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Log off the computer, and get started already! 

Or, read for a few minutes first. Before you get started learning ANYTHING, there is one important thing I have to drive home. The reason you are reading this is not really to learn how to do massage. You are reading this because you are going to do massage. And lots of it. The problem is not your lack of skill, it’s your lack of socialization with massage. Many of us virtually never touch people except for romantic purposes, while others(such as myself) grew up massaging grandparents, and then girlfriends.

What is missing isn’t that you don’t know how to give a great massage - it is that massage isn’t part of your life right now. You could learn anything about massage - even become a great professional massage therapist like myself. If you aren’t doing it however, any knowledge you have is about as as noble and relevant to everyday life as is speaking Esperanto. 

I have heard your excuses before.

We never have met, but you still need not tell me your massage [hi]story. Believe me, I know it already: When you have tried to massage someone, your thumbs got tired, and the massage was over in 2 minutes. In this short article, you will learn how to have that not happen, which in a few weeks will lead to you and your partner working on each other for 30 minutes a night. I promise. Your relationship will expand into new territory if you can do these things.

Before I go on, just let that settle for a little bit. Imagine giving and recieving 30 minutes of massage every night. How much would that be worth to you? $100 a week? $300 a week? If this is this is something that you can learn - for free for that matter - is there any way someone could talk you out of this?

Start by remembering this, and in a few weeks your life will be very different.

The trick is, in one sentence: Do NOT overuse your thumbs. Our thumbs tire fast, and by using them sparingly your hand doesn’t get tired, thus ending the massage. Using the thumbs is however the most intuitive technique and generally more effective than others. But alternating the technique you massage with allows you to massage your partner as long as you like to, instead of until your hand hurts too much to go on. Our hands are capable of much ,but not even busy professional massage therapists, who commonly see 4 clients in a day can consistently use their hands that much(and those who do ice their hands and cry, often audibly, at night).

Above all, do this tonight. Not tomorrow, not next week.

You will learn techniques to perform full body massages LATER. Start with little victories, like giving each other massages while watching movies at night. There is no clean up to worry about, no set up time, and no need to even schedule it. If you have time, read the TV massage series now, but this is what you need to do tonight:

1: Get on the couch in front of the living room TV. The only equipment you will need is a pillow.

2: Have your partner sit on the floor in front of you(sitting on the pillow).               

3: Begin to massage your partner, while you watch TV.

4: Alternate what you are doing with your hands. Kneading, rubbing, using forearms etc. The most important thing is to not wear your thumbs out.

5: Once you are growing a little tired of massaging, switch position with your partner. My intent for you is to be taking turns every 10-20 minutes, massaging each other through an entire two hour movie. If one of you massages for too long, the other may become too relaxed, and it could end early because you get too relaxed, so make certain to be taking turns. While it might make you a paragon of civilization to massage each o

In other entries, you will learn a lot more. But for now, these are the important points. This involves no setup time, no cleanup, and don’t even worry about creating the mood. You will read a lot of ways to do that later on.

Trust me on the TV.

It might seem a little counter-intuitive to have the TV on, but that is because the person receiving the massage will not be talkative, and boredom(on the massagers part) instead of exhausted hands will end the massage. The TV also serves the purpose of keeping the receiving person from getting too relaxed, making them more inclined to keep the reciprocity going.

You could have read this in 2 minutes. Create this experience tonight. If you have more time, read the TV Massage series next, as it will teach you all of the techniques for hand movement while massaging your partner in the seated position. 

Use these tips tonight, and share your experiences in the comments below!