How to Rub Her the Right Way.
People who knead people are the luckiest people in the world. Working may pay our bills and working out may keep us tight, but both can be stressful on our bodies. So, here's where you come into the picture.

Coughing up $100 for a gift certificate to the local spa is an easy and thoughtful way to score some major points with us. But there's a better, more hands-on solution: The sensual and mutually gratifying art of home massage.

Rather than pawning your girl off to Hans at Aveda, why not impress her with your dexterous digits? By following these basic guidelines, you can be the one working out that "kink" in her neck.
Ask her to lie down on a supportive surface, like a futon or an extra-firm mattress. Regular sofas have too much "give" and the floor is just painful. (If she balks at getting horizontal, don't push it. All these techniques can be modified to a chair massage.) Give yourself room to move around her body without straining yourself (or straddling her). Choose low-intensity lighting, throw on some mellow music, and eliminate disruptions.
A good massage is all about the lubrication. Think of how dry skin feels rubbing on dry skin. Not very relaxing, is it? Since water-based lubricants dry out too fast, stock up on massage oil or oil-based bars. If either of you is averse to getting gooped up, try talcum powder instead. Drape areas that you're not massaging with a large, soft towel or a light cotton blanket.
Start by pouring a quarter sized drop of oil onto your hands and rubbing them together to warm it up. You don't want to shock her by drizzling her back with cold liquid! Place both your palms firmly on her lower back on either side of her spine (never put pressure directly on her spine!) and gently glide your hands up her back, fanning out away from each other. Repeat a few times to make sure she's good and slick.
Start by "kneading" large muscle groups with the palms of your hands. Make sure to ask her if the pressure is OK. To work smaller areas like her shoulder blades, use your thumbs to apply pressure in small circular strokes. You should also rub your thumbs in a fanning motion, starting on either side of her spine on her lower back and work your way to the base of her skull. Leave the deep tissue work to the pros.
Most importantly, pay attention to her reactions. If she squirms, she's probably ticklish or the pressure is too hard. If she moans, congratulations, you're doing something right. Try to keep in constant contact with her body. Finish it up by raking her body gently with your fingertips. Stop before she falls asleep!

So the next time your girl complains she "overdid it at the gym," or "her back is killing her from sitting at a desk all day," take a more hands-on approach. Manual labor has never paid so well.