Helen Hodgson - Couple’s Massage Handbook: Deepen Your Relationship with the Healing Power of Touch

I applaud Helens contribution to the field of massage and couples relationships, with the addition of her masterful book, Couples Massage Handbook: Deepen Your Relationship with the Healing Power of Touch. Helen takes us on a journey from ancient times to the present day, sharing techniques and strategies for using Couples Massage, and making it part of any couples daily routine. Helen has taken an intricate topic and made it easy to understand, providing photos and illustrations, plus previews and summaries. Helen nurtures us, her readers, as she nurtures everyone she meets. Its as if she takes us by the hand every step of the way, and we arrive at the end of our journey knowing more about the importance of touch and the healing it provides. Its the ultimate meaningful experience for anyone who wants to deepen their relationship or anyone who wants to be in a relationship. Couples Massage Handbook is a must-have for everyones library and life!

Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider, best-selling author of Raising Calm, Inspired, & Successful Children and Massaging Your Baby: The Joy of TouchTime, founder of TouchTime International, and GetREALNow

With divorce rates at an all-time high, more than ever the world needs great couples who can inspire a weary world to remember that lasting love is possible. As a serial monogamist who is just now celebrating 14 years of marriage, I know from firsthand experience that a couple that dreams, prays, and plays together, stays together. In addition to dream sharing, massage is one of the best ways to love your lover and demonstrate that you are precious to each other ... and Helen Hodgson's newest book, Couple's Massage Handbook, is the perfect guide for the journey.

Kelly Sullivan Walden, best-selling author of The Love, Sex, and Relationship Dream Dictionary

The Couples Massage Handbook is absolutely the best way to deepen your relationship with the healing power of touch.

JJ Flizanes, host of The Fit 2 Love podcast and author of Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Disclaimer : The information in this book is based on my own experience. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of trained medical or mental health professionals. The reader should regularly consult a physician, therapist or counselor in matters relating to his/her physical or mental health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. In the event you use any of the information in this book, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Published by: Serve The Goddess

Interior Design: Stefan Merour
Editing: Frank Steele
E-book Formatter: Hikaru Matsuoka
Illustrator: Vladimir Cebu
Photographer: Jaymie Garner
Cover Book Designer: Jeannie Shaw

I dedicate this book to my husband Dave.
You are my anchor and the love of my life.

Id like to express my deepest gratitude to my clients and future clients. You are the motivation behind the creation of this book. I couldnt have done it without you.

A special thank-you to the following people.

Frank Steele, editor, for your expertise and time in polishing the manuscript. Vladimir Cebu, illustrator, for your skills and contribution to the book. Designers Stefan Merour and Jeannie Shaw; you really took this book to another level.

My appreciation to models JJ and Brian. Thank you for your enthusiasm and adaptability during our photo shoot. Your dedication is a testament to your marriage.

Jaymie Garner, photographer, for capturing the beautiful images that brought the strokes to life.

My mentor and coach Mary Lyn Miller for keeping me on track, and for her endless inspiration and insight.

I am thankful for my mastermind groups for keeping me accountable and stretched.

To my wonderful team of massage therapists, aestheticians, and nail techni- cians who provide massage and spa services to my mobile spa clients at Serve The Goddess. My assistant, Jeannie, for the support running my mobile spa business, especially during this book project.

I am forever in gratitude to my husband for his support and patience.

And to my dear mother, I miss you every day.

Thank you all for making this book possible.

Free Gift: The Couples Massage Checklist

DOWNLOAD HERE:
http://www.servethegoddess.com/couple-massage-checklist

Put the lessons from the handbook into practice by preparing for your first couples massage.
Download your checklist and tool guide now.

Back Over Time

WHAT YOULL LEARN

The origins of massage for healing purposes

Touch techniques around the world

Cool facts in the history of massage

Where massage is today

Human touch is as old as life itself.

Imagine yourself back in the good old days of the cave dwellers. Theres Grud, on his way home from slaying a woolly mammoth, hauling the monstrous creatures carcass. Theres Ila, mother to his children, sitting in the glacial cave, just returned from gathering brush and berries from the surrounding wilderness. As darkness begins to fall, Ila turns to Grud and whispers, Maybe later we do the touch thing? He grunts back a friendly Ugh, then turns his attention to carving meat off the mammoth.

After all their offspring are tucked under their furs, with the fire casting a warm glow on them, Grud and Ila lie together and tenderly touch each others bodies. Grud bites into a wild apple to sweeten his breath, then draws Ilas mouth to him, sharing the sweet morsel of fruit and heightening her olfactory senses. Next, she applies the oil of musk ox to his flesh, softening his rough skin. He lies quietly under the wrap with her, allowing her fingers to penetrate his tired muscles, understanding this to be her signal for romance.

The primal oohs and aahs from cave men and women enjoying their couples massages were probably some of the first sounds of pleasure uttered in those early human settlements.

As humans evolved, so did their touch techniques. For example, archaeologists have found stone probes in Chinese caves and tombs that were used to soothe aches and pains. Loved ones, it seems, would lay the tools against sore muscles and the soles of the feet, thereby relieving aches and pains throughout the body. Humans were beginning to discover the inner universe of the body, including the sources of their discomforts and even diseases.