How to Give a Shoulder and Neck Rub

Best for

Practising a calm shoulder and neck rub on a friend or partner when you are unsure where to place your hands or how to keep pressure steady without tiring your thumbs.

What you'll learn

• Hand positioning that keeps the hand relatively still while the arms and wrists move
• How to work the trapezius and into the shoulders, not only the softest spot
• Working down next to the spine as part of the routine
• Using body weight for pressure instead of forcing with the thumbs
• Neck and skull work, ending with gentle tapotement if you choose

Key moments

• 0:26 – Hand positioning
• 1:07 – Trapezius and shoulder work
• 4:26 – Using body weight for pressure
• 5:36 – Neck and skull massage
• 6:22 – Ending with tapotement

Not ideal for

Anyone looking for a silent ASMR watch, as this is a spoken technique demo of about eight minutes.

Do you need strong thumbs to give a shoulder rub?

No. The creator shows how keeping your hand fairly still and letting your arms and body weight do the work gives steady pressure without tiring your thumbs.

This video is for relaxation and education, not medical advice. Stop if anything feels painful, and check with a professional if you have an injury or health condition.

Video by Massage Sloth on YouTube.

Before you press play

Have your partner sit on a sturdy chair or lie face down, and ask them to say how the pressure feels as you go. Watch the hand positioning section first, then practise slowly, letting your body weight do the work so your thumbs stay comfortable. For more partner and self-massage ideas, browse our neck and shoulder massage videos guide, or try a step-by-step partner sequence in neck and upper back massage techniques.