it is one of my favourite parts of my body to have massaged now 😀
Pervert! 😀
Seriously though, Luke makes a good point about sexualising massage. What I try to teach my students if you go into massage as a career, you need to get used to dealing with the naked body, its what we are trained to do! If you start treating the naked body as something to be hidden away, then who is the one being unprofessional?
Yes we all have personal choice and preference, but surely massage therapists cant be shy??
Mikeoc maybe the girl that left your course, was the same one that left mine, because she had been told by a body massage tutor not to massage abs, and I had told her that it was part of our syllabus, and if she wouldnt do it, she wouldnt be able to pass the course. She actually left, after paying a couple of thousands of pounds, rather than massage a guys abdomen, in case he got an erection.....even when we covered the guys groin with an extra towel, she just wouldnt do it...and she was adamant that it was because her body massage tutor had told her not to.....its crazy! 😮
Anyone for a tummy tickle? 😉
So who is sexualising the treatment? Not the client!
In my experience massage with pants is always pants:eek:
I want my body massaged not my pants; that's why draping was invented.
If you do a baby massage will you insist it wear a nappy?
It's appalling to label someone a pervert for asking to be naked during a massage.
It's perverted to expect a paying client to wear clothing during a massage unless the client themselves feels more comfortable that way.
But as usual it's not about the client, it's about the therapists comfort and cash.
I honestly don't know why some people train in massage, I mean you actually have to touch their body ooh yuk.
Not having a go at you specifically just some of the received (un)wisdom that gets trotted out about people.
I agree with everything you are saying there, and its a shame that some therapists make us all look unprofessional. Im all for personal choice, but to call people perverts is totally appalling.
Feel like I'm turning into some crotchety old bag who keeps banging on about the good old days but back in the 90's a big part of our ITEC training was towel technique which allowed you to massage a naked client - including glutes - without catching an eyeful of anything embarrassing.
Actually think there are fewer perves around now as maybe they have more options and I await with interest the first legal case if someone tries to put a database on line. Just hope it's not my membership fees will have to pay the cost.
PS Great clip Richard!
Jx
Agree with you, Mike - many people carry a huge amount of tension in their glutes, so to avoid this area is just madness. Would love to have someone from VTCT/ITEC comment on this tutor!
Out of curiosity I emailed ITEC re: this list of perverts and worrying clients and this is what I got back this morning.
Dear J W
Thank you for your e-mail.
I can confirm that the information that has been reiterated to you is however incorrect.
Kind regards
Vicky L Dolan
Administration Assistant
So there you have it, no list will be made 🙂
PS Great clip Richard!
Jx
Isn't it just! 😀
So there you have it, no list will be made 🙂
Hardly surprising - it's an unworkable idea that could only ever end up in a court case that ITEC would certainly lose.
Hardly surprising - it's an unworkable idea that could only ever end up in a court case that ITEC would certainly lose.
As I mentioned earlier, how will they get these peoples details anyway !
As I mentioned earlier, how will they get these peoples details anyway !
I bet someone somewhere will suggest that we need compulsory state-controlled registration for potential massage clients. 😮
So who is sexualising the treatment? Not the client!
It's obvious that different people have a different understanding of what massage is. Quite often the client is confused about massage and why they're having a massage. Yes, I know there are meny that have had hundreds of massages and it's just like going for a hair cut. But there are those who arrive, and are not sure if they want a relaxing massage, or want general or specific aches and pains dealt with.
Therefore as a massage therapist, it's essential to understand the client's need before starting the massage. If they are there for anything but massage, then they are on their way out of the door. Fortunately those clients are always filtered at the phone call / booking stage.
In my experience massage with pants is always pants:eek:
I don't think many clients what to remove their pants for a shoulder massage. Equally it would look a bit strange on a sports field if a footballer as asked to remove his pants in front of the crowd to massage his hamstrings. 😮
I want my body massaged not my pants; that's why draping was invented.
There are meny forms of massage, both direct and indirect that are devised to be applied through clothes. A massage therapist has a range of techiques that they can use, and they use the most appropriate technique.
It's appalling to label someone a pervert for asking to be naked during a massage.
This is true, but nudity should not be expected or forced. Massage should be effective and maintain the clients dignity. Nudity is a client's preference, not a prerequisite of massage. Therefore if you want to be naked while you're being massaged, then seek out a massage therapist that provides that service. A therapist should never be bullied into thinking that they are doing wrong for not massaging naked clients.
It's perverted to expect a paying client to wear clothing during a massage unless the client themselves feels more comfortable that way.
Incorrect, it depends on the type of massage. I can just imagine some onsite massage service expecting their clients to be unclothed. When was the last time you went through a airport? Do you see all the clients there naked? No, it's all about application and what is right for that application.
But as usual it's not about the client, it's about the therapists comfort and cash.
I honestly don't know why some people train in massage, I mean you actually have to touch their body ooh yuk.
I think the vast majority go into massage because of the client, it's certainly not the easiest way of making money. After overheads the hourly rate is actually quite poor. But it's probably the same for many occupations and professions, many turn out to be different from what people expect. Massage is no different, especially with so many routes into training and work.
Not having a go at you specifically just some of the received (un)wisdom that gets trotted out about people.
One thing this massage forum highlights time after time, many have their own definition of massage or pre-conceived ideas. There is a risk of working in isolation after receiving minimal training, which in turn will feed anxieties and fears.
The truth is, there will never be a "pervert" database for reasons explained in other posts. It doesn't matter what massage you do, there will be always some client who wants to take advantage. But at least they can be weeded out at the phone stage. But we as massage therapists have a responsibility to give a quality service that treats all areas of the body within the bounds of common decency.
If you work mobile or isolated from home, make sure you follow the security advice from you PAs. Don't let 3rd hand stories ruin your experience of what is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding professions available.
HTH,
Myarka
Feel like I'm turning into some crotchety old bag who keeps banging on about the good old days but back in the 90's a big part of our ITEC training was towel technique which allowed you to massage a naked client - including glutes - without catching an eyeful of anything embarrassing.
Jx
That's a technique I have been taught over the past few months. I don't care whether people wear pants/ knickers or not, I can handle the towels so that I dont expose them/catch an eyeful either way.
So Tuliplady's tutor is telling her and her fellow students that massage of the glutes will give men erections, and that there's a database of 'known-perverts' in the making to help out massage therapists... which we know isn't true... sounds like this tutor needs to be reported for incompetency!
Sportstherapy - I actually think it was equally that the girl who left was uncomfortable with having her own glutes massaged, as well as massaging someone else's. At that point, I had never had mine done before, and neither had the majority of people in the class, but you get over it. I've now worked on the glutes of everyone in my class, and they have on mine, and it's not an issue in the slightest. Interestingly, most of the girls in the class had more of an issue with having their abdomens massaged than their glutes.
Crazy world we live in. Glutes massage causes an erection, how invented this idea??? When I used to work in FE, I once filled in for a holistic massage colleague for a particular session, and I said, "Right girls I'm going to show you how to do massage on the glutes!" Because I knew that they won't being taught that. Since I never did ITEC/VTCT Massage, I don't have such protocol issues.
As for ST & Mike's comments about the student not wanting to massage the abs, I think that she has a personal issue.
I'm planning in December to study Chi Nei Tsang Abdominal Massage. Be interesting to see what the tutor says about the subject of erections.
RP
Since I never did ITEC/VTCT Massage, I don't have such protocol issues.
I did the VTCT Swedish massage course 2 years ago and we we taught to do glutes, thighs and abdomens. I can remember very well the tutor gabbing the student's hands and putting it where she thought the student was avoiding.
So I don't think the course is at fault.
Myarka
Yes you are right there Myarka, it does depend upon the course tutor, but many of these types of formal courses are run by tutors that are very glute-unfriendly. You were the luckily one!
Best Wishes
RP
I think helps having massage taught in the Sport & Fitness faculty and not in the Hair, Beauty & Holistics faculty.
But I might get flamed for saying that, even though I own a hair & beauty salon.
Myarka.