How To: Give A Great Massage

By Steve Richer

Lifestyle Correspondent - Every Wednesday
This isn't going to be a Play..boy instructional video on how to handle
women too beautiful to exist in real life and how to make them
respond in ways no one has ever heard of. The idea here is to turn
you into a massage master Jedi, a relaxation guru if you will.

That's really what a good rubdown is -- a way to relieve stress and
channel positive energy through to the other person. Not only is it a
great way to signal to your partner that you're ready to move to the
next level, but it's also a fantastic way to let her know how much you
care.

You're probably familiar with specific types of massages. Shiatsu is
an Oriental art that combines acupuncture with acupressure to allow
the regulation of the energy flow. Rolfing is another medically
oriented technique aimed at the straightening of the body, strongly
resembling chiropractic.

The best known, however, is the Swedish massage, which is pretty
much what will be covered here. It's a full body massage with
relaxation as its goal. Other styles such as sports massage,
reflexology, myotherapy, and myofascial release are also of a
therapeutic nature.

before you start...

The environment in which you intend to proceed should be carefully
mulled over. It should be relaxing in the most powerful respect. There
shouldn't be any children or pets around to interrupt. The room must
be at a comfortable temperature and your woman shouldn't be
subjected to any drafts. Take the time to dim the lights and make sure
the drapes are pulled shut so that there are no distractions.

Plan on summoning the music connoisseur within you and select a
few CDs of soothing tunes. For relaxation's sake, I prefer
instrumental compositions. Perhaps the smooth jazz of Dave Brubeck
or the peaceful sounds of film composer James Horner (The
Essential James Horner Film Music Collection has it all).

Your woman should be comfortable with you; if she doesn't feel
completely at ease, then she won't be able to fully let go. She should
entirely disrobe once you assure her that her more intimate parts will
be covered. It is possible to work around bra straps and panty lines
but it should be avoided if possible.

be equipped

She should lie down on a hard surface so that all her muscles are
adequately supported: a firm mattress or a futon are ideal. Also, allow
enough space for you to be able to circulate and work contentedly.

Have towels on hand. Not only will you need some to cover her
where the sun isn't supposed to shine, but it is also important to cover
the areas that you have already massaged so that the body heat you
will have generated won't escape and leave her chilly. A folded towel
or a small pillow should be provided for her head.

Different rubdowns, and more of what you'll knead... Next >>

Lubricants are a must. There are many fancy massage oils that are
available on the market and they truly are the best option. They have
just the right level of viscosity, and leave your woman smelling rather
good if you buy the scented kinds. You can find a variety of them at
MyPleasure.com. Water-based lubes, KY for example, and
petroleum-based jelly like Vaseline, aren't idyllic as they are absorbed
too quickly by the skin.

If you don't want to invest in massage oils, you can always use
vegetable oil -- that's right, what you use in the kitchen. It works
great, but its perfume may turn your woman off. If she doesn't like the

feel of oil on her skin, then you can always turn to talcum powder. It's
better than nothing at all.

roadmap to the stars

When you do get into the massage, you should always target large
muscle groups. Neck, shoulders, back, and legs are what you should
mostly work on. By not focusing on specific muscles, you avoid doing
any damage and are relieving most of the stress.

Your pressure should be even and firm so that the "massagee" can
get used to your touch without being distracted. Use your entire hand:
fingers and palm, heel and fingertips. Your strokes must be graceful
and poised as if you were sculpting clay with Demi Moore sitting
between your legs.

For maximum effect, you'll want to begin with the shoulders. From
there you can work your way to her neck, and then down her arms all
the way to her hands. After that you can return to her upper and lower
back, and over to her buttocks if she has no problem with it. Then it's
down her thighs to her calves. You can end off with her feet. Once
there, backtrack all the way to the starting point with a lighter touch of
effleurage.

how the pros do it

Begin with softer movements:

Effleurage: Soft and fluid strokes steadily applied with the palm of
the hand. It will stretch the soft tissue and is very relaxing. It's a good
way to help her body get used to your touch. Always use this
technique before and after more energetic rubbing.

The fan stroke: Your hands should be at either side of the spine
above her hips, with your fingers facing her head. Slide your hands
up to her shoulder blades with a bit of pressure. Next, move up and

out toward the shoulders in a curve, and move back down along the
rib cage to your initial position. Basically, you're drawing a coarse
heart, which should classify you as quite the romantic.

The circling hands: Wax on, wax off for the nonviolent crowd. Your
right hand should be perpendicular to her spine with your fingers
pointing to her left. Make counterclockwise semicircular motion with
your fingers always pointing in the same direction. Once you've gone
a few inches, have your left hand seamlessly take over. And so on.
Before long, you will have left-traced an entire circle.

Once her body is accustomed to your attention, you can move on to
more vigorous actions:

Kneading: Ever given someone a backrub? Then you're already
accustomed to this method. It consists of rhythmically squeezing the
flesh and muscles for approximately half a minute. Go slowly and
don't simply aim for the skin. Remember, it's a massage, not a
dungeon of pain.

Milking: Similar to kneading, only here you use both hands to grab
onto a single muscle group and squeeze, alternating between your
right and left hand. Imagine you are milking a cow, hence the name.
Then roll the flesh between your fingers.

Here's a great and fun way to bring this to a close:

Fingertips raking: Arch your hands so that only your fingertips apply
pressure to her body, but first make sure that your fingernails aren't
potential weapons. Then, remember last fall and rake your heart out.

You can try all these techniques on different parts of her body.
Experiment and pay attention to her reactions as you go.

don't wanna get slapped, do

you?

1- Never, ever apply pressure directly on the spine. It can be

unpleasant and frankly, I would avoid any spots that can cause
serious neurological damage.

2- Similarly, massaging the belly can be a source of discomfort for
your woman.

3- Don't pinch. It can be easy to succumb to it when kneading and
milking, but you should avoid it.

4- And finally, once you start the massage, never leave your partner
without your touch. If you need more oil, try doing so with only one
hand so that the momentum is never broken.

the grand finale

When you're done, use a spare towel and wipe the extra lubricant
from her body. It will also signal to her that it's over. Have something
to drink close by, as people tend to be thirsty after a good rubdown.
And take the time to discuss the great moment the two of you just
shared.

Basically, keep it relaxing. If you are massaging a friend in the hopes
of better, less lonesome days, don't turn the event into a sexual one
halfway through just because you have an opportunity. Let her make
that decision -- otherwise, chances are the only person you'll be
massaging is yourself.