If your partner is feeling very tense, and you don`t have the time to give a full body massage, working on the shoulders and neck will still offer great relief. For this your partner should be lying on his or her back and you can uncover the chest by folding down the towel or blanket. Then apply oil to your partner`s chest, shoulders and neck.

1. Begin effleuraging by placing both hands on the upper chest, fingers facing towards each other.

2. Now, slowly pull your hands across the chest and out to the shoulders. Curve your hands round the shoulders and under them and then bring your hands in to meet at the back of the neck.

3. Stroke up the neck to the base of the skull. Repeat four or five times.

4. Gently knuckle the chest and shoulders. To knuckle make your hands into relaxed fists, and move the knuckles in circular movements.

5. Gently turn your partner`s head to one side and stroke along the top of the shoulder and the side of the neck. Repeat three times.

6. Repeat the above sequence, but circle your fingers this time. Do this three times.

7. Turn your partner`s head to the other side and repeat the third and the fourth movements. Return the head to the centre.

8. Slide your hands down your partner`s back as far as you can comfortably reach. Find the groove each side of the spine with your fingers. Pull your hands up the spine with a little pressure on the groove each side. Repeat three times.

9. Cup both hands under your partner`s head, your fingers resting in the base of the skull. Lift the head slightly and then gently pull towards you. Lower the head slowly and repeat.

10. Hold the back of the head in one hand and move it slowly towards the left shoulder while gently pressing down on the right shoulder with your other hand. Bring the head back to the centre and then repeat on the other side.

11. Finish with some effleurage movements as you began.