How Important Music Playlists Are During A Massage

Music is very important to most every person on the planet and it is just as personal as it is important. Music has a profound effect on our lives. Music is piped through prisons, used in retail establishments and has replaced some medications for women during labor.

Massage is a very intimate and personal experience. Even more so between couples. Music is also very intimate, very soothing and relaxing. Music in some form is used in most massage modalities in spas and therapist’s practices. Therefore (for sensual massages), using music in combination with massage to increase the level of intimacy and sensual ambience is crucial.

In most cases, I feel the partner on the table should choose the music played throughout the massage. However, I also think if you know your partner’s taste in music, this is something you can very easily do yourself.

If the massage will be a surprise then you really need to drop hints or check the playlist they have set up on their smartphone. It’s also a good idea to know why these songs are on the playlist. You don’t want to choose songs that would cause your partner to reminisce about a past love during the entire massage.

There are however some basic tenants that should be closely followed. Of course these are my ideals for best massage music practices and you don’t have to uphold my standards for your partner’s massage. You do what you and your partner are comfortable with. Try something and if it doesn’t work, do something different the next massage session.

I like to be prepared. Even under the perfect circumstances, you can do everything right but they might not be in the mood for the music you have chosen. Having a backup or just several lists to pick from will help you navigate to the perfect massage ambience. If all else fails, you can ask them to choose a playlist. Handing them the smartphone or tablet and letting them choose will  free you to do something else. You can set the temperature in the room, dim the lights, grab the massage lotion or oil or just calm your nerves.

Best Practices

Most massage is best suited for instrumental music. If your partner is lying on the massage table trying to sing along in their head or out loud they probably aren’t fully relaxed. Their mind is still running at 100 mph. Instrumental music, especially Smooth Jazz can help to ease the mind into relaxation mode.

On the other hand, if singing along to the music is keeping your partner’s mind off the stress of the day (especially if they chose the playlist), it’s acceptable and recommended.

Maybe making love is the end goal of your massage. Perhaps your massage will be an ending to Date Night. If that is the case then I believe introducing ballads and slow jams into the second hour of your instrumental playlist can help segue from table to bed.

I still insist that when giving a sensual massage to your partner; the massage is about them. It is not what you will get out of it. If you give a great massage they might not be in the mood for anything but sleep afterwards. 

Try not to use sad or break up songs. Use only songs that convey how you feel toward one another. Sensual and sexy moments don’t include songs that make you sad and want to cry.

My only exception, and you might have your own, is Prince. A majority of the women I know and whom I have massaged, would not feel depressed if songs like The Beautiful Ones or Purple Rain played during a massage. 

When creating your playlists, it’s a good idea to add additional songs that take you past the planned 60 minute full body massage. This isn’t a spa massage. You are in the privacy of your home, your bedroom and you don’t have the time constraints or the time restrictions that a massage therapist has with their clients.

Just make sure your playlist is set for continuous play. There is nothing wrong with repeating the songs.

If you find yourself at a loss or your partner isn’t really into music, we have created a few playlists on Spotify you can choose from under the titles Rub HER:. Most people, even if they have never had a massage, associate nature sounds and spa music with a typical massage. You can find those on Spotify as well. If you use iTunes or Pandora they also have a selection to pick from. If you don’t have a premium account on these music streaming services, skip them entirely. No one being massaged want to listen to commercials and ads.

Thank you for reading. Now go forth and rub on your loved one.