Need a Valentines gift idea for the guy or gal who has it all? How about some spa-inspired pampering at home? A spa night at home can be as good, or even better, than a day at the spa.
First, the cost will be lower, and you can spend an unlimited amount of time pampering each other in a setting that offers complete privacy--assuming that you have a babysitter.
This is not about giving the best spa treatment from a technical point of view; it is about spending quality time together in a way that takes you both out of your routine. Take the time to plan out the evening and assemble the things you will need to make it perfect.
The best spa treatments are about engaging the senses. To engage your partner visually, set the mood by subtle lighting, candles, flowers or flower petals, and lots of pillows in soft textures.
When you stimulate the sense of smell, the most primitive of the senses, it really begins to set the mood. While Lavender has been shown in laboratory tests to be the most arousing aroma, other scents, such as: vanilla, sandalwood and rose, have been used for centuries as aphrodisiacs. Jasmine, neroli, patchouli, vetiver and ylang ylang are other heady, exotic scents associated with sensual pleasures. Most important is to choose scents that you and your partner find appealing.
Music is subjective too and it doesn’t have to be “spa music” such as Enya, as long as it is relaxing and mutually enjoyable. My husband and I have a few CD’s that we took on trips to Italy and France so for us playing those always transports us back to those romantic trips.
Dinner may come much earlier or later in the evening too but for the spa portion of this experience, try to recreate the decadence most spas strive for. Have some tasty treats such as strawberries or chocolate, or anything you both love to lure your taste buds into the mood of indulgence
Creating an evening of pleasant tactile sensations is not exclusively about “massaging” your partner. If you feel unsure about what to do remember, when it comes to the sense of touch, you can make up for what you may lack in massage skills by simply being familiar with your partner. Here are some general tips to get started.
-Provide a soft robe, an eye pillow and a neck warming pillow
-Most of what feels so indulgent about spa treatments is that you are allowed to simply give over to someone doing something for you
-Wash or brush the hair, or massage the scalp
-Massage the feet and hands---soak the feet first (this is especially nice if you don’t have a tub
-When trying your hands at massage...
~The floor (which is firmer) may work better than the bed
~Perhaps focus on one area such as the feet which are easy to do with your partner seated in a recliner
~Go very slowly
~Use more oil for smooth strokes, less for deep pressure
~Get feed-back from your partner
~When you get the “green light” repeat a stroke several times
~If your nails or long you can use a smooth warmed stone
Finally, if the two of you as a couple would like to learn how to give a better massage, I do a private sessions and show couples some basic therapeutic massage techniques and they both get to give and receive. Go to mywebsite and click on Specials--it’s a great Valentines Day present!
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