My name is Denis Merkas, I’m an Australian Massage Therapist and I specialise in teaching couples how to give amazing back rubs.

Here’s 5 things you shouldn’t do when giving your hubby / wife, boyfriend / girlfriend a back rub.

  1. Don’t Heat the oil in a microwave

    • I’ve heard stories of people warming up their massage oil in the microwave. *facepalm* Don’t ever be one of these people…
    • This is a clever way to score a trip to the hospital. Hot oil will burn you and your partner… don’t heat it up.
    • Warm hands is all you need, the oil will heat up in your hands almost immediately. Some people like to keep the massage oil bottle in hot water. I don’t like this… it’s messy and has the potential of you spilling hot water over yourself, your partner and onto your floor. I’m a big fan of keeping things simple.
    • I’ll say it again: Warm hands is all you need.
  2. Don’t drip oil onto your partner’s body

    • This looks sexy in the movies… but in real life, cold oil dripping onto warm skin feels terrible.
    • During an interview once, a massage therapist who was applying for a job with me was preparing to give me a short massage. I lay on the massage table, I’m super relaxed and really looking forward to a good massage… and she started by pouring cold oil onto my back! I remember it vividly, what a HUGE disappointment. My expectations of a good massage was shattered. I leaped off the table and pointed to the door, gave her two words… “Get. Out!”
  3. Don’t use your thumbs

    • A rookie mistake = overusing your thumbs. I see it all the time with couples and with new professional massage therapists – they make their thumbs their “go-to move.” This is a bad idea.
    • Your thumbs should be your A-Game. Keep them as your secret weapon. They can make an appearance early on in your massage routine, but only to give your partner a taste of what will happen later on. Save them till the end, and only bring them out AFTER your partner has started drooling. Follow this piece of advice and you’ll be giving massages that are still raved about months later!
  4. Don’t fix your partner’s problems

    • Couples massage should be fun, for play and date night, to connect, to laugh and share new experiences, and not take things too seriously. As soon as you take on the role of therapist the dynamic changes. Don’t try to fix your partner’s ailments, leave this to the professional – they are worth their weight in gold. The right practitioner has the experience and knowledge to deal with problem areas. You don’t.
    • Keep your massages fun and focused on creating a relaxing / intimate atmosphere, this is something a massage therapist cannot give your partner. Learn how to make your partner melt and you’ll have a happy and extremely satisfying relationship.
  5. Don’t have expectations

    • Give back rubs because you want to do something nice for your partner. Expecting anything in return, including a back rub or sex can lead to disappointment. Happiness comes from kindness and generosity, remember that – it’ll serve you well in the future. Anything you receive in return as a result of your back rub is a bonus.

 

Lots More Tips – right here…

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My name is Denis Merkas, I’m an Australian Massage Therapist and I specialise in teaching couples how to give amazing back rubs.

How good are your back rubs? It’s easy when you know how to use your hands properly. In this post I’m going to show you two of my techniques which you can follow along to… this feels like heaven and you can do it right now! No oil or no massage table needed.

Today’s challenge, let’s see if we can make your partner melt in under 2-minutes! Ready…

BELOW: You’ll find two of my very own massage techniques. I’ll be demonstrating on my wife, Emma – you can follow along, I’ll talk you through it step-by-step. This video comes directly from the Melt Video Series, a complete series of techniques for couples.

Gents, this is stuff that wins you “the husband of the year” awards, remember this it’ll work wonders for your anniversary, for birthdays and Valentine’s Day…

Got 2-minutes?

 

The goal, a surprise head rub that’s good enough to make the person you love drool, in record time too. Massage is easy when you know the right way to use your hands.

We recommend you watch the video at least once before grabbing your partner and hitting the challenge.

 

 

How to sit for this challenge:

There are a few ways to position yourself; essentially you want your partner’s head to be at about chest height / just below. For this challenge, which only takes a few minutes, you can sit on the couch with your partner sitting between your legs in front of you. If that’s uncomfortable, you can stand, while your partner sits on a chair.

Anniversary, Birthday or Valentines

Special occasions like these deserve the full back rub experience, we’re going to need to step it up. You’re going to need more tips!

Love back rubs?
More Tips – right here…

We’re experts in teaching couples how to give amazing back rubs! Over 10,000 couples taught. Want to learn more? Click here to get our favourite tips for free:

I want to learn more couples massage tips

Sign up free. No spam. We will never share your address. Just good massage tips and exclusive content.

It can be hard to gift a massage – so we’ve made it a little easier with our free downloadable IOU massage vouchers. These are the perfect way to put a smile on your partner’s face and build a little anticipation for a special night ahead.

Slip them into birthday or anniversary cards, box them up with massage oil and candles for Valentine’s Day, or simply tuck them somewhere for your partner to find as a lovely surprise for no reason at all…

To download these IOU massage vouchers, follow these quick instructions:

1. Click the voucher you want (use them all if you like!)
2. The voucher will appear in a larger size in a pop up window on your browswer. Right click and select ‘Save Image As’ to download it to your computer.
3. Print the image on your home computer or load it onto a USB stick to print at your local copy center.
4. For extra impact, print it onto a thick photo stock or have the voucher laminated.
5. Gift it to your partner creatively – in a card, wrapped in a present or tucked under their pillow.
6. When your lucky sweetheart wants to claim their massage, happily oblige with a smile. Try to last longer than 5 minutes. For great massage instruction, we recommend our couples massage video courses.


IOU-a-rubdown

hand-rub-voucher

IOU-footrub

head-rub-voucher

Do you know what your wonderful wife deserves for Mother’s Day this year? A sensational foot rub. And I know just the man to do it! (Yes, I mean you!)

She’s on her feet all day, after all. Whether its running after those rascals you two created, strutting through the office in heels, being up in the gym just working on her fitness… whatever it is your baby mama does on a daily basis in her life, we can guarantee she will melt for a foot massage.

You’ll start by learning the art of the perfect foot rub with our couples massage videos. Don’t worry, it only takes a few minutes to learn – and you can just pop them on your smart TV, laptop or device and follow along on the spot while your queen lounges on the couch and soaks up the pampering.

We suggest delivering a Mother’s Day foot rub right after your breakfast in bed ritual, before she’s even gotten up. She can recline into her pillows and bliss out while you treat her to a gorgeous massage.

We have gift vouchers available but we also recommend packaging the voucher with some thoughtful wrapped items that will help make her foot massage experience that much better.

Here are our top picks for what to wrap up this Mother’s Day with your foot rub voucher:

1. Massage Oil

We love massaging with massage oil. It can’t be beaten for a quality rub, it provides just the right amount of glide and will last through the massage without sinking into the skin.

A good quality massage oil is easy to find – you can pick it up at the drugstore or the grocery store. We’re a fan of plain carrier oils at Melt, though there are also some beautiful blended oils out there. Just be careful that neither you nor your partner have sensitive skin that will react with blended essential oils, or any aversion at all to certain essential oils (some aren’t suitable for pregnancy, for example). Do your research first. If you’re not sure about sensitivities or contraindications, you’re best to stick to plain sweet almond or grapeseed oil. Don’t worry, there are still some wonderful options.

hugos-massage-oil From Amazon, there’s the Kusala Life Sweet Almond Oil with its earthy, upmarket packaging and a great product to boot, with a little hint of Vitamin E in there for extra skin nourishing. It’s sourced from Non-GMO Almond kernels and it’s sub-$20. This Beauty Aura 100% Pure Grapeseed Oil is a good lower cost alternative at the $11 mark – again, all natural with no nasties and great for sensitive skins. I also really love the Hugo Naturals brand with their all-natural ingredients in both a plain carrier oil and also some exotic scent combinations.

2. Luxurious Foot Cream

While we always recommend massaging with oil, you can get away with using a gorgeous cream on an area as small as the foot. You may have to apply quite a bit… But what works best is if you complete most of your massage with a massage oil like the ones listed above and finish your massage by slathering some cream on at the very end to help soothe her feet. Make sure your foot cream application is incorporated as part of your massage – don’t just slap and dash! Here are some excellent options.

loccitane-foot-cream

L’Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream, 5.2 oz $28

Lavender, arnica and cooling mint make for a soothing addition to pure shea butter in this luxurious French foot cream. An absolute favorite of Beauty Editors everywhere, it comes in a beautiful box to make it even more special and will banish any rough spots from feet in just one week.

ahava-foot-cream

AHAVA Dead Sea Mud Dermud Intensive Foot Cream, 3.4 fl. oz. $21.20

Dead Sea Mud is known for improving skin’s natural processes, easing pain, relaxing muscles and providing inner calmness. Ahava formulates their products without parabens and harsh ingredients and they’re allergy tested and approved for event the most sensitive skin.

bliss-foot-cream

bliss Aloe Leaf + Peppermint Foot Patrol, 2.5 fl. oz. $18

This little beauty from cult spa Bliss packs triple active ingredients like salicylic acid and peppermint in for instant softening and refreshening of even the most tired feet. All at the sub-$20 price point!

3. Something Soft & Fluffy

At the very end, once you’ve rubbed her feet, tugged her toes and blissed her out, keep her tootsies cozy with a soft pair of socks or slippers. The traditional Mother’s Day present just got better.

borghese-foot-spa-socks

Borghese Spa Socks Revitalizing Foot Care, $41.37

These aren’t just any socks – they’re super socks! Lined with a special polymer layer, the Borgehese spa socks deliver hydration to the feet just by wearing them! Pop them on the feet right before or right after a massage to help soften skin with no effort whatsoever. Infused with olive, jojoba and grapeseed oil to renew and smooth.

teal-socks-etsy

My Fashion Creations Teal Cable Knitted Socks, $28.99

After you’ve delivered an amazing foot rub and wiped off her feet, encase them snugly in these handmade socks. Knitted from a comfortable cotton and spandex blend, they are one size fits all and will work perfectly under boots or just for keeping legs warm around the house as slippers.

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Airee Fairee® Slipper Boot Faux Fur Lined with Pom Poms, $15

While slippers are the classic Mother’s Day gift, not all slippers are created equal. For one, they’re not the most graceful item of clothing to wear. These ones, however, are a super cute option complete with pom poms that will keep Mom’s freshly-massaged feet warm and snug.

4. Something Beautiful

Make your woman feel like a Queen at the end of your massage by adorning her feet with one of these glamorous gifts.

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Lovmely Anklet Triple Chain Turquoise, Coral, or White, 22k Gold Wire Wrapped, $50

There’s something very sexy about foot jewelry. Anklets and toe rings are the perfect accessory with summertime coming up to dress up a pair of flip flops or flat sandals. This handmade number from Lovmely at Etsy comes in a range of colours and is a simply stunning option for any woman with a Boho vibe.

chanel-tenderly

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Tenderly (Limited Edition), $27

Every season, the beauty world waits to see what colors Chanel will put out on the spring runway so every other nail brand can follow suit. This Tenderly is one of the three it colors of 2015 and a great option for keeping your lady’s toes looking spectacular. Help her paint them for added effect!

nine-west-danyell-sandals

Nine West Danyell Ankle Strap Sandals, $109

You may not realize this, but women LOVE SHOES. I don’t know why men don’t gift them more often! Get her a stunning strappy pair of sandals for summer, take her out in them for Mother’s Day and when everyone comments on how gorgeous her shoes are, she can say they came with a free foot rub! These Nine West Danyell Ankle Straps have been walking off the shelves. They come in three colors and are bang on trend for the season.

From now until Mother’s Day, we are exclusively offering our foot rub course for free with any purchase of Melt: Massage for Couples. Click here for all the details or to buy now.

couples massage

There’s something inherently sexy about massage between couples.

My husband Denis and I have been massaging each other for ten years now – giving a romantic massage is something we do as a treat for the other, or when we feel like our marriage needs some extra loving.

It works so well for us that we’ve created this entire company around teaching other couples how to massage each other. Because we believe every relationship deserves a little bit of massage.

I’m not a trained massage therapist, but Denis is. He is accustomed to getting professional massages from highly trained practitioners – but I’ll let you in on a little secret: Even though I’m an amateur, he still loves the massages he gets from me.

That’s because I have an advantage over the experts.

 

As his lover, I can bring romance and intimacy to the massage in a big way. The massages I give my husband are unlike the ones anyone else gives him.

 

Denis taught me everything I know when it comes to massage, and over the past decade I’ve made sure I get plenty of practice honing my skills. Massage is beautifully simple when you know where to rub and how to do it. And scientifically speaking, it does amazing things for your relationship.

Here are five reasons you should consider massaging your sweetie tonight:

1. Giving your partner a massage is one of the most romantic things you will ever do

If your relationship is begging for some romance, a massage is the perfect remedy. Candles, dim lighting, soft music, massage oil, exposed flesh, bodies close together… Offering your partner a back rub is a giving, selfless act that will make them melt with gratitude and seriously ups the romantic ante in your love life.

The way we set up our massages at home makes them even more sexy than you can imagine – instead of lying down on the bed or at arm’s length on a massage table, we use what we call The Melt Set Up (Den’s invention), which gets you much closer to your partner during your massage.

The Melt Set Up is massage done seated, and it was inspired by that scene in Ghost where Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are getting hot and heavy with the pottery. It’s seriously sexy, and we recommend it for every couple who wants a romantic massage experience.

2. Massage radically builds your trust

Trust is a crucial part of any romantic relationship, and one of those things you can never have too much of. Trust requires ongoing work, and one of the best ways to achieve it is through massage and gentle touch, which has been proven to supercharge the trusting bond between couples.

Every massage has that one point where your partner’s body simply gives in. If you’re tuned in enough, you’ll notice it happen as if you’ve flicked a light switch. That moment where they fall into deep relaxation and melt under the rhythmical motion of your hands is the moment you’ve gained their complete trust.

It’s a powerful moment to share. Becoming putty in your partner’s hands and likewise, having them surrender to you in the same unquestioning way, is a beautiful, comforting experience that has far-reaching benefits through your entire relationship.

3. Massage creates effortless intimacy

The massage you get from your partner and the massage you get from a professional massage therapist should be two very different things. As lovers, you can take full advantage of the intimacy a massage can create between two people.

Intimacy is about being emotionally close to another person, and – despite popular belief – it is not an automatic occurrence in a relationship.

Intimacy needs to be carefully and continuously cultivated between romantic partners. Intimacy is about being vulnerable and still feeling safe. It’s formed in private moments, through shared experiences.

One of the most important ways to nurture this intimate connection is to spend time alone together as a couple, concentrating on each other. This could be in any number of ways, though massage is an extremely effective way to achieve it.

When you massage, you are focusing your absolute attention (right down to your hands) on each other in a private space, alone together. Intimacy begets intimacy – try it and watch your connection to your partner skyrocket.

4. Giving a massage inspires positivity and goodwill

While you’re massaging your partner, there’s no time (or inclination) to discuss day-to-day routines like children, work problems or the mortgage and there’s no opportunity for distractions such as the phone, checking emails or thinking about the chores you have to do.

When you begin massaging, it feels so good that you don’t want to leave and enter the real world again.

When you’re in that space, it’s soft, and romantic, it’s calm and peaceful. Your energy is aligned with your partner’s – you are attuned to one another. This energetic connection and gratitude for each other doesn’t dissipate right away; it flows through the rest your interactions inspiring positivity in your day.

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