This guide outlines how to give a massage, with tips for preparation, massage steps, oils to use and creating the right environment.
Knowing how to give a massage can change your relationship, especially when things between you end up falling into a routine. After all, a realxing romantic massage provides a special moment between the couple.
If you think that you need a lot of skill to give your partner an unforgettable massage, you are very mistaken. All you need is some basic knowledge on the subject and, of course, the desire to experiment.
How to give a massage: steps before you start
- It is important that both you and the person receiving the massage do not wear rings, chains, bracelets or watches.
- It is extremely important that your nails are short so as not to hurt the person receiving the massage. (For women this can be a little tricky, I understand! If you don’t want to cut your nails, that’s okay! Just be careful when moving them during the massage).
- Do not perform the massage in bed, as when performing relaxation movements with your hands, the mattress will absorb all the pressure. So, do the floor massage!
- Do not use body moisturizers to perform the massage. Moisturizers are derived from petroleum and can irritate the skin. Use vegetable oils (e.g. almond oil) or natural (neutral) cream.
- It’s interesting to use music, however, don’t play songs that have voices, are noisy, much less leave the sound on on radio stations. These voices will make the person receiving the massage “follow” the voice of the singer or radio host. As a result, she will not be able to relax completely. Set aside some relaxing music suitable for meditation and/or yoga.
Prepare the environment
The success of your massage begins in the environment where it will take place. So, make every effort to choose the perfect location for how to give a massage. To create a romantic atmosphere, play good music and take care of the lighting to make it cozy (dim lights or candlelight, for example).
It’s also worth investing in incense sticks or oil burners with relaxing essential oil aromas and flower petals around them. How about some sparkling wine, some fruit and good chocolate to satisfy your taste buds after the massage?
The key is that you use all your imagination when preparing the environment. And don’t forget that the temperature in the room must be comfortable, as this will help your love to relax.
How to give a massage: simple techniques
If you don’t know anything about massage techniques, it’s best to follow your intuition regarding the movements, so that they are natural, comfortable and careful. You can be sure that you will provide great sensations.
To help you make this relaxing massage unforgettable, we have done a step by step guide:
How to give a massage: 1st step
Apply the oil to your hands and then spread it on the part of the person’s body where you will massage at that moment. Use gentle movements to spread the oil for a few minutes, and then begin the massage itself. Do not ignore this step, as it is an important moment.
How to give a massage: 2nd step
Define where your massage will start. You can do as you see fit, but if you want a tip, you can start with the back, buttocks and back of the legs, all the way to the feet. Then, move to the front of the legs and go up until you finish with the face and head. Ideally, you should finish the massage in one area before moving on to the next.
How to give a massage: 3rd step
Make long, slow movements, helping your muscles relax. Allow these movements to flow naturally, avoiding any intense pressure on the bones or any organ, such as the abdomen and lungs.
Why does massage relax us?
Hours spent in traffic, rushing to do all the daily tasks on time, being overloaded at work and many other concerns in your personal and professional life usually result in muscle pain and tension. Our body’s instinct is to tense up when it feels it must prepare for situations of danger or escape. To return to normal, that is, to relax again, it takes time or some specific stimuli.
Therefore, given the stress we face in our daily routine, there is nothing better than a relaxing massage to achieve the well-being we need.
Massage reduces muscle tension
As the muscles are manipulated during a massage, each of the areas that are most rigid will loosen, reducing muscle tension. More relaxed muscles result in greater lymphatic and blood circulation, better mobility and greater joint range.
Massages relieve the nervous system, preserving tissue elasticity and combating sagging. Furthermore, a good massage also improves the digestive system and the appearance of the skin. Therefore, we can say that the consequences of relaxing massages really improve people’s health as a whole.
Massage stimulates the brain
We have several receptors in our body that respond to the pressure of a massage and temperature. Because of this, a relaxing massage is considered a true stimulus-emitting tool. From the moment our brain recognizes them, it responds with commands for the muscles to relax.
Temperature also significantly influences relaxation during a massage. When the hands start to warm the body, the muscles relax and stress decreases.
Massage improves blood circulation
When the muscles are pressed correctly, blood circulation improves. This is because the increase in temperature dilates the vessels, stimulating the nerve endings of our internal organs.
To give you an idea of the importance of providing a warm temperature during the massage, the increase in blood oxygenation is up to 15%. Furthermore, a relaxing massage also has a positive impact on our respiratory tract and lymphatic vessels, optimizing the drainage of impurities from the body.
Massage reduces muscle knots
A super stressful day at work or a big problem in your personal life, unfortunately, is the perfect reason for your body to feel more tense. Consequently, knots begin to appear mainly on the back and shoulders.
A lump is formed when muscle fibers become tangled, causing a sensation of pain that can dissipate to other places in the body. The pressure of the massage on these small balls helps to relax and regularize the fibrous structure, breaking up the nodules and reducing discomfort.
Massage releases oxytocin
Oxytocin is a very important hormone for our happiness, as it releases the feeling of contentment and tranquility, among other highly positive results. This substance is produced by the endocrine glands in a few situations and touch is one of them.
Therefore, massages not only bring relaxation to the muscles, but also the feeling of total well-being and tranquility resulting from the activity of oxytocin.
Conclusion
Finally, after all the tips we’ve given you so you know how to give a relaxing massage, we have one last piece of advice: try not to talk too much. This way, your massage will sharpen the sense that needs to be awakened, which is touch.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
