starting on strangers

Presumably you mean how long after completing our training?

I was 'comfortable' straight away, if a bit nervous. I knew I was doing it right, though not as well as I would be with practice. And I assumed that, since they had booked a massage with me, they wanted me to touch them!!

I would never give a massage to a stranger, that would be rude. I'd at least ask their name first!

Okay, joking aside, one does get there gently, meeting them and discussing their health means that very quickly we are interested in their situation and how to help them, and once they know we are not an axe murderer they are eager to find out what we can do for them. Take too long and the awkwardness just returns. So say hi, get the info, and get on with it.

Doctors do far more worrying things on even less acquaintance, that's what people go to them for. It would just be strange if they first offered tea and biscuits and showed us their family photo album.

Hah! Thanks, guys, that's helpful. I'll write down what you've said.

Derek - actually, no, it's during training as well - I'm trying to get some volunteers lined up, but some of em will be strangers to me. Not ideal, I know, but inevitable.

Have you ever given someone a massage and felt they're hating it? NO reflection on you or your skills, just my worst case scenario here ... In fact, think I'll post that on separate thread.

Cheers x

Hi Cinammon.

So long as the 'strangers' know you are training and they are being used for practice purposes, i can't see there'd be a problem.

Lots of people will jump at the chance of a free massage, even with a trainee!

For me massage is all about intent. If your real intention is to bring about positive change, they feel that before you even put your hands on them. If on the other hand you are just going through the motions, they will feel that too.

i really reach out to people during history taking, hard to explain, you kind of become part of them for a while. For me there are few things better than having my hands on people.

So, if you're truly in the right frame of mind, with clear intent, they will love it!

I started treating strangers during my training - probably from about 6 weeks in to my course. The first time was a bit strange but after that it was fine. I actually preferred working on people I didn't know than on those I did during training as I felt self conscious with my friends/family. It was also better to have case studies I didn't know first as there was potential that they would become clients once I qualified which did happen with two of my case studies.

They won't mind you touching them - after all they have come for a massage and knows what it entails so I wouldn't worry about that aspect of things.