Prepare the surface
A folded duvet on the bed or a firm cushion on the floor gives the right height and softness for shoulders and hands. Cover it with a washed cotton sheet, which is easier to launder than any oil can be forgiven.
Warm the oil bottle in a bowl of hot water; cold oil startles the very muscles it is meant to settle. A towel over the pillow protects both parties from the evening’s consequences.
Keep the light low
A single warm lamp at reading height, not overhead, lets the body relax without brightness to resist. The room warm, the phone elsewhere, and the door closed complete the setting.
Ten unhurried minutes of pressure across the shoulders, agreed in advance and adjusted on request, are the difference between touch and treatment. Ask, adjust, and stop while it is still pleasant.
Published by the Miraseta journal.