Massage Music

The key to a classic massage mix is striking a balance between novelty and familiarity. Music holds powerful associations, so a successful mix must be sufficiently novel so as not to carry emotional baggage. But it must be inviting enough not to be a distraction from the task at hand.

Ambient is good. Instrumental is good. Rap . . . not so much. Better to have your subject thinking of alpine meadows, westerly ocean breezes, and gently waving fields of tulips. This is "take me away" music, not "put me there" music.

Even without the prospect of a happy ending, massage is hard work. Unkinking knots in people's muscles and psyches is not a job for the weak or unprepared. You figure out the pressure-modulated, thumb-heavy strokes along the spinal axis, we'll take care of the sensual auditory part of the equation.

When your semispinalis capitus and your trapezius muscles are so tight they would sound like G above middle-C if you plucked them, it's time for a massage. The laying on of hands is an ancient healing art, and a key component in any lothario's playbook. Innocent or intimate, therapeutic or amorous, massage is a powerful tool for communication and well-being. Choosing the right music enhances the experience massively. So does warming the lotion, incidentally.