Couples Massage

Couples Massage By Annette Blanchard & Dr. Jason Cheng
Couples' Massage
Masseuse:
Heal thyself!

By Annette Blanchard
& Jason Cheng, DO
Massage is an element of sexual intimacy, and wonderful gift
to another. For couples the experience can be a soothing and
spiritual sharing in both pleasing and the receiving pleasure.
There are three basic types of massage: 1) Therapeutic 2)
Sensual 3) Erotic.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE is designed to deliver health benefits. This is the type of
massage used to aid in recovery from accidents and injuries, combat stress and induce
relaxation. When you visit a physical therapist or a massage therapist, you receive a
therapeutic massage.
SENSUAL MASSAGE is more personal and includes many of the same strokes as
therapeutic but its purpose is to arouse, cherish and pamper without leading to
intercourse. Sensual massage concentrates on the non-genital erogenous zones and the
pleasure of touch without the focus on therapy. Each stroke and sequenc\
e follows a pre-
determined sequence.
EROTIC MASSAGE is foreplay and includes elements of therapeutic and sensual
massage but also delves into the genitals with the sole purpose of leading to intercourse.
Unlike therapeutic or sensual massage, erotic massage has no rules or specific sequences.
This article covers therapeutic massage.
Many people shy away from giving their lover a massage because in the past hands have
cramped up, backs have become sore or it just seems like too much work. Who wants to
give pleasure if it causes pain? If this is your past experience, we have good news for
you. You were doing it wrong! You don’t need to dread massages anymore because this
article will show you how to do it right. When done correctly massage doesn’t hurt,
cramp your hands or cause back pain. When done correctly, your lover will become
putty in your hands, literally. Give him or her a full massage, and then ask the big
questions or favors. You’ll be surprised how receptive he or she becomes. Well we can’t
promise that, but it can’t hurt!
To get you off on the right foot, let us start with a few pointers and i\
nsider tips.
Copyright © 2003 Couples Company. All Rights Reserved 1

Couples Massage By Annette Blanchard & Dr. Jason Cheng
A. POSITION & PRESSURE
1. Body position: Use your body weight to apply pressure, not your arms or hands.
Hunching over will give you a backache. On a bed or the floor, adopt a
kneeling/crouching position—legs bent with your butt tucked under. This position forces
you to utilize your upper body to work on your lover’s upper body, not your back. If
standing, make sure your partner is at waist or counter height so you are not bending
over.
2. Hand Position: As you optimize the weight of your upper body
for pressure, remember to keep your wrists and hand locked so that
the weight of your upper body is distributed evenly and not into
your joints. Too much weight unevenly distributed through your
joints will lead to unnecessary carpal tunnel or arthritic pain.
Remember, the majority of the pressure is created from your
weight and gravity, not your strength.
3. Hand strengthening exercises: In order to keep the hands from cramping by all the
work you’ve put them through, getting your hands on a Thera-squeeze® stress ball (like
our Purple Passion Stress Ball) or the Chinese metal meditation balls are great physical
exercises that strengthen and develop coordination. Your hands will develop increased
sensitivity with each massage. Exercises will give you the magic hands your partner will
treasure.
B. CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT
Creating an environment conducive to relaxation is a primary factor in successful
massage experience. If you have children, make sure they are asleep or with friends. Put
the animals outside, unplug the phone, draw the shades and turn off any appliances before
starting. If you have a humidifier, this can help make the room more comfortable. You
want to create a sanctuary where the outside world cannot penetrate for the next hour.
The following are additional tips for creating a soothing relaxing spac\
e for massage:
1. Oils: an essential part of the massage experience. Warmed, they enable a smooth,
frictionless glide, making stoking easier and more soothing to the one receiving
the massage. Essential oils can also be used in conjunction with potpourri
strained like tea and added to the oil. It’s helpful to warm a bottle of oil under hot
water, or in a bucket of hot water.
2. Aromatherapy: This is the art and science of the use of a
plant’s essence. Combined with the oils mentioned above,
these botanicals have been used throughout