How To Give A Massage For Men

When your man has had an especially stressful week at work, spent too much time on his feet or just needs a little care and relaxation, offering a massage may be met with initial hesitance. Once you explain that you plan to offer a massage for men, and not a girly spa retreat-style rubdown, he may be more open to giving it a try. By making a massage with more masculine scents and techniques, your man will feel more comfortable and relaxed as you knead and rub his tense muscles.

Step 1

Create your own massage oil by combining a tablespoon of carrier oil, like sweet almond oil, with a few drops of essential oils. Choose an essential oil that has a more masculine scent to help relax your man. Flowery and perfumed scents may make him feel uncomfortable. Instead, choose oils like cedar, allspice and sandalwood to set the mood for his massage, suggests Aroma Web.

Step 2

Ask your man to lay down on a flat surface, like a bed or a couch, on his back. Offer a clean pillow for better positioning and tell him what will happen during the massage. If it's your man's first time having a massage, he may feel wary. Tell him you'll start with the head, work on large muscle groups and end with the head so he knows what to expect. You can play a little soothing music, but your man may feel just as relaxed while watching ESPN.

Step 3

Start with a gentle scalp massage that becomes more intense with time, suggests "Redbook" magazine. It should help to set the tone and relax your man with a pleasant sensation. Use your nails to lightly scratch the top of his head and the base of his neck, which may be where he harbors tension. Trace his ears and apply pressure to the base of his neck. The scalp massage should last about five minutes.

Step 4

Warm some of your homemade massage oil in your hands by rubbing them together for a few moments. Then use your lubricated hands to run your palms over his back Focus on some of the major muscle groups and areas where he may be sore, like the upper back and shoulders, as well as the lower back and hips. Ask about the amount of pressure he prefers. Some men will like a light touch, while other prefer deep kneading.

Step 5

Finish the massage by focusing on his feet for five minute. If your man has a job where he's on his feet alot, this will be an even better treat. Warm more oil between your hands and run them over the tops of the feet. Then, find the fleshy balls of the feet on the soles, suggests Jane Buckingham in her book, "The Modern Girl's Guide to Life." Press and release several times to relieve pain and tension before you tug the toes individually and finish the massage.