for this type of draining massage. Its design is shaped to contour every part of the body, including the belly. It comes with a detailed guide to walk you through each massage movement. Users agree: it delivers a deeply relaxing self-massage that is above all effective for de-puffing the belly and restoring comfort and firmness.