Crux Products

Massages have to be one of the most loved activities, especially when they're topped off with some indulgent massage oil to (literally) let the tension slip right off your body. Not only are they a solution for soothing sore muscles, but they're also a great way to boost intimacy with your partner or get in touch with your own body, both physically and spiritually.

When it comes to massage with your partner, many studies have been done linking touch and intimacy, but the general takeaway from many of them is that "the language of touch is universal," says marriage counselor, psychotherapist, and Wright Wellness Center co-founder, Rachel Wright, MA, LMFT. “Massage is something that you need to be comfortable receiving, so it's inherently communicating intimacy,” Wright explains.

On the physical end of things, "massage relaxes the body by bringing awareness, circulation, and pain relief to different areas," says Rachel Beider, licensed massage therapist and owner of Massage Outpost in Brooklyn. "You might be holding tension in places without even knowing it—massage helps focus awareness on those body parts."