I think it is pretty safe to say that we could all use a good back massage– but in this economy, many of us can’t afford to have a professional do away with our aches and pains. So in order to achieve some relief, your best bet is to learn some simple tricks that you and your partner can use on one another to ease the pain that naturally accompanies our busy lives. The following are 3 different strokes you can use to give your partner a phenomenal massage—at home!
1.) Raking: Raking is probably the simplest of the different massage strokes. To perform this stroke, use your fingertips with your fingers spread apart to “rake” the back. Starting at the shoulders, rake your fingers down the back moving from left-to-right and right-to-left, steering clear of the spine itself. Many choose to alter the motions of this stroke so that as one hand is raking down, the other is raking up.
2.) Fan Stroke: The Fan Stroke is another popular massage stroke, but unlike Raking, the Fan Stroke utilizes oil to ease the friction of skin-on-skin. To perform the Fan Stroke, you will want to have your partner lie on his or her stomach while you kneel alongside him or her. With your palms in the middle of the back and your fingers facing outwards, slowly, but firmly, move your hands up the back to the shoulders and then to the outer edge of the body away from the spine. Be careful not to apply pressure to the spine itself, only the area alongside of it.
3.) Circling Hands: The Circling Hands stroke is probably the most popular of the massage strokes, and like the Fan Stroke, utilizes massage oil. To perform this stroke, start at the lower back and work upwards. Using a flat hand and gentle counter-clockwise motions, circle your hands up the back with your fingers always pointing away from the spine. You should use your right hand to work the right side of the body and your left hand to work the left side of the body. Move upwards slowly, alternating hands.
Which of these strokes have you tried? Which is your favorite?
