Nuru massage at home: set-up, mess control and the routine

Nuru is body-to-body massage on a thick seaweed gel. Done right it is extraordinary; done wrong it is a slippery puddle on your floor. Preparation is 80% of it.

Shopping list

• Nuru gel: 250 ml concentrate makes about 1 litre, enough for one session for two.
• Inflatable air mattress or a vinyl sheet with raised edges.
• Large waterproof sheet under everything, towels around it.
• Bowl of warm water, a jug, and a shower within walking distance.

Set-up

Mix gel with warm water 1:1 and let it rest; it thickens as it stands. Warm the room: wet skin loses heat fast. Both people shower first; the gel works best on clean, warm skin.

Technique

1. The giver applies gel to themselves first, then to the receiver.
2. Start with hands only, long gliding strokes, to spread the gel.
3. Move to forearms, then the whole front of the body, sliding lengthwise along the receiver's back.
4. Re-wet with warm water whenever the glide fades; never add dry gel.

Clean-up

Nuru gel is water-based: it rinses off with plain water and will not stain. Hose the sheet down in the shower and hang it to dry.