Tame her tension with a seamless shoulder and back massage. "Keep your hands moving the whole time so the massage has a flow to it," says massage therapist Susan Mumford. Here's her rub to remember.

1. Warm up
Have her sit in a comfortable chair with her shoulders and upper back exposed. Slick your hands with a little massage oil, stand behind her, place your hands on her shoulders and gently squeeze the muscles between your fingers and the heels of your palms. Do this for about three minutes.

2. Press in
Start pressing firmly with your index and middle fingers around the outline of each shoulderblade, alternating sides. Don't drag your fingers - press in, release, and then press again about 2-3 centimetres farther around each time. Keep this going slowly and steadily for three minutes.

3. Start circling
With your fingers anchored over the crest of her shoulders, position your thumbs on the muscles on each side of her spine and then circle downward over the muscles as far as your hands will stretch. (Never press directly on her spine.) Reverse direction and continue back up to the base of her skull.