QUOTE : Be forewarned—the most common error is to rub too fast. It must be a slow, steady, deep rub. And don’t make the mistake of changing the direction of the rub in the middle of a contraction, even though your arm may feel tired. You will get an instant cranky reaction. The laboring woman is acutely aware of the minutest details (even though she may not seem to be), and a sudden shift in direction is sure to distract her attention from relaxation. Be sure your rubbing motion is steady and rhythmic, with no jerky, uneven movements. A sloppy back rub may be even more disturbing to the laboring woman than the backache. She senses the coach is tired and not doing a thorough and careful job. She may also feel annoyed because he seems to lack empathy for the intensity of the sensations she is feeling. So to get the back rub right, it will be necessary to practice. It is a little like an isometric exercise, and you may be surprised at how hard she will want you to push. One coach said we should have told him to practice by rubbing a brick wall.