Massaging your partner is a caring way to relieve their stress, pamper them, and grow more intimate.

Start by considering your partner’s preferences for scents, music, oils, and massage style.

Set the scene for the massage with candles, music, soft blankets, hot tea, and a moment of intimate connection.

Learn a few basic massage techniques to practice massaging your partner or listen to a guided massage.

Remain mindful and intentional throughout the massage without expectations for a returned favor.

Enrich your relationship through the touch of massage. Massaging your partner brings you closer physically, emotionally, and spiritually when done intentionally. It promotes relaxation and reduces stress, which improves the overall well-being of each person and, therefore, the state of your relationship. Massage increases pleasure and arousal, adding a sensual element to your love life.

Prepare for the massage to bask in all the glorious benefits. Approach the act mindfully, wanting to treat your partner to a relaxing and sensual experience. Spoil your partner with an at-home spa evening without expecting that they return the favor or give you mind-blowing sex afterward. You’ll reap more benefits from the experience by delivering it as a gift to your partner. Trust me, they’ll melt in your hands and make you feel wonderful too!

Giving massages is often stigmatized as someone “trying too hard” in a relationship. According to psychologist Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., “A relationship needn’t be in serious trouble for a couple to benefit from increasing their amount of physically affectionate interaction. This may be particularly true for couples who, for various reasons, are less sexually active than they once were, whether it’s due to changes associated with aging, physical illness, or just natural evolution from passion to companionate love.”

You don’t need a reason to massage your boo beyond wanting to make them feel good and enhance your relationship. You don’t need to be in a serious commitment, trying to apologize for a wrongdoing, or kissing their ass so they’re nice to you later. Simply honor their right to pleasure and give it to them — out of love.

To create the perfect treat for your partner, start by understanding their preferences and desires for the massage. Here are some points to consider to properly prepare:

Where is the most comfortable place for your partner to lie down where you can easily reach to massage them?

What type of music would your partner like to listen to during the massage? Choose something they like, or pick a generic spa playlist.

What are your partner’s favorite scents? Use palo santo, jasmine incense, a vanilla candle, fresh eucalyptus, or other refreshing scents they enjoy to set the scene.

What type of oil will your partner like according to their skin type and preferred massage technique? Account for a scent they’ll enjoy too.

How long will your partner want to be massaged, and how long are you willing to massage them?

What day and time is best for your partner to unwind and surrender to the pleasure? Don’t plan for the “perfect” moment that may never come.

What type of massage does your partner want? Sport, deep tissue, reflexology, tantra, sensual, Thai, erotic, or simply the best you can do with the right atmosphere?

To choose the right oil for your partner, consider their skin type and the style of massage you’ll be doing. Take into account whether your partner has dry, sensitive, oily, or normal skin. Choose an oil that’s suitable for their skin type to avoid any potential irritations. Discuss with your partner their favorite scents or aromas. Select oils with fragrances like lavender, jasmine, or vanilla, or opt for unscented oils if they have sensitivities.

The type of massage plays a role in choosing the proper viscosity for an oil. For deep tissue or firm pressure massages, a thicker oil like jojoba or almond oil provides better lubrication. You need proper lubrication to reduce friction and allow your hands to dig deep into their tissue comfortably. For lighter, more sensual massages, lighter oils such as grapeseed or coconut oil are better.

Be mindful of any allergies or sensitivities your partner may have. Avoid oils that could potentially cause an adverse reaction. If your partner has sensitive skin or is prone to allergies, discuss the oil and perform a patch test on them 24 hours ahead of time. This ensures both the oil and the experience are enjoyable and comfortable for your partner.

Transforming your space into a relaxing, romantic setting turns your home massage into a full experience. With just a few tweaks to your space, you can surprise your partner with an unforgettable massage.

Start by choosing the space for the massage and tidying up. The best place is often the bedroom. Set the mood by dimming the lights or using a soft, ambient light. Candles and string lights add a romantic touch. Ensure the temperature of the room is comfortable — not too hot or too cold. If you anticipate that your partner might be cold, have a blanket or towel ready to cover the area of their body you’re not working on.

Make sure the surface your partner is lying on is squishy and comfortable. Lay down clean sheets or towels. A soft blanket is ideal for comfort, but make sure you use bedding that can get a bit of oil on it. Use a face cradle, travel donut pillow, or rolled towel as a place for them to rest their face during the massage.

Choose relaxing music or sounds that your partner enjoys. This creates a calming atmosphere and enhances the overall experience. Check on Spotify for Balinese spa music, sensual tantra music, nature sounds, relaxing lo-fi, white noise, or chill hip-hop, or anything low-key and relaxing according to their taste.

Further enhance the ambiance by using aromatherapy, scented candles, essential oils, or incense to create a pleasant and calming scent in the room. In studies from August 2023, regular use of essential oils leads to increased memory. Not only does it smell good, but that lavender diffuser is good for your brain.

Try a massage candle for added ambiance and sensations. By following these steps, you transform your space into a relaxing and romantic setting, making the massage experience more enjoyable for both you and your partner.

Incorporate emotional connection into your massage to transform the physical treat into an emotional experience. A large part of creating an emotionally connected atmosphere is in your words, your voice, and your body language. Stay soft, gentle, and kind to your partner to add a loving element to your pampering.

Start by asking your partner about their day and how they’re feeling. This helps them relax and feel comfortable. Offer them a warm drink or cup of tea to unwind. When you’re ready, bring them into the space you’ve prepared for the massage, ready with candles and soft music. Tell them your intention for this evening — to pamper them with a relaxing spa at home, to show them love through physical touch, or anything else that resonates with you.

Have your partner sit on the bed or other surface where you’ll massage them. Sit or kneel behind them, place your hands on their shoulders, and take a few deep breaths together with your eyes closed. To add a tantric connection element, sit face-to-face and take a few deep breaths together. Then stare deep and intentionally into each other’s eyes for two to five minutes. This creates a strong emotional connection and relaxes your nervous system.

Now that you’ve mindfully arrived in the space, tell your partner to lie down so you can begin the massage.

Begin the massage with gentle pressure and increase if your partner wants you to. Avoid applying too much pressure as this creates an uncomfortable and potentially painful experience. Pay attention to your partner’s feedback throughout. If they’re tensing under your touch or holding their breath, apply less pressure. If they’re melting into your touch or gently moaning, you’re doing amazing!

The types of strokes and techniques you use depend largely on your partner’s preferences and the type of massage you’re giving. Use classic massage techniques intuitively throughout your session according to how your partner reacts. If you don’t know what to do, think of what you would want done to you.

Explore guided massage techniques online to listen to while you massage your partner, or watch a YouTube video before starting. Massaging is a complicated art that you won’t master from one try. It’s totally cool to experiment and practice with your partner, but a bit more preparation may be helpful.

Pro tip: Don’t clench the muscles in your hands for added pressure. Keep your hands relaxed when possible and add pressure by applying more body weight or force from your arms. Soft hands create a better sensation for your partner, and your hands won’t cramp up mid-massage!

Massages typically begin with a technique called effleurage, which is done by gliding the hands over the skin in a smooth, rhythmic motion. Use these long flowing strokes all over the body to promote relaxation and circulation at the beginning of a massage.

Before beginning these strokes, rub your hands together to generate warmth. Start with light pressure that doesn’t need oil, and be careful not to create friction. Begin at one end of the body with long, gentle strokes along the muscles, following the contour of the body.

As the massage progresses, get deeper and shorter with your effleurage strokes. If you begin to feel friction, add some oil to your hands and rub them together for more warmth. Pay attention to what your partner enjoys and lean into it!

For larger muscle groups such as the back, shoulders, and legs, a popular technique is petrissage. Petrissage is a kneading technique that breaks up muscle tension and improves circulation. It’s performed by using the fingers and thumbs to grasp and squeeze the muscles. This technique is perfect for areas carrying extra tension. Be mindful to follow the pattern of your partner’s muscles and tune into their body language for feedback.

Before performing petrissage, apply oil to your hands and rub them together to generate warmth. Gauge how much pressure is appropriate and what areas to focus on based on your partner’s reaction. This technique often takes up much of the massage time, but you can adjust it to your preferences!

Tapotement is a tapping technique to stimulate the skin and muscles. It’s performed by using the fingertips, knuckles, or heels of the hands to tap the skin in a rhythmic motion. Tapotement invigorates the body and reduces muscle fatigue. Use it on all parts of the body, but it’s most commonly used on the back and shoulders. This is the classic karate-chop style massage, but hopefully, you’ll do it a bit more elegantly!

This technique often consumes less time in the massage. It’s useful when moving to a new muscle group to wake up that part of the body or at the end to signify that you’re moving on. See how much your partner enjoys it to know how much you should do.

Friction is a deep-tissue technique that releases adhesions and knots in the muscles. It’s performed by using the thumbs or fingers to apply pressure to the muscles and move them in small circles. Friction is typically used on smaller muscle groups, such as the neck and shoulders. It feels so good in areas of tension!

This technique is often an intense motion, focusing on one small area at a time. Most people carry a lot of tension in their trapezius muscle — a diamond-shaped muscle extending from the neck to both shoulders and down to the middle back. Use the friction technique on the upper trapezius of the neck and shoulders, using plenty of oil for lubrication and being careful not to pull your partner’s hair.

Extra tip to relieve this area: Glide a strong thumb from the base of the neck to the shoulder, following the pattern of their muscle. Use the friction technique at the base of the skull where the neck begins to help your partner melt.

Vibration is a shaking technique that relaxes the muscles and promotes circulation. It’s performed by placing the hands on the muscles and vibrating them in a rhythmic motion. Vibration is typically used to soothe the body and reduce muscle tension. Use vibrations on all parts of the body. This technique is a bit tricky, so incorporate a massager if you want to be extra thorough.

Practice it on your partner in different variations to see what they like most. This technique often takes less time from the massage but you can extend it if your partner enjoys it.

There are endless ways to incorporate some sensual touch into your massage. Tune into things your partner likes, such as kneading at their neck, light scratching on part of their back, or kisses down their thighs. Things may escalate into a sexual experience, so have lube or sensual toys ready for an unforgettable night.

Stay intentional and mindful as you massage your partner. This loving energy will transfer to your partner through your hands and set a loving tone for the whole experience. Focus on your breath and let it become slow and steady. The more calm and relaxed you are, the more you can calm and relax your partner.

Speak softly and soothingly to your partner as you massage them. This creates a sense of intimacy and connection. Don’t overdo it and talk too much, but it’s good to check in occasionally, ask for consent before doing something you’re unsure of, and compliment how supple their ass is.

Don’t be afraid to try new techniques and explore your partner’s body. You’re not a professional masseuse, so use your intuition to guide you. Consider what you would want for your body and note their reactions. If they give a light moan or cringe at something you do, take this as a sign of what you’re doing right and wrong.

The most important thing is to remain present in the moment and enjoy the process of giving your partner a massage. Enjoy the love bubble that comes after pampering your boo!

Published on Cupid’s Light September 21, 2023