The Sensual Massage

Por Marcio Cochella

Once considered an indulge for the rich, massage moves mainstream as more and more people discover the healing power pf touch.   Little surprises spice up a relationship: learn massage’s moves, but feel free to improvise.

First, you’ll need massage oil, available at any health food store (or buy a squeeze bottle and fill it with safflower or other vegetable oil, mixing in a drop or two of essential oil per teaspoon.)   A few teaspoonfuls will usually do.

Second, collect some old sheets and towels; the oil will stain clothes and bed linens.

Third, choose a firm, steady surface.   Soft mattresses absorb impact, stealing benefits from the body.   A massage table is ideal, but you can stimulate its advantages by kneeling or straddling your partner on a futon, yoga mat or firm bed.

Massage is a physical activity for the giver as well as the recipient.     To prevent muscle strain, breathe deeply.   Avoid pressing just from the hands or arms.   Position your torso over your hands, but don’t bear down, glide forward using your legs rather than your back.   To keep hands from tiring change moves frequently, or switch from palms to knuckles, thumbs even forearms or knees.   Variety protects your physiology.

Concentrate on always stroking toward the heart, not away from it.   Veins have little valves in them that keep the blood flowing heart ward, and you can damage those valves if you push away from the heart (especially on legs, where veins are visibly near the surface; areas with deep-set veins, like the torso, pose less of a problem.)

As you explore your partner’s body, encourage him or her to tell you where massaging hurts or where you’re being unnecessarily gentle.   The body is tougher than you think but it’s up to your partner to speak up.    Massage is a relationship that requires communication.

THE BASICS MOVES

Swedish massage consists of five essential strokes:

Glide: This is the essential stroke of any massage, known technically as effleurage.   Use relaxed palms, knuckles or forearms, exerting more pressure going toward the heart than when pulling back.   This gets the blood and lymph circulating and helps spread oil.   For smaller parts, like the feet try using just your fingers.

Rub: This stroke (known as friction) consists of small back-and-forth sawing where, instead of sliding over skin, you exert more pressure and take the skin with you.  

Use heels, fingertips, knuckles or sides of both hands, moving them in opposite directions.   Try up and down, side to side or circular moves.   Unlike effleurage, this is not an even stroke; you create considerably more pressure going forward than back.   This stroke increases circulation and creates heat, which can be good for problem areas.

Knead: In this stimulating stroke (called petrissage), you treat the skin like dough, so the stroke works best on meaty parts of the body (calves, thighs, upper arms)   Using alternating hands, grasp flesh, lift and release.   This stimulates the nervous system, stretches muscle fibers and is a great to prep the body for a game, race or just a jog.

Vibrate: done with fingers or hands, vibration is just what you’d think shaking, jiggling, stimulating or rocking.  It can be slow and relaxing (a-full body rock) or rapid and invigorating (one quivering nerve point)

Pound: known as tapotement, this movement also stimulates, and is used at the end of massage so the recipient rises feeling refreshed.   It’s an alternating-hand drumming motion.   You can do it with cupped hands good on the back for those with respiratory conditions) or use bongo-drum slaps on the soles or other thick-skin areas.

This is definitely a skill to be shared-whether with a lover, family or friends.  Be creative; enjoy what you’re doing.   Laughter, sighs and groans are all signs of success.