Even if you’re not a professional massage therapist, you can still give your significant other the gift of a soothing, relaxing massage. At the end of a stressful day at work, massaging the temple of the head or giving a foot rub is one of the best things that you can do for that special person in your life. In return, you can also ask for a head massage or a foot rub. During special occasions, you can even go all out and create an ambiance in the bedroom by using scented candles or aromatherapy oils, along with soothing music to go with a one-hour massage. If you’re not a professional massage therapist, how can you improve your massage-giving techniques? That is what we will find more about in the next section.
How Can I Improve My Massage Techniques?
If you have the time, you can look at YouTube videos or read instructions online on how you can give a good massage. While you’re at it, here are several ways for you to improve your massage techniques:
- Make sure that you are calm and at ease while giving a massage.
If you’re not feeling your best, you might want to skip on giving a massage. When you’re anxious, irritable, depressed, or not having a good day, what you are feeling will translate to your touch and instead of your hands’ strokes being relaxing, it might have the opposite effect to the person you’re massaging.
See to it that the person you’re giving a massage to is comfortably clothed and not wearing any jewelry.
If you are giving your significant other a massage, having as little clothing as possible is definitely a good thing. Also, make sure that he or she is not wearing eyeglasses, contact lenses, or jewelry that might cause undue hurt while the massage is being administered.
- Warm the oil in your hands.
Instead of pouring the oil directly onto the body of the person you’re massaging, pour it between your palms and rub your hands together. This way, the oil would have already warmed up and it will be soothing once applied on the skin.
- Master those stroking and kneading techniques.
If you think that your massage techniques need some work, pretend like you are sculpting clay. Keep your palms in contact with your partner’s body to keep the movement flowing. Even if you are adding more oil, make sure that one of your hands is present and only take breaks when you are finished massaging one part of the body.
- Vary the pressure of your hands.
On bony areas of the body like the shin, knees, toes, and fingers, keep the pressure very light. On the large areas of the body like the back, thighs and buttocks, it’s okay to increase the pressure.
- Work with the whole body.
Aside from your hands, you can also use other parts of the body to apply pressure on the body of the person you’re massaging. For instance, while you are working on the back, you can press your lower arms to increase the pressure. Use your body weight to lean towards the part of the body you’re massaging and let your movements flow freely from there.
- Know which parts of the body you should not apply pressure to.
Never apply pressure directly on the spine. The abdomen and breasts of women are also no-go areas.
- Love what you’re doing!
A full massage takes forty five minutes to an hour to complete. If you only have ten to fifteen minutes to spare, you can still give a good quality head massage, foot rub, shoulder massage, or back massage. You don’t really have to be a pro massage therapist to be able to give your partner a soothing massage. As long as the strokes and kneading techniques are delivered with love and utmost care, your partner will surely enjoy it.