Once you've learned the fundamentals of massage technique, there's no better place to start practicing than on the relatively large and robust muscles of the back. As long as you're not too clumsy, you can refine what you've learned here before moving on to more delicate areas like the head or feet.
Back massages have been bringing lovers together for centuries. From India to Japan, to the Wild West brothels, relieving the tension that inevitably builds up in our back muscles can be both relaxing and exciting. There are plenty of different types of manipulations that can be used to remove knots, promote health, and increase overall well-being. It's also a great way to connect with a partner and gain a serious advantage in any tally of good deeds with your lover.
Like an elephant in a hardware store, most of us, if we dive into back massages without any idea, will be risking our health. A good massage, unlike just pinching around, can transform your partner into someone completely new. Here at A Pleasure, we're going to give you the tips that will make you feel like an expert with a PhD in pleasure. Remember, you can buy massage oils at incredible prices in our online erotic store. So grab your notebook, a red pencil, and get ready to receive some great advice.
Effects
If you need to give or request a massage, look no further. While offering a single massage is a good pickup technique, the effects of regular massages are cumulative, and incorporating massage into your monthly habits (whether professional or relational) will give you the greatest benefit. Regular massage can strengthen and tone the entire body mechanism, helping to prevent unnecessary strains and injuries that might otherwise occur due to excessive tension and resulting structural deficiencies. Massage can stimulate or calm the nervous system and thus help reduce fatigue, leaving the recipient with a sense of replenished energy. At its best, massage has the potential to restore a person physically and mentally.
The Most Common Types
Since we're trying to prepare you to give all kinds of massages, the best place to start is by figuring out what type of massage to give. The following are descriptions of four common massage styles with four specific expected outcomes. Once you figure out which style fits the profile, you can then decide which of the suggested techniques to apply.
Swedish Massage
Swedish massage therapists use five basic movements, which anyone can learn and use for themselves and others. They are effleurage (stroking); petrissage (grasping and slightly lifting the muscles), friction (thumbs and fingers work in deep circles in the thickest part of the muscles); tapotement (chopping, tapping) and vibrations (fingers pressed or flattened firmly on a muscle, then the area is shaken rapidly for a few seconds).
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage targets chronic tension in muscles that lie far below the surface of your body. You have five layers of muscle in your back (for example), and while Swedish massage can help with the first couple of layers, it won't do much more directly on the muscle underneath. Deep muscle techniques usually involve slow movements, direct pressure, or friction movements that go across the grain of the muscles. Massage therapists use their fingers, thumbs, or sometimes even elbows to apply the necessary pressure.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is designed to help you train better, whether you're a world champion or a weekend warrior. The techniques are similar to those of Swedish deep tissue massage, but they have been adapted to meet the special needs of athletes. Focus on the lower back and shoulders. Using heat can promote damage reduction and prevention.
Neuromuscular Massage
Neuromuscular massage is a form of deep tissue massage applied to individual muscles. It is used to increase blood flow, reduce pain, and release pressure on nerves caused by injuries to muscles and other soft tissues. Neuromuscular massage helps release; the intense knots of stressed muscles can also "trigger" pain to other parts of the body. Relieving a tension trigger point in the back, for example, could help alleviate shoulder pain or reduce headaches.
Now the Secrets!
When you're starting your massage, remember that back muscles are usually massaged in three groups. A successful back massage will cover all three groups.
- The long muscles running parallel to the spine.
- The flat muscle groups covering the upper back and lower neck.
- The broad band of muscles extending from the spine to the side of the back.
Begin the back massage with a simple sweep (sweeping motion) that affects all three areas in one smooth, continuous stroke. It's not necessary to press hard during this stroke.
Circular Times
Start with flat hands and fingers pointing up from the base of the spine. Slide your hands along the spine, towards the head. When you reach the neck, turn your hands so the fingers massage the top of the shoulders and then the outer sides of the back. As you return to the outer sides of the back, turn your hands back to the original position. If you're confused, think of it this way: if the back is a butterfly and its spine is the body, locate the spine with both hands. At the base of the neck, separate the hands and trace the wings, bringing them back to the base of the body. Repeat this circulation movement about ten times.
Pressing the Back
Pressing the back is the most spectacular massage stroke available. Since massage is about muscle tissue and not chiropractic issues, make sure you keep this in mind during the back pressing. With this in mind, the first step for this stroke is to find the muscle mounds located next to the spine. Massage is the manipulation of muscle tissue. These ridges are where you should focus your attention.
When pressing the back, start at the base of the spine (even as low as the top of the glute). Apply pressure with the palm of each hand. Slide your hands along the ridges of the muscles from the very base of the spine until you reach the shoulders.
Unlike the circulation stroke, don't bring the hands back along the outer edge of the back. In this stroke, bring the hands back just next to the original line, like mowing a lawn. You'll know when you're doing this stroke correctly. Your partner will moan with pleasure. At least ten strokes are appropriate here.
Variations: small circles as you slide up the spine, use your thumbs instead of the palm of the hand, scratch the back when returning to the base of the spine. Use your imagination.
Finger Along the Spine
Use your fingers to knead the two chains of long muscles that lie just outside the spine. These muscles work very hard keeping us upright, and are sometimes the only support our (increasingly) centers have. Prevent kneading at each vertebra. Two or more trips up and down the spine are great.
Back Compression
This stroke is another that targets the muscles next to the spine. Place the heel of your hand on those same long muscles running down the back. Push down. Release the pressure and then move slightly across the spine. Do three passes across the spine. This movement can also be done with hands together, first on the right side, and then both hands together on the left side of the spine.
Kneading the Bread
Knead the muscle of the upper and lower back. Pressing on the bone will have no effect on your partner. Try to find the muscle tissue and work the area. The effect is worth the effort.
The Pinch
Use the thumbs of each hand to press folds of flesh and muscle together. The hands move slightly in opposite directions to scissor the flesh between the two thumbs. Moving the thumbs in small circles during this stroke is a good technique.
Shoulder Massage
With one hand, lift your partner's shoulder. You'll only need to lift it about a few inches. This can be done by simply sliding your hand under their shoulder. With the other hand, find the muscle tissue that extends across the top. Knead the muscle tissue that lies just from the edge of the shoulder blade.
It's a difficult stroke to achieve, but your partner will tell you when you've hit the right spot. If you don't get it, ask your partner to try it on you. If you find the spot, you'll know exactly why this is my personal favorite.
Kneading the Neck
The muscles running behind the neck form a sort of diamond pattern. The muscles running down the neck are thick and respond well to kneading with the thumbs. The muscles running down to the spine are thinner and can be kneaded with the palm of the hand. Alternating between using the thumbs and the heel of the hand will make you feel like a true professional and will turn the massage into a comfortable experience.
Spend some time in this area with small movements running up the back of the neck. Try not to pull your partner's hair.
Read and Knead the Shoulders
Depending on whether your partner has thin or thick shoulders, you should be gentle. Work slowly and feel the muscles around the shoulder and neck bones. Bend your fingers over the shoulder ridge. Feel the muscle tissue. Press the heel of your hand into the back of the tissue, while your fingers manipulate from the front.
Warming the Back
At this stage, you may want to end the massage or you may want to transition to the front of the body. This is a very good move. Breathe into your hands to moisten them slightly. Rub your hands vigorously together until they are warm. Do this several times, placing the warm hands lower and lower on the back each time. This movement is relaxing and stimulating. Your partner should have no trouble turning over in anticipation of more delights to come.
A Good Ending...
To finish the massage, you may want to end with brushing. You can do this by lightly tapping the fingertips over all the areas you've just massaged. Since these areas will be freshly vitalized, these muscles will respond with an intensely sensual experience.