Hi all
Just wanted to get some thoughts on this.
Have had mixed feedback from therapists, some say that they can perform the massage just as well on a mattress and that in London it's much easier for them not to have to carry a table and get it on the tube. Others say the table is essential.
As far as customers go, many of our customers are men who are extremely shy about going to a spa or salon, so they prefer the discretion of not having someone with a table at their door.
Do people think a table is an absolute essential?
As a therapist, yes, a table is essential. I strongly believe it provides an element of professionalism. 30% of my business is mobile. I make exceptions for palliative care, elderly and disabled clients, and will treat them on their own beds, but only if they are adjustable and enable the client to be elevated to a safe working height. I no longer offer home visits to people who live in flats with no lift access.
However, if therapists are confident to offer treatments to clients without the paraphernalia required, then that is their choice - but long term, will their backs cope? As for chaps preferring discretion???? Really?????
As a therapist, yes, a table is essential. I strongly believe it provides an element of professionalism. 30% of my business is mobile. I make exceptions for palliative care, elderly and disabled clients, and will treat them on their own beds, but only if they are adjustable and enable the client to be elevated to a safe working height. I no longer offer home visits to people who live in flats with no lift access.
However, if therapists are confident to offer treatments to clients without the paraphernalia required, then that is their choice - but long term, will their backs cope? As for chaps preferring discretion???? Really?????
Yes, really. You'd be surprised.
Thanks for the reply.
Discretion? FFS I'm glad I don't live in London! Sorry can't help chuckling 
As a massage therapist trained to work with a chair, table/couch, and futon mat, I have no problem using want ever support that is needed to get the job done right. Working on or near ground level by learning techniques like Thai massage is easy to perform and done correctly is very beneficial for the therapists posture.
Unless a client is disabled, personally I wouldn't work on a bed. The surface isn't generally firm enough, harder to get around the client, plus a question mark about professional boundaries. If the therapist say they need a couch to do their job, then they need a couch. The needs of the therapist in this case is more important than the clients shyness. I think you have a duty of care in looking after your staff.
Discretion? FFS I'm glad I don't live in London! Sorry can't help chuckling
As a massage therapist trained to work with a chair, table/couch, and futon mat, I have no problem using want ever support that is needed to get the job done right. Working on or near ground level by learning techniques like Thai massage is easy to perform and done correctly is very beneficial for the therapists posture.
Unless a client is disabled, personally I wouldn't work on a bed. The surface isn't generally firm enough, harder to get around the client, plus a question mark about professional boundaries. If the therapist say they need a couch to do their job, then they need a couch. The needs of the therapist in this case is more important than the clients shyness. I think you have a duty of care in looking after your staff.
Hi all
Just wanted to get some thoughts on this.
Have had mixed feedback from therapists, some say that they can perform the massage just as well on a mattress and that in London it's much easier for them not to have to carry a table and get it on the tube. Others say the table is essential.
As far as customers go, many of our customers are men who are extremely shy about going to a spa or salon, so they prefer the discretion of not having someone with a table at their door.
Do people think a table is an absolute essential?
I massage without a table when I go out to customers or use an inflatable mat on the floor I find it easy to massage on the bed also the body doesn't sink into the bed and don't find it softer or harder to do I am slim and agile so can move around easy on floor or bed
And yes men do say they don't want you turning up with a table outside the door they want you to be discreet
If the men want you to be discreet, then I'd be concerned as to whether they really want a massage or have other ideas, and certainly be concerned about going to their bedroom to use the bed.
As a man, I would have no problem with a therapist turning up with a couch for any treatment (though I could save them the trouble as I have my own 
)
If the men want you to be discreet, then I'd be concerned as to whether they really want a massage or have other ideas, and certainly be concerned about going to their bedroom to use the bed.
As a man, I would have no problem with a therapist turning up with a couch for any treatment (though I could save them the trouble as I have my own
I understand the point you're trying to make, and it is valid, but that doesn't mean that ALL men have the same thing in mind. I know that for many it's more of a macho thing, ie. getting a massage is a sort of girly way of pampering yourself. Also, I think that some could also worry that their neighbours might assume they're having an erotic massage or using a sexual service. I can see why discretion is valued as well.
I think it depends on the area they live in because of their neighbours (twitching curtains) etc they don't all ask that but also some may have broken up from relationship or wife and neighbours tell tales this is what I have been told
Also some people live in the dark ages and don't associate it as being a therapy
I also don't have a car but if you want to do something you can't let obstacles stop you
I live in a city and have a great transport network and this is how I do it for now
I know the couches are quite bulky to carry around, but some of them are extremely lightweight (though they do cost a little more)
I do actually have one and if requested take it
Hardly ever requested though
And clients have always been happy
I worked as a mobile therapist in the UK for 8 years and almost always used my table. I found for deep tissue massage i needed that firmer surface and for some of the moves i was doing i need to be able to fully get around the table in order to work most effectively.
I did some massage courses in London with fellow therapists and they all complained about not wanting to travel on the tube with their tables because they were bulky and inconvenient. It must be a pain travelling on the tube with them and i know my couch is light weight but it's still pretty heavy after carrying for a short period.
All my clients liked the table and some commented on how they had mobile treatments previously where the person didn't use a table and used the bed or a mattress on the floor and they personally hadn't liked it.
As for men and discretion, i also agree with this. Quite a few of my male clients had a mobile therapist as they didn't feel comfortable going in to spas and clients would often comment on how the neighbours were watching out to see me arrive!