Touch is one of the primary ways in which we relate to the world and to each other. Unfortunately our society doesn?t encourage us to touch. In France people touch an average of 100 times an hour during a typical conversation. Here in the US we tend to touch is only 2 times.

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The importance of touch in our romantic partnerships is even more important. If we touch only during the act of lovemaking, a great deal of intimacy and connection is lost. Exchanging massages - whether they be a foot rub or a whole body massage - is a wonderful way to deepen your relationship.

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The preliminary findings of a current study at the Touch Research Institute show that couples who massage each other experience increased intimacy. They also report lower levels of performance anxiety during lovemaking.

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Another wonderful aspect of this is that the many benefits of massage are not only experienced by the receiver. New research has found that giving a massage also reduces stress, elevates the mood and increases your sense of well-being. Couples massage is truly a win-win situation!

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In the spirit of romance why not start a tradition of taking the time to massage each other? You can simply use massage oil and your hands or you can add a wooden massager to heighten the effects. For a deep massage, try adding a hand held vibrating massager such as the AcuVibe or Oster. You?ll soon find that massage has become an invaluable pleasure in your relationship!