The Massage

Start your massage by slowly stroking your partner's body. You can start any place on his or her body you like, but it's usually a good idea to start in a "non-sexual" place like the face, shoulders or back. Your goal is to get both you and your partner in the mood, so start by gently stroking their skin. Move your hand or fingers up and down their arms, legs, chest and back, caressing each part of their body as you go. At this stage you want to use very light strokes. Fingertips work well, as does the back of your hand. Savor their skin, and they will certainly be enjoying your touch.

As your partner becomes ready for stronger touch, grab the massage oil, place a small amount - around a tablespoon or two - in the palm of your hand and rub it in. If you've warmed the oil you can dribble it directly onto your partner's skin. Hot (but not too hot) oil feels wonderful when it's applied directly. Start by gently massaging the back with long, deep strokes. You can vary the intensity of the strokes to suit your partner's taste.

After a few minutes of back massage your partner will likely be ready to have other parts of their body massaged. Of course you'll want to gauge this for yourself. Your partner might be ready after two minutes, and it might take 15 minutes or longer. Slowly and deliberately move your massage focus from the back to the shoulders and arms. Move down their arms, massaging their forearms and hands. Both the back and palm of the hand is a wonderful part to massage. Work your partner's hands by "kneading" their palms with your thumbs. Another technique is to grab each finger with your thumb and forefinger and gently pull towards their fingernails, kneading as you go. After the arms and hands, feel free to move down to their lower back, their buttocks and their legs and feet.

Moving to the front side, massage your partner's chest. If your partner is female it's a good idea to start by very lightly touching their chest and nipples. Tease them with the light touch of your fingers and the back of your hand. Move down to their stomach, their genitals - which you can massage if you like - and their legs and feet.