Do you practice a sport regularly and sometimes suffer from muscle pain or soreness? Then this article is for you. We're going to introduce you to our sports massage bar recipe. A moment of relaxation guaranteed!

Why have a sports massage?

Sports massage is important for maintaining muscle tone. It is a good complement to sports preparation and a good aid to recovery. It can be performed before, during or after exercise. Before, it warms up the muscle, during, it soothes any cramps and after, it allows the muscle to relax,eliminate toxins and reduce and treat injuries and inflammation.

Why a massage bar? 

The massage bar has a practical effect. It's not always easy to transport your massage oils (transport conditions, hand washing, etc.). What's more, the bar itself has a massaging action thanks to its composition. This means you can enjoy your oils in a practical format, and soothe yourself in the event of tension, inflammation or aches and pains. 

On contact with the skin, the massage bar melts slightly, releasing the oils and butters it contains, not only moisturizing the skin but also making it easier to massage and benefit from the virtues of the essential oils. The mechanical action of the massage helps the oils to penetrate the tired or aching muscle.

Homemade massage bar: which ingredients?

• Cocoa butter has a nourishing, protective, revitalizing and antioxidant action. 

A natural emulsifier, it helps keep skin soft and healthy.

• Shea butter is calming, soothing, healing, nourishing and protective. At muscular level, it can be used both to warm up and to relax, which is useful for sportsmen and women both before and after exercise. 
• L'coconut oilis soothing, nourishing and regenerating. It softens and smoothes the skin, making it ideal for massage. 
• Beeswax is used for its protective and film-forming properties, i.e. to prevent dehydration. In this recipe, it is also used as a texturizing agent, giving the massage bar a solid consistency. 
• Cinnamon macerate on jojoba oil stimulates and tones muscles. A macerate is obtained by infusing a plant, spice, etc. in an oil to extract the maximum amount of active ingredients. This reinforces the properties of the oil by adding the active principles of the macerated plants. 
• Stearic acid is used as a texturizing agent and for its softening and nourishing properties. 
• Wintergreen essential oil is a powerful painkiller, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. A great friend to athletes, we couldn't imagine a sports massage bar recipe without it!
• Cajeput essential oil is a painkiller and antispasmodic. 
• Camphor essential oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and activates circulation. 
• Turpentine essential oil has antiseptic, analgesic and stimulating properties. 
• Cinnamon essential oil is analgesic and stimulates blood circulation in the skin, creating a sensation of warmth. 
• Peppermint is invigorating. The presence of menthol stimulates sensory nerve endings and dilates blood vessels. It is also analgesic, anesthetic and refreshing. 
• Azuki beans have no specific virtues, but are used in this recipe to accentuate the massage. 

Properties of the massage bar

As you can see, we've chosen a number of essential oils whose synergy stimulates blood circulation, warming and relaxing stiff, aching muscles. This bar is also relaxing, removing all muscular tension and contractures.

It's not a miracle cure, but the virtues of the essential oils combined with the mechanical action that acts on blood flow, help to relieve muscles.

DIY: massage bar recipe

Ingredients to make your own massage bar

• 25g cocoa butter
• 10g de beurre de karité
• 6g vegetable coconut oil
• 2.5g beeswax
• 4g cinnamon macerate on jojoba oil
• 2g stearic acid
• 10 drops wintergreen essential oil
• 10 drops cajeput essential oil
• 10 drops camphor essential oil
• 10 drops turpentine essential oil
• 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• Azukis beans

1. Start by cleaning and disinfecting the utensils and containers you'll need to make your recipe.
   

2. Melt waxes, butters and vegetable oils in a bain-marie. 

3. Remove from heat and whisk in the essential oils. 

4. Fill the bottom of a silicone mould with the azukis beans. There's no need to fill the mold with beans, as massaging them will cause them to penetrate deep into the bar. 

5. Leave the bar to solidify completely in the open air or in the fridge.

Using the massage bar

Lightly melt the bar between your hands and apply to the area to be treated, or rub the area to be massaged with the bar, with the beans on the skin side. 

The butters will transform into oil, penetrating better. This gives the bar a greasy effect (but not too greasy). Allow to penetrate well before putting on your clothes.

Store your massage bar in a tin or airtight box.

Now you're ready to try out this massage bar, which, as the icing on the cake, has a very pleasant scent!