Hi all
I have been following this thread since it started, and many others similar about glutes etc. and have to confess, I am one of those who was trained with a basic stomach routine (which I have since tried to greatly improve) and absolutely nothing above mid thigh. So, how do I learn to do a more effective massage, and as I massage a number of people, both men and women, who use the gym and run and clearly it would be beneficial to them.
Thanks
Love Melanie x
Hi all
I have been following this thread since it started, and many others similar about glutes etc. and have to confess, I am one of those who was trained with a basic stomach routine (which I have since tried to greatly improve) and absolutely nothing above mid thigh. So, how do I learn to do a more effective massage, and as I massage a number of people, both men and women, who use the gym and run and clearly it would be beneficial to them.
Well either find a CPD training that covers that area, or perhaps find someone who did do all-areas training and see if they'll coach you (maybe a swap?)
I've read with thread with a mix of horror and fascination. Although I no longer do body therapies, I trained in 1993, and we were blythly told to 'try not to touch the pubes' and other than female breasts, everything was covered. Or uncovered, as the case might be. I have a lasting memory of the tutor informing one shy woman that 'we were all Jock Tampson's bairns - no place for modesty here'. LOL. Although to be fair, we spent a lot of time on draping 'but no wafting the towel about lassie - firm and decisive!'
'we were all Jock Tampson's bairns'
Jock must get quite a bill from the Child Support Agency! 😮
Funnily enough I was at my class last night & was chatting with one of the other students (who incidentally doesn't actually believe Aroma works). She said how she hates doing the abdomen massage because she thinks it's "weird". Her actual comment was, "Why the hell do we have to learn to massage someone's stomach? If I was going for a massage I would never dream of asking for it. I think people who want it done are just... well... a bit weird."
It boggles my mind why half of the sudents have paid a hefty sum to do this course when this is their attitude.
The main course tutor on my course told us that the majority of her work at her local hospital is abdomen work, for relieving constipation/sluggish digestive systems, for patients who are lying down all day and need a boost to their peristalsis. Makes sense to me! I can see that might be a stretch if your own vision of massage is purely for relaxation/pampering in a pretty health spa/salon, but the environment that I see myself working in is more therapeutic.
I have found lots of people on the Holistic Massage element of my course are just doing it for 'something to do', and not taking it that seriously, not putting the practise in outside class, and thus giving thoroughly pants (pardon the pun) massage to fellow students while in class! There only seemed to be a few of us who had our heads screwed on and wanted to make a career out of this.
Looking at some of the comments, I've clearly been very lucky to have great tutors at a thoroughly professional school.
@ Richard - please let us know if VTCT respond 😀
I have found lots of people on the Holistic Massage element of my course are just doing it for 'something to do', and not taking it that seriously, not putting the practise in outside class, and thus giving thoroughly pants (pardon the pun) massage to fellow students while in class! There only seemed to be a few of us who had our heads screwed on and wanted to make a career out of this.
I think it's not only the 'something to do' thing but also a fantasy that massage is all nice and fluffy - sort of like a soft-focus film of stroking a little kitten (no hidden pun intended :D) in a summer meadow full of flowers and butterflies. Faced with the reality of flesh - eeugh! They recoil. I guess there may be a genuine desire to connect with others in some way - but for such people skin-on-skin is probably not best for them.
I think it's not only the 'something to do' thing but also a fantasy that massage is all nice and fluffy - sort of like a soft-focus film of stroking a little kitten (no hidden pun intended :D) in a summer meadow full of flowers and butterflies. Faced with the reality of flesh - eeugh! They recoil. I guess there may be a genuine desire to connect with others in some way - but for such people skin-on-skin is probably not best for them.
Definetely agree there. Also another reason massage therapists don't practice...........the realities of that nasty,nasty,nasty thing
dare I say....:eek:
those words.......
business acumen 😉
Patchouli
business acumen 😉
Patchouli
Should be ashamed of yourself, using dirty language like that. :nono:
Business acumen? Now that is a perversion!
Whatever happened to love n light, angels, cosmic ordering direct (every little bit helps..)?
Business acumen? Now that is a perversion!
ooooeeerrr Pixie!!! I am too old for that carry on 😮
Whatever happened to love n light, angels, cosmic ordering direct (every little bit helps..)?
And I try to practice them all.......just not all of them at the same time :043:
Nah seriously guys, if I had a £ for all the people who have come through the door wanting to do massage (but don't like exerting themselves, get a bit hot from hard work or have the time and effort to market themselves) I would be very rich indeed.
Patchouli
You're right, Patchouli. When I first trained in massage, our tutor actually said if you think that being a professional massage therapist is all sweetness and light - think again. He really did try and inject some reality into people's thinking. I wonder how many organisations are actually that honest?
Hi all,
Sorry not been on the forum for a while and boy has this thread got bigger 🙂
As I said earlier on I am quite happy to massage clients nakid and undraped but can be looked upon in disgust by other therapies. Then reading further comments has only highlighted this by being likened to a prostitute:confused:. This really does make me sad as all I want to do is provide the best MASSAGE service for my clients and if they feel more comfortable undraped then so be it. As others have said the human body is not something to be ashamed of or thought of as nasty and disgusting to touch and this country is very backward in the way the body is viewed. As I said in my previous post I do have a line I will not cross, I massage high up into the thigh and groin area, buttocks and stomach but will not massage the genital area. I find these areas really important to massage especially if the client does a lot of sports and also if the client sits down a lot for their job (get alot of taxi drivers and they find such a relief in having their glutes done). I do appreciate you can get some guys wanting a bit more and I have had my fair share of these calls but you learn to deal with them and move on to people who genuinaly want your help.
I hope that the genuine client out their finds the therapist most suited to their needs (and in doing so is not branded as a pervert) and therapists I hope you all attract the type of clients you want to treat and all is well with your businesses and harmony and balance prevails in the universe.
Love and Light
Karen
Agelic Reiki Master and Holistic Practitioner
xxx
Hi All
I have been reading this thread with absolute fascination. It does of course overlap into other earlier threads.
Once upon a time I discovered massage and enjoyed it. I therefore experimented with different massage styles and therapists. I disovered that some therapies either encouraged or required nudity - but would compromise if I was not comfortable with that. It was/is fine with me.
I then discovered that some therapies/therapists included longer whole of body movements in their routines which only really worked with a nude body.
Once upon a time i discovered that I liked masage so much that I wanted to learn how to do it myself. I was lucky that I did not go to a college course but had 1 to 1 lessons from a lovely tutor who (almost) required nudity. So I learned massage with none of the strange shame of the human body that has been reflected in this threads headline. I have subsequently learned to massage with drapes but it was not how I was taught. And as far as my biased views are concerned you get a far better massage if there is nothing in the way. And if you are seeking to avoid certain bits ! it is far easier if you can see what you are doing.
But the really sad thing is I must be a sexual pervert because when i am discussing massage with others, either with a view to arranging an exchange, or just to receive I am scared stiff of expressing my views about massage and nudity/underwear/drapes and worst of all what bits will be included or excluded. So I dare not ask over the phone.
I do explore these issues when face to face and seem to have got away with that so far.
And if any of you are looking at the swaps thread, I will not impose my beliefs on you, I will work to the lowest ( or is it highest) common denominator - if you want me/you to wear undies and/or be draped as well so be it. if you want to give or receive a lower quality massage that is your choice. But I would like to feel free to ask questions and express my own views without being labelled as a sexual pervert#
Pistols at dawn on Saturday morning - if the trains or motorways to teh duelling gerounds are open