How to Give Body Worship That Builds Real Arousal

Body Worship massage foreplay

The most arousing touch often comes from the places your partner least expects you to focus on, like the backs of the knees and the inner wrists.

Why It Works

Slow, varied touch on skin activates C-tactile afferents, nerve fibers that respond to gentle stroking and send pleasure signals to the brain's insula and reward circuitry. Because your partner cannot predict where you will touch next, the brain stays in an attentive, anticipatory state, which heightens sensitivity and arousal. Focused attention from a partner also signals being desired, which lowers self-consciousness and makes the body feel more open to pleasure.

How To Try It

  1. 1. Ask your partner to lie face down and get comfortable, then start at the feet with long, unhurried strokes using your palms.
  2. 2. Move slowly up the calves, behind the knees, and along the thighs, varying pressure between light fingertip trails and firmer kneading.
  3. 3. Trace the spine with your lips or fingernails, pausing at the shoulder blades, neck, and the sides of the ribs.
  4. 4. Turn them over and repeat the slow exploration on the arms, hands, stomach, and collarbones, keeping the genitals untouched while you build anticipation.
  5. 5. Finish by kissing your way back up the inner thighs and hips, letting your breath land close to where they most want you.

Pro Tip

Pro tip: Use your breath as a tool by exhaling warmly across skin just before you touch it, since the temperature shift and the sound of your breathing amplify sensation.

Dr. Bloom is a private coach for couples. Free to start on iPhone and the web.