Kneading to untie shoulder and cervical

Ideal for relaxing quickly, it can effectively massage the muscles of the trapezius and neck.

How to settle? Your partner is lying on his stomach, forehead resting on his joined hands. You are on your knees, on your side, at the height of your shoulders.

1 Put both hands on one of the trapezoids (the fleshy part between the neck and the shoulder).
2 Grasp the muscle, as if to pinch it. Then make a slight twist by alternating a movement opposite right hand, left hand, to "wring" the muscle. Practice this maneuver 3 min, then move to the other side and start again on the other trapeze.

Our advice. The catch should be flexible but firm. Finally, extend the maneuver to the nape of the neck, then down to the shoulder (5 times).

Effleurage to find a good back

Practiced with the palm of the hand, or with the fingertips, it allows to make contact with the body , or prepares it gently for a deeper massage.

How to settle? Your partner is lying on his stomach. You are placed in front of his head, leaning over him.

1 Place your hands on the upper back of each side of the spine, fingers together, pointing towards the buttocks. Leave 5 cm apart between the thumbs.
2 Smoothly, slowly slide your hands forward, transferring the weight of your body forward while maintaining light pressure with your palms.
3 At the birth of the buttocks, spread your hands towards the hips and, going up, slide them on each side of the body, until the articulation of the shoulders. Extend the movement along the arms to the elbows.
4 Rotate hands, wrists and elbows outward to reposition the fingers on the shoulders. Tighten them and push them into the trapezoids (the fleshy part located between the neck and the shoulder) to relax them to the maximum (make 5 to 10 passages).

Our advice. As you perform the massage , breathe deeply and slowly , your maneuvers will be smooth and harmonious.

Circular pressures to deflate the belly

Calming, they release tension , activate circulation , facilitate digestion and transit.

How to settle? Your partner is lying on his back, arms stretched along his body. You are kneeling to his right, at the level of his navel.

1 Put your left hand flat on the sternum, fingers pointing to the face.
2 With the right hand resting flat near the belly button, draw a small circle with light pressure while your partner expires. Then move your hand around the belly button in a clockwise direction. Massage the entire belly 5 times.

Our advice. A massage to practice after digestion .

Palpate-rolling for gazelle legs

Draining , it tones the skin, relieves cellulite and alleviates heavy legs .

How to settle? Your partner is lying on his back, arms down his body. You, kneeling near his thigh.

1 Put your hands flat and parallel on the thigh you are going to massage. Your thumbs are spread apart and the other fingers are joined to form a rhombus.
2 Pinch the skin a lot, roll it around and bring the thumbs to the other fingers, which remain fixed. Repeat the movement 5 times before moving your hands.

Our advice. Gently massage the calves and back of the knees, which are particularly sensitive.

Zen attitude

Arrange cut flowers to invigorate the room.

Make your massage in music : bird songs, rustling leaves ... these natural sounds amplify the relaxation .

Taste the pleasure of massaging in a warm room bathed in light.

Cover your partner with a soft blanket, and clear only the area to be massaged, letting go.

Offer herbal tea before and after the session for a total cocooning.

Thanks to François Pigneaux , beauty therapist , 95, rue de la Faisanderie, Paris 16th. Tel .: 01 45 04 44 45.