Tips on Getting Started with Romantic Massage Techniques for Your Partner

A romantic massage can be a great way to help your partner unwind at the end of the day, the perfect gift for birthdays or Valentine's Day or a sensual way for married couples to bond. Setting the right mood as well as making a loving connection makes all the difference between a simple massage and a romantic experience. Follow these tips to get you started.

Prepare Yourself

Educate yourself on proper massage techniques, beforehand, to prevent injury to your partner and to ensure your massage is the relaxing treat it was meant to be. Enroll in a massage class or study books on massage techniques. You can purchase massage books from any bookstore or rent them at your local library.

Select a Space

Select a firm, stable massage area such as a pallet of blankets, a futon or a large table padded with foam, towels, pillows or blankets. You want to avoid areas that are too soft, so your partner doesn't bounce around during the massage. The ideal area should allow easy access to both sides of your partner's body.

Set the Mood

Eliminate potential distractions, beforehand. Arrange for children to be away, turn off all phones and lock the doors.

Set the temperature in the room so it is neither too cold nor too hot so your partner enjoys a relaxing massage without excessive temperatures. Select a large towel or sheet to cover the areas of the body that are not being massaged.

Dim the lights and light lots of scented candles to create a romantic glow and soft fragrance. If you prefer, use unscented candles to create a romantic glow and use a potpourri pot or diffuser to emit a soft scent. Turn on relaxing music such as jazz or classical etc.

Select a Massage Oil

Massage oil makes it easier to massage, knead and rub your partner's fatigued muscles. Choose unscented massage oil or one with a soft scent such as lavender or jasmine. Steer clear of intense scents which can be overpowering. Heat the oil in hot water before you begin. If you prefer to use scented oils, please visit my page on aromatherapy massages.
 
Prepare For the Massage

The person receiving the massage should be freshly bathed or showered. For a spa-like touch, provide a soft robe and slippers. Before you begin the massage, make sure your partner isn't thirsty, hungry, has to use the bathroom or has just consumed a large meal. Laying face down on a full stomach could be uncomfortable.

Be sure your partner is comfortable. Exit the room while they get undressed and cover up as much or as little as they wish. Before you begin, ask your partner if there are specific areas you should avoid or pay close attention to, then steer clear of or focus on those areas.

The Massage

Be sure the massage fits your relationship. This should be a relaxing time for your partner, so keep the massage platonic so your partner isn't constantly on guard.

The purpose of a the massage is to relax your partner's entire body and make them feel loved. Devote equal time to each body part from head to toe. During the massage, periodically ask your partner what feels good and what doesn't, then adjust your touch accordingly.

Wear loose clothing and pull your hair back to avoid distractions. Have your partner lie down. Place pillows under their ankles, knees and neck.

If you are pressed for time, just ask your partner where they would like to be massaged. If they have knots in any particular area of their body or just enjoy having their feet etc. rubbed, then just focus on that. Giving the royal treatment to just one area of the body can be more heavenly than a head to toe massage.

There is no right or wrong way to begin your massage. Where you should start depends on what is natural for you. Some recommend beginning with the feet, then legs, then up to the upper body, before slowly working your way back down to the stomach and pelvic area.

Experiment until you find what works best for you and your partner. Just focus on your partner's response, then adjust the massage accordingly. The more you practice, the more it will become second nature to you. In the meantime, romantic massage is all about the quality of touch, so stay in the moment, and don't worry about doing it right.

Eugene Wood is a Licensed Massage Therapist with offices in New York City and Wantagh, Long Island. Learn more by visiting his website at:  http://www.nyc-massage.com

When Children May Benefit From Regular Massage Therapy

Adults know the benefits of massage. Massage is relaxing, calming and provides pain relief. Did you know massage is also beneficial for children? It stimulates their immune system, offers pain relief, stress relief and helps them socially.

Studies have shown that kids who have a regular massage are happier, healthier, and more social than kids who have never had a massage. It also helps athletic and special needs children to live up to their full potential, while helping premature newborns get a fighting chance at life. Regular massage helps kids stay happy and healthy from infancy to adulthood.

Stimulates Immunity

Kids with chronic illness such as cancer and cystic fibrosis, suffer stress and anxiety different than other kids. They are constantly going through medical procedures, hospitalizations, and missing school because they are sick. Stress and anxiety are common factors in kids who are chronically ill, although when the anxiety is helped, the child begins to heal.

Massage is a top treatment in helping anxiety and stress in chronically ill kids; in fact, it is offered in hospitals so kids can get a massage while waiting for their procedure. While it might not cure the disease, it will help with relief of the symptoms, stress and, in some cases, the pain.

Even healthy kids suffer stress and anxiety. Adults typically do not see this, but they do. When kids become too stressed, they get sick. Massage helps stress, therefore, it builds immunity.

Pain Relief

Kids show pain different than adults. They may not say their muscles are tight, but often they suffer the same pains as adults. These are referred to as "growing pains". As the body grows, the bones and muscles stretch, causing pain, sometimes excruciating pain. Regular massage helps reduce growing pains in kids of all ages by relaxing the growing muscles.

Massage is beneficial for kids who are involved in sports. Kids (and adults) who play sports are often given a massage before and after games and practices. These are called "pre-event" and "post event" massages and each one serves a different purpose. Most kids who suffer pain from sports will stop doing that sport, so it is important that they remain pain free while they play. If a child is injured during some activity, massage will help to promote physical healing. Physical therapists and doctors often include massage therapy into treatment plans for back, leg, and shoulder injuries in kids.

Social Aspect

Kids who are given regular massage are known to be happier and more relaxed throughout the day. Teachers report that students, who have massage focus better in school, make more friends and are generally more relaxed than students who do not. This makes them do better in school, get better grades and go on to become productive members of society.

Special Needs Kids

Kids who have special needs are often tense. They don't sleep well and they wear out themselves and their parents. It is not unusual for special needs kids to only get a couple hours of sleep at night and wake up ready to rule the world. Regular massage helps them to get a full night's sleep and be more rested and relaxed throughout the day. Since massage is known to reduce stress and pain, it also helps the special needs child to relax and sleep; which also allows the parents to relax and sleep.

In premature infants, the sense of touch is often a lifesaver. Many newborns that were born early are given light massage, after which their vitals improved and their immunity is helped. Massage helps improve circulation, which then helps all other aspects of the newborns vital organs. Their heart rate and breathing both improves, which greatly increases their chance of survival. While these preemies often have a low chance of survival, simple things like touch are often the gestures that save their young lives.

From infancy to adolescence, regular massage helps all kids remain relaxed and pain free. It helps them to become more active and social while helping them to focus and do well in school. Regular massage helps kids in all aspects of life and growing up, not just the physical pain.

Eugene Wood is a top Certified Massage Therapist in NYC and Wantagh NY. Learn more by visiting his website at NYC-Massage.com