Erotic Massage
Massage is something that really appeals to me. I love to get a good backrub, but I never really felt like I knew how to give one. There are quite a few books and instructional videos on massage, and Fascinations kindly sent me Erotic Massageto review, giving me the perfect opportunity to improve my skills.
Erotic Massage by Anne Hooper is published by DK, which is a great company well-know for their reader-friendly format, high-quality photography, and useful illustrations. This book is no exception. The information is well-organized and concise, with very helpful pictures. Anne Hooper is a writer and counsellor who has written quite a few sex books. She has a flashy website, www.annehooper.com, for anyone wanting to investigate more of her work.
Early on in Erotic Massage Hooper stresses the importance of sensuous skin-to-skin contact, and being comfortable naked is a big part of that, so this book does contain some nudity. Well, quite a bit, actually, but it’s all very tastefully–almost artistically–photographed, and there aren’t any penetration shots or anything graphic, as the illustrations of male and female genitals are similar to what you’d see in a text book.
Stressing the importance of establishing a connection between partners, Erotic Massage seeks to help couples ignite a new level of passion through touch and massage. The introductory chapters of the book offer helpful information and tips for establishing this connection before moving on to the chapters on actual strokes and techniques.
So already, within the first few chapters I realized that this wasn’t just another massage manual. I honestly thought I’d learn a few strokes, read some new tips, and get better at giving backrubs. I didn’t expect such an in-depth, holistic approach to massage and gathering pleasure from touch, both giving and receiving.
Erotic Massage is very logically laid out and divided into 6 main sections:
- Making Contact contains all the introductory information and stresses the importance of touch and skin-to-skin contact. It also outlines relaxation exercises and suggests some massage games to start with.
- In the Bedroom starts out discussing body exploration and erogenous zones, moving on to separate sections addressing male and female sensuality and sexual responses.
- Sensual Massage goes over specific massage techniques and strokes for various areas of the body, with many very helpful photographs.
- Intimate Massage delves into the good stuff, offering tips on how to stimulate male and female genitals, as well as includes a couple of sections on setting up an erotic scenario and incorporating fantasy.
- Self-touch Techniques offers tips for self-exploration, since we don’t always have a partner available, again with separate sections for men and women.
- Touch for Life Changes addresses how our preferences, sex drive, and response can differ due to pregnancy, age, menopause, etc. and includes information on sensation blockers as well as listing potential sexual side effects of some drugs.
I’d love to say that this book has already turned me into a master of massage, but it all really takes practice, and there’s a lot more to it than just knowing how to position your hands and learning the different strokes. You have to actually develop a feel for it and learn how to read cues from you partner. This is about sensual and erotic massage, which is adds a whole different level of intimacy to the experience. The book does fairly warn you that this isn’t something to be rushed, and that it will possibly take some time. However, I will say that Erotic Massage exceeded my expectations, and I think it’s ideal for any couples wanting to increase their intimacy and create more passion. I’m finally learning how to get pleasure from giving pleasure, and I think that’s an awesome thing. Plus, it has a index. I LOVE it when books have an index.
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