Giving a Great Massage
Submitted by SharpMan Editorial Team on Sunday 10th October 2010- How massages get you where you need to go.
- How to give a great massage — step-by-step.
- Picking massage oils and other products that won’t hurt or your SharpWoman or make her break out.
Who doesn’t love getting a great massage? Oooooh, so relaxing…so sensuous…so divine…oh yes, right there…a little to the left…oh, uh, sorry, what was I saying?
Oh yeah: touch is one of the most personal ways of communicating. Massage can lead to a greater sense of closeness and intimacy with your partner, and demonstrating this kind of love and affection can make her feel, well, special. When she’s stressed it can ease her tension and help her to relax, and when you’re feeling amorous it’s a great way to arouse her interest. After all, it’s not exactly rare for a massage to lead to other, more intimate activities.
Furthermore, if you’ve only just started dating your SharpWoman and haven’t progressed to an intimate level, offering a backrub can be a terrific way to test the waters to see if she’s comfortable with your touch. Hardly anyone will turn it down, especially if she’s gone out with you a few times and has gotten to know you better, and backrubs are just platonic enough so that she won’t necessarily presume your intentions are seduction-oriented. (You can always hope, but SharpMen don’t pressure.)
Here’s another secret: new dates will analyze your massage technique more than you might realize. Women look to two main clues at the beginning of a relationship in order to determine whether or not you’d make a good lover: your kissing technique and your backrub technique. To put it bluntly, if you can give her an amazing massage, it’s a fairly accurate indication that you’d probably please her in other ways, too.
Of course, the main reason to learn great massage techniques is because you want to make her swoon, to sigh with delight at your touch, to associate you, Mr. SharpMan, with feeling sensational. Learn how to pamper your SharpWoman properly, and she’ll follow you around like a puppy dog. So if you want her to melt under your expert caress, follow SharpMan.com’s advice on how to give the greatest massage ever:
Setting the Mood
Because the brain is the most potent sexual organ, the pleasure of a massage can be greatly enhanced by the setting in which it is given. If you haven’t looked into SharpMan’s recommendations for setting up your LovePad, do so now (see SharpDating’s How to Be A Host and Dinner @ Your Place).
Some further requirements for a romantic massage atmosphere include:
- Relaxing music
- Dim lights
- Candles
- Fragrance, i.e. aromatherapy oils or incense
- A comfortable place for her to sit or lie
- Privacy
It’s Sharp to provide your romantic lighting with fragrance candles, particularly since SharpMan.com has tracked down the perfect aromatherapy candle for your needs: the Mood Spa™ Uninhibited Candle! Containing vanilla, cinnamon, and ylang ylang, this candle was custom designed to lift her mood and bring out her wild side. Could you ever ask for anything more appropriate to accompany your touch?
Body Heat Pad
Massage Props
If you like massage props or if you’re the daring, experimental type, be creative in finding items to use. Feathers, a soft cloth, a fluffy pillow, or even the petals of a flower can all be very sensual. Dripped candle wax (à la "Living la Vida Loca") is supposed to be a thrilling experience, although I wouldn’t recommend trying it on any sensitive areas or on anyone who hasn’t specifically given their permission for this activity (read: don’t surprise her with it).
To get things cooking, consider inviting your SharpWoman to lie on the body heat pad we found. Great for getting muscles — and SharpWomen — in the mood for massage. The hard-to-find model that we’ve tracked down is large enough to cover her entire back and can be used dry or wet.
While some women may prefer the good, old-fashioned hand massage the majority of the time, a few of these other massage props we’ve found can be a unique switch or the difference between massage or no massage when you and your fingers have had a hard day elsewhere:
Massage rollers, like the kind we found for your own feet, are also great for reducing stress and feel great on backs, legs, buttocks and arms, as well. This particular model is well-priced and will last through many, many massages.
If you’re really pooped, check out some of the electric and battery-operated massages we’ve collected. Each has its own bags of tricks:
The Turbo Massager
The Turbo Massager has five different surfaces for five unique power-massage moves. It also features a "soft gel" surface for massaging more sensitive areas — something we couldn’t find in other machines of this type. Plus, the price is right.
The Thumper is hard-core. If you’ve ever played around with wimpy hand-massagers, you’ll know the difference. This baby’s got enough "go" to work out any neck or back knot and still have power for more. Definitely heavy-duty and great on buttocks and the backs of legs.
Your Most Important Prop: Massage Oil
One vital prop, however, is massage oil. Using massage oil cuts down on friction tremendously and can greatly increase the sensation for her. Your hands will glide across her skin much more smoothly, and you’ll be able to massage more comfortably and for a longer period of time.
Some regular skin lotions can clog the pores of the back (i.e., she’ll break out and blame you), so use lotions and oils specifically formulated for massage. Check out SharpMan.com’s top three picks for cream-of-the-crop massage oils to rev her engine:
1001 Nights Organic Massage Oil
Oshadhi oils were once available only to spas and professional masseuses, but now this luxurious, relaxing massage oil is available to all discerning SharpMen who aim to please. It contains aromatic essential oils known to elicit a romantic response: jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.
Bloom Aromatherapy Massage Oil
Bloom brand oils are unsurpassed in soothing your significant other’s mood and softening her skin. These terrific aromatherapy products come in three blends: Invigorating, Relaxing, and Sensual. Our favorite blend, Sensual (of course), contains lavender, ylang ylang, tangerine, and patchouli essential oils. A real treat.
Kristal Gold & Silverleaf Bath and Massage Oil
Can you believe this: aromatic massage oil that contains gold and silver leaf? Outstanding. Spoil yourself and your SharpWoman with this lavender and bergamot scented oil that’s rich in more ways than one. She’ll feel like a queen when you rub her down with gold and silver.
Sharp Massage Oil Tricks:
- Use enough massage oil to coat your palms, but not so much that it drips.
- Rub your hands together to warm the oil before you apply it, or it will be cold on the skin and distracting.
- Put a sheet or towel beneath you if you think you might get oil on your furniture.
- Keep another towel nearby to wipe your hands.
- If your SharpWoman is pregnant or nursing, consult a physician before using massage products that contain essential oils.
Massage Technique
First things first: NEVER RUB THE SPINE DIRECTLY! Doing so can be dangerous.
OK, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get down to business:
If you’re only just starting to date your massage recipient, she’ll probably want to receive her backrub while seated on the couch. Once you’ve been together a while, she’s more likely to lie down — a more physically comfortable massage position. The latter position also allows you to straddle her body and gain equal access to both sides.
Tips:
- Keep the movement steady and continuous.
- Try not to let your hands leave her body.
- Vary the pressure and rhythm you use.
- Don’t rush; take all the time you need to give her proper attention.
- Be imaginative; don’t concentrate solely on her shoulders and back.
Shoulders and Back
Start off with her shoulders, since this is a big tension center. Gently press down on the shoulders for a few seconds. Then, using your oiled palms, run your hands up and down her back. Don’t skip her sides! After a moment or two, move to her shoulders and begin kneading them gently, working around the entire shoulder area. Eventually build up to a medium pressure, or whatever your partner prefers (ask her if you don’t know). Vary between kneading, circular strokes, and using your fingertips. Then either use your palms to move down to her lower back, or rake your fingertips down her back. The lower back should then be massaged using circular strokes with the stiff fingertips and thumb. Vary and rearrange these steps as your partner seems to prefer.
Neck, Scalp, and Temples
Once you’ve concentrated on the back a while, try moving to her neck, scalp, and temples, which are oft-overlooked erotic areas. (Use your towel to remove the massage oil for the hair and face.) Knead up and down her neck as you did her back, only with a more gentle touch. Then, starting at the base of the hairline, move your fingers through her hair and gently rub the hands along the scalp–that will feel terrific to her. After caressing her scalp, rub her temples in a gentle, circular motion, then glide them softly down her cheeks and back to the neck.
Arms and Hands
Re-oil your hands. Starting at the shoulders, take one arm at a time and use both hands to gently knead her arms (don’t massage the arms with the same pressure you use for the shoulders and back). Grab the arms with both oiled hands and move down their length, keeping a steady pressure — this will feel great too. When you reach her hand, rub her wrist and palm with your thumbs and forefingers. To make her feel very spoiled and special, knead each finger one at a time.
Feet
There’s nothing women seem to love more than a foot massage, and with good reason: those high heels you love so much kill us! Foot massage technique is very similar to the technique used on the hands, above. Start with the heels, rubbing them with your open hand and palm. After a moment, begin kneading the under and upper sides of the foot (as long as your partner’s not ticklish) with the thumb and forefingers. Move the hands back and forth, varying the motion and pressure. Eventually rub each toe one at a time.
Earthly Delights Gift Tin
Advanced
Already consider yourself a massage expert? Or would you just like to be? Then you’ll go nuts over ultimate sensual massage kit we found, known as the Earthly Delights Gift Tin. The kit contains The Original Oil of Love, Pleasure Balm, Honey Almond Massage Cream, Honey Dust, and Sweet Almond Massage Oil. Wow! Take me now, you stallion you.