Top to Toe

[SmartSpark]

On the second visit I made to the therapist I’ve now been seeing for a good 18months, I had what she calls a top to toe treatment. Since the first time I experienced it, virtually all but a couple of the treatments I’ve had from her have been the top to toe treatment she does, or an abridged version of it. It’s based around a full body Swedish massage, but it also has elements of Reflexology as she does my feet, plus elements of Indian Head massage as she does my head and face too, she also does all of my arms and my hands. The whole experience is very relaxing and makes sure that any knots or tight muscles get found and worked upon. I’m male, my therapist is female and while drapes are used I undress fully for the treatment.

Yes there are questions in this post, but; let me detail the treatment I receive so there is a baseline and relevant context to them - should you want to respond to any of the questions at the end.

Let’s start with the recipient on their back as that’s how the treatment, that I have, starts.

A thorough foot massage first.

Next its legs with thighs treated to the top of all muscle groups on outer, front and inner thighs with the abductors being fully treated.

Having finished on my legs, the stomach is the next area to be treated and a line just below where the waist band of my underwear would sit defines the lower limit, with the upper limit being the start of my rib cage.

Arms are next with hands also treated at this point before the shoulders and neck are treated.

Some gentle pressure point treatment on the face before some gentle treatment on my scalp that, if I’m not already, puts me into that wonderful state that is a shade away from being completely asleep.

Having turned over, my therapist uncovers one side of me at a time, so she can work on the back of one leg, one buttock and one side of my back. When treating the thighs during this part, the inner thighs not accessible from the front are fully treated, as is each buttock in turn.

After working on each side from legs to back, the back is then fully treated in its own right, with the movements extending down to the top of the gluteus muscle group.

Shoulders and neck are then treated, before further gentle treatment of my head finishes off with me once more a shade away from being completely asleep.

I feel that I'm very fortunate to be able to benefit and enjoy what I consider to be a very extensive massage that; because of it's thoroughness, I find more relaxing than the massages I experienced before from therapists who were not so thorough.

Ok, on to the questions ...

Therapists:
If you were to, or do provide, a top to toe treatment like that outlined above, what would/do you consider appropriate boundaries and why do you consider them to be at the point you do, rather than a different point?

If the areas you treat are different for male/female clients due to them being the same/different sex to you, why do you treat each sex differently?

Recipients:
Do you find that, the more thorough the massage, the more relaxing it is, or vice versa?

[SmartSpark]

Seems no one is much interested in discussing the questions posed at the end of my topic opening post.

Maybe the comment I saw elsewhere about the site being next to dead is not that far from being the case.

[Energylz]

Originally Posted by SmartSpark

Seems no one is much interested in discussing the questions posed at the end of my topic opening post.

Maybe the comment I saw elsewhere about the site being next to dead is not that far from being the case.

Perhaps your question placed too many limitations on who should answer:

If you were to, or do provide, a top to toe treatment like that outlined above

i.e. not that many people do, or consider they will, provide a top to toe treatment.

Just a thought.

All Love and Reiki Hugs

[Jabba The Hut]

I've read through your OP several times, and have to say that I can't actually understand one of the questions. You have given a detailed description of sequences known to every massage therapist who has trained in Swedish Massage.

I do not understand your question about 'boundaries' so will pass on that one.

I do not discriminate between male or female clients - they all get treatment relevant to their demands. It is entirely up to them as to whether they prefer treatment wearing minimal clothing or none at all (I trained in Germany where any underwear during treatments is rare and also in the USA where most will not take it off!)

It sounds as if you have found the perfect therapist for your needs - lucky you!

And, as a client (I make sure I get a treatment at least once a month) and depending on what treatment I have opted for, I have total trust in my therapist(s) and just lie back and enjoy it - it's always thorough, never rushed, and I'm reluctant to leave.

[coolhandluke]

I don't find it necessary to have a full body massage to relax fully as described by OP.

Just as reflexology treats the whole body by relating parts of the body to areas of the feet a relaxing effect can be engendered by working on specific areas of the body and excluding others.

One of the best massages I have had was feet, calves, forearms, hands, scalp, face, neck and back. I felt more relaxed than many full body massages because of the tempo and skill of the massager.

I have seen adverts from masseuses who state they will not massage men's abdomens but will for women. I don't go to them, I like a confident masseuse who can cope with men's bodies if I want a full body massage.

[SmartSpark]

Originally Posted by Jabba The Hut

I do not understand your question about 'boundaries' so will pass on that one.

This was in reference to where therapists consider the limit when treating various parts of the client, for example when treating the legs do you stop half way up the thighs or treat the whole of the thighs, or whether you treat a male clients' abdomen and buttocks if appropriate for the treatment.

Originally Posted by Jabba The Hut

It sounds as if you have found the perfect therapist for your needs - lucky you!

Obviously I am very happy with the therapist whose top to toe treatment I used as an example, but like most things in life, improvements are often possible and over the last three months or so I've been seeing another therapist and I am quite likely going to see them on an alternating basis and may even make the new therapist my regular therapist.

Just when you think you have found exactly what you want, something can often transpire and allow you to find something even better!