There are certain activities that just feel super luxurious and intimate when you do them with your partner. Without a doubt, that includes couples massage.
On every level, a couples massage is sensational. Outside of the many health, emotional, and relationship benefits that massages offer, it’s a great skill to also learn as a couple.
In this article, we discuss the health benefits of an individual massage versus a couples massage at a spa versus receiving a massage from your partner.
the benefits of couples massage
We love sharing the experience of a couples massage together. The benefits are incredible. The last couples massage we had was spectacular… but it put us back $290.
And, honestly, you miss out on a lot when getting a massage done at a spa, mainly the intimacy, conversation, and connection.
Think about it. During couples massage therapy at a spa, the only words we speak the whole time are, “You good?”
And when the massage is over, we typically hang out in a spa lobby sipping tea or just slipping into our clothes to head out. It’s kind of a waste of that amazing, blissed-out feeling that’s the hallmark of an amazing massage.
Instead, we would much rather relax, connect on a deeper level, have a great conversation, be playful and get intimate.
Individual vs. Couples Massage vs. Getting One From Your Partner
While having a massage done professionally feels decadent and luxurious, I can assure you that you’ll get all of the same feelings and more with couples massages at home with your partner.
We all know that a massage feels 100% amazing. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, 88% of survey participants said that massages reduced pain.
Here, we’ll summarize the key benefits of an individual massage, couples massage, and getting a massage from your partner.
As you can see in the graph below, the benefits peak when you’re getting (or giving) a massage from your partner.
The Benefits of getting a massage
These are the proven health benefits of getting a massage as an individual, from a masseuse but without your partner.
1. Relaxation
Massage helps with depression and anxiety. These are the key benefits of massage therapy, and the only ones that are backed by solid scientific data.
Studies show that consistent massage therapy reduces depression over time, and a single massage session significantly reduces anxiety.
Like yoga, massage releases a chemical called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid.) GABA is an inhibitor of neural activity and is a natural anti-anxiety drug.
This state of relaxation from massage spills over into all areas of your life, making you feel confident, more present, clear-headed, and comfortable in your own skin.
2. Mobility
While the science here is less conclusive, there is no doubt that massage makes you feel less tense and more limber.
One breakthrough study (although slightly controversial) concluded that massage reduces post-workout inflammation and jumpstarts healing.
We like to include self-massage with a foam roller in our workout routines. At least for us, it makes a huge difference.
Short, tight muscles lead to poor mobility, injury, and nerve compression, which is often the culprit for back and neck pain.
Long, soft, relaxed, and pliable muscles are much healthier. They help us maintain good posture and better joint alignment.
Tom Brady is a good example. His long-lived football career would have ended many years ago if he didn’t adopt what he calls “pliability training,” a dynamic form of massage.
The Benefits of a Couples massage
Couples massage is when you and your partner get a massage together, usually at a spa, but with two separate masseuses.
Couples massage includes the above benefits and the following.
3. Increased Relationship Satisfaction
Fun, stress-relieving, relaxing, and novel activities are great to do with your partner.
When you get a massage together, your bodies are flooded with serotonin, dopamine, and the “love hormone,” oxytocin. The production of cortisol stops and you feel amazing.
Since you’re experiencing it together, your brain connects that heightened mood to being with your partner. This strengthens your emotional bond, physical attraction, communication, and satisfaction with your relationship.
We love to take advantage of this phenomenon by practicing couples yoga, going on backpacking trips together, and working out together.
The Benefits of getting a massage from Your Partner
When you receive (and give) an exceptional massage from your partner, you get all of the above relaxation, mobility, and relationship benefits plus more.
However, unless you’re already a skilled masseuse, you’ll need to learn how to give a ‘great’ massage. A couples massage class should be a bucket list item for every couple. It’s the relationship slam dunk.
Here are the additional benefits of learning how to massage your partner at home.
4. Physical Touch
Every square inch of human skin has more than 1,000 nerve endings to sense touch, temperature, and pressure.
Swedish researchers found special nerve fibers in the skin that signal the brain when our skin is being slowly stroked. Massage is an incredible sensory experience.
Additionally, we know babies require physical touch for optimal development. Older adults have lower stress levels and fewer symptoms of depression when they receive physical touch like hand holding or hugging.
Physical touch is powerful. So isn’t physical touch from that stranger at the spa good enough? Actually no, the stranger might not cut it.
A University of Virginia study put women through mild electric shocks (yes, really!) and scanned brain regions activated by stress and pain.
The participants were either alone, held a stranger’s hand, or held their spouse’s hand. The results were shocking — see what we did there?
When women held their spouse’s hand, the pain was dulled as much as if they were on a pain-relieving drug. The effect was even more pronounced in the strongest marriages (including same-sex marriage as well).
Physical touch is significantly more powerful when it’s coming from your spouse or partner. Plus, if it’s not already obvious, this study suggests that massaging your partner can improve your sex life.
Even for couples who are not touchy-feely, massage is clearly a beneficial activity.
5. Affordable and Accessible
While it would be great to experience the benefits of a couples massage monthly, it’s not great on the budget. Even though they are incredibly enjoyable, we reserve them for special occasions.
Now that we have taken (and will continue to revisit) the Melt Massage Masterclass, it’s much more affordable and accessible.
How much is a couples massage compared to an online couples massage class?
Our last couple’s massage was $290 and the online Melt massage course is $149 for annual access. That’s a great value considering our local masseuse offers in-person couples massage workshops for $390.
Obviously, giving your partner a massage is pretty accessible whenever you’re with them. It definitely doesn’t need to be reserved for a special date night.
Instead, it could be scheduled weekly before bed or a spontaneous foot massage on the couch while watching TV.
As shown in the graph below, the benefits of learning how to give your partner a good massage at home are hard to ignore.
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Closing Thoughts on Couples Massage Benefits
Couples massage is excellent for mobility, relaxation, and improving relationship satisfaction. If you’ve never had a couples massage at a spa, schedule on today.
However, what’s most compelling to us is the science on the power of physical touch when it’s coming from your partner or spouse. We feel this when we do couples yoga together.
Between the physical touch benefits, accessibility, and affordable price, our go-to is DIY couples massage at home. If you want to get started, we have an article titled ‘How to Give Your Partner a Good Massage‘ to teach you the dos and don’ts.
If you’re serious about taking advantage of the benefits of massaging your partner at home, the Melt Couples Massage Course is the best way to learn. The price of the course is less than one couples massage at a spa, and the skills last a lifetime.
If you want to learn more, we’ve written a detailed review of the online massage course.
For more resources for couples, such as the best two-player card games for couples or the most exciting couples challenges, head over to our Healthy Couples page.
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Hey we're Ryan and Alex
A husband-wife duo, two engineers, and the creators of Ryan and Alex Duo Life.
After eight years working in the corporate world as engineers, we left to tackle our true passion:
Helping highly motivated couples optimize their relationship and health by cutting through the muck and sharing what the research says works.
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