Valentines Day Perfect Present for your Partner; Massage with Therapeutic effects

Many people celebrate St. Valentine’s Day in different styles with the reason of showing your partner how much you love and care for them. The essence of valentines is felt through the many different ways people go out of their way just to show their partners how important they are.

Here are a few steps on how to give your partner the perfect massage gift on Valentine’s Day.

Preparation for the Massage

To help another by our touch we need to be caring, willing to give some time and to focus our attention fully on our partner with love. 10-20 minutes of touch given by someone who is loving, present and caring can be far more beneficial than an hour of mechanical massage by someone who is absent or distracted.

You can only be present, focused and caring by being prepared beforehand through centering yourself. Centering with a little practice makes you become familiar to yourself thus be able to let go of your busy mind and come into the here and now state. Grounding is also very important, this means being fully aware of your own body, its movement and position and letting them emanate from pelvis through the shoulders and arms.

Plan the massage in advance so that you are able to set the scene with a warm, romantic and nurturing environment. Turn the room into a cozy place with everything you need at hand. Ensure that the room is warm enough for you can tense up easily when chilled. For oil massages especially, the room has to be very warm. Have small towels and pillows for padding under any area of your partner’s body e.g. ankles, belly or upper chest especially if you will be working on the floor. Another option is investing in a massage table. The lighting should be very gentle and romantic. You can choose to have a background of peaceful and unobtrusive background music that is your partner’s favorite. Then have a large warm towel ready to place over your partner’s body at the end of the massage. Remember you want to give the most special person in your life, a valentine day’s gift that will linger in his/her mind for days to come.

Guidelines to Remember for both giver and receiver of the massage

Giver

§ Loose light clothing as the room will be warm.

§ Clothes should allow freedom of movement

§ Remove any accessories like, watch, bracelets, and rings

§ Fingernails should be short to avoid scratching

§ Wash your hands thoroughly

Receiver

§ Avoid chatting but communicate when necessary about pressure and discomfort

§ Remove whatever clothes are necessary plus jewelry

§ Relax and yield to gravity

§ Keep yourself aware of the giver’s touch and of the sensations being experienced

STEPS OF GIVING THE MASSAGE

· Make an initial acquaintance with your partner’s body by means of a gentle touch at the start of a massage before applying oil.

· Center yourself and allow your hands to float slowly down to a part of your partner’s body such as the back and then rest lightly there for a few moments. When you feel you have established the initial contact lift your hands very gently away in order to begin oiling.

· Apply oil only to the area that is worked on rather than oiling the whole body.

· Rest your oiled hands on the part of your partner’s body you are about to work with. With your hands side by side and fingers together, glide smoothly away from yourself reaching as far as you go. Then divide your hands and draw back along the sides of the limb or torso enfolding the area. Flow back to the original starting position and continue the cycle.

· Oiling is done with long, smooth gliding strokes which spread a thin film of oil over the skin and also serve to warm and energize it. Measure the amount of oil but don’t overdo it, only be generous with areas such as hairy chests.

· During the massage, make gentle breaks in touch, made with sensitivity and love. Although it is not necessary to maintain a constant contact during massage make sure you the harmony is broken well; for if you suddenly ‘dive’ on top of the body it can be a shock to the receiver and likewise if you leap rapidly away with your hands.

If you enjoy scents and wish to enhance the effect of your massage with therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy essences then you can add drops of these to a base of vegetable oil.

EUCALYPTUS- It acts as an antiseptic head clearing stimulant that helps coughs, colds and aching muscles.

LAVENDAR- this essence acts as an antidepressant, antiseptic, sedative, refreshing and relaxing effect. ROSEMARY- It is an antiseptic, refreshing and stimulating essence.

CHAMOMILE- It is sedative, calming refreshing and relaxing.

The above are some of the basic and most common aromas others include cardamom, fennel, Melissa and marjoram.

Chamomile Plant

Preparing Aromatherapy Essences for Valentines

For Full body: 5 drops of essence in 2 eggcups full of carrier oil

For body Parts: 2-3 drops of essence in 1 eggcup full of carrier oil

For small, localized areas: 1 drop of essence in one teaspoonful of carrier oil

These essences are obtained from distillation of plants and herbs that have different therapeutic effects on the body. They also have the dimension fragrant variety to enhance massage and make it more healing and pleasurable.

As they are very concentrated they need to be diluted in carrier oil before being applied to the skin where they are absorbed quite quickly and enter the bloodstream. The best carrier oils are those of vegetable origin such as soya, almond, sunflower or avocado.

Note: Blend fairly small amounts of oil and essences as vegetable oil oxidizes and smells somewhat rancid after a while.

In conclusion, massage with therapeutic effects is not only the perfect gift for your partner during valentines but also good for the health of the individual. Massage softens tissue, allowing the muscles to lengthen. It also allows free flow of energy, enabling the body to stay healthy and fight diseases. At the end it will leave one feeling relaxed and tension free.

Sources

Thomas, Sara, Massage for Common Ailments, Gaia Books Limited 1992

www.massages.org