Foot massages are fantastic stress relievers and are easy to work into a beginner’s massage routine. Use these simple tips to get started.

Tip # 1: Understand anatomically where you can apply pressure.
The feet can take the deepest amount of pressure of any part of the body. Imagine the pounding of our entire body weight on our feet as we move throughout the day. Then multiply it by the momentum from jumping, or walking down stairs. You can massage as hard as you can on the parts of the foot that touch the ground as you walk, and still not equal that pressure.

Once you get the recipient warmed up by whatever you think comes natural during massage, you should use your knuckles to dig into the heels and balls of the feet. Using your thumbs will only be a waste, as you cant get deep enough. When doing this, have one hand wrap around the top side of the foot so that you can apply the pressure to the heel with your fist and still have some control.

Tip # 2: Make sure it feels GOOD.
Massage here should feel good - very good. Many couples I have taught to massage have said that nothing gets their partner in the mood like this.  Use your thumbs together when you massage - it distributes the pressure more, so the pressure feels less sharp on one point of the foot.

Eventually, you will be able to apply a lot of pressure on the entire foot, but that is something that needs to be worked up to over the course of many sessions. When massaging deeper, make certain to move SLOWLY, as the muscle fibres are so short, tight, and close to each other here.

You should feel like you are rolling over lots of tight spots. It might feel like large grains of sand.

Tip # 3: Work on each other simultaneously.
If both of you can have some back support, you can both work on each other at the same time. A couch provides this perfectly. Great time to chat, or as I always say, to massage each other while watching TV.

To do this, you will probably sit on opposite ends of the couch, facing each other. You might already have tried this before.

Be creative! Aromatherapy! Reflexology!

Usually in front of the TV I don’t think you need to use lotion, but since we are working on naked skin, it makes perfect sense. I like to use lotions with peppermint in them(or the ones for athletic injuries/sore muscles, with chilling properties), if it’s not right before bed. You can end up having this nice cold sensation in your feet for the rest of the day if you do this. Not a nice way to fall asleep however. *Here is an index of my aromatherapy articles.

*Reflexology is great too. Don’t focus on overthinking that you will help your partners liver work better, just have fun with it.

Oh, have I mentioned *talking to each other yet? Tell each other what feels good and not!