Anyone else doing THIS?

[`??????]

A fellow practitioner introduced me to this during a massage swap (some of the BEST "education" you can get!). Has anyone else tried this?

It is called VSD (Visual Sensory Deprevation) and it is massage with the client blindfolded. It is based on the idea that one's other senses increase when any one sense is not functioning, like the fact that blind people have an increased sense of smell and hearing.

I found that after a couple of sessions where I wore a blindfold while being massaged, I "think" it actually heightens the sensation of being touched. I think one can sort of "train" themself to increase the relaxation gained from this. I have been offering this to my clients while they have their complimentary glass of wine and complete my intake form. Nearly all of them try it and almost everyone says they like it and will use the blindfold from now on. I do.

If anyone knows of a source for cheap (preferably disposable) blindfolds - sometimes called "sleeping masks" or similar - please let me know.

Feedback? Anyone else with unique ideas to swap?

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have massages before where the therapist uses an eye pillow (essentially a rectangular bean bag) when you turn over. A folded tissue placed on the eyes and then the eye pillow on top. It feels very nice and I do occasionally use them for some clients if needed. The extra weight of the pillow on the eyes is very comforting.

Mat xxx

 

[Professor]

Hi Mike[/align][/align]I have used cucumber slices over the eyes from time to time which does a similar sort of thing, a lot of people do keep their eyes closed during massage but no I had not thought of using a blindfold, I did look at those things that you put in the cool box to place over the eyes but they where a bit cost inhibitive for general use but I thought they would have a therapeutic benefit in their own way.[/align]

 

[fntqelaf]

Sounds like a good idea, but were you joking about the wine during the consultation? Alchohol is a contraindication to massage and other holistic therapies and not very helpful in the detox process!

Lesley

 

[LedGailia]

Sounds like a good idea during a therapy swap with a friend, but may be a little strange in a commercial situation.............I can't imaging suggesting to the therapist the idea of me wearing a blindfold

I'm not sure what I would do if the Therapist suggested a blindfold!!

strangely the cucumber sounds like a better idea, for women at least, as long as it is in slices!! (LOL)

Cheers

KB

 

[jay k]

Sorry, I'm not going to bring something commonly associated with traumatic bondage or sex play into my treatment room.

Why is a blindfold necessary? Clientsshut their eyes anyway and once they flip and are in the facecradle they can't see anything if they tried.I do offer an eye pillow, just as Fozzio described. It has rice and lavender inside and the light weight is pleasant, especially if there was a headache involved when they arrived. But a blindfold?

And what's this about offering WINE before a MASSAGE?[sm=nono.gif] Surely you are joking...alcohol and drugs before a session area well-known contraindication every serious therapist is aware of. That one glass of wine has the effect of three after a good massage. Triple tipsy + regular fuzzy-brain most clients have post-session= a huge liability foryou as they try to drive safely home.

 

[Toxic Panduh]

During the no NO HANDS course they teach you to put a towel over the face of the recipient until you get to the face massage.. haven't done it since the course but think I shall - I found it strange but very calming, I'd feel a blindfold is a bit intrusive and faffy but the small towel worked well, you can really tune into the treatment instead of the glare of lights - mind you I'm normally flat out by this point.

 

[Benjoov]

for practicemetta
where did you get your 'eye' pillow from sounds really nice with rice and lavender in it?
i too agree about the acohol - naughty acohol , then blindfold - hmmmm what next.....not my 'cup of tea' sorry

 

[Roandiday]

Think most massage or spa supply houses sell these for around $11. Just look for an item called an "eye pillow".Instead ofusing a tissue Isewed a dozen or so little velour covers for mine.

I'm with you: offering first wine, then a blindfold...it just doesn't set the scene for legitimate therapuetic bodywork, sorry. We have enough problems with people confusingourprofession with that of sex workers without deliberately blurring the lines ourselves...

 

[Fake and Cake]

I had a strange experience during my aromatherapy case studies with a woman I had never met before. I'd never given any thought before to whether or not clients keep their eyes shut during massage - most of themjust do. But when I turned this woman on to her back, I had an odd feeling of discomfort... was she watching me, did she have her eyes shut? I didn't look, but shrugged off the feeling.
At the end, she told me she had had an odd feeling herself: she hadn't wanted to close her eyes, but she didn't want to make eye contact with me while I was working on her either. She said she had felt cocooned while on her front with her face in the cradle, but on her back she had felt exposed (though obviously not literally!). So she asked if I had ever thought of offering a blindfold to clients.
Well, the answer was obviously no. She suggested I should keep one handy, but it seemed an odd idea to me. And, interestingly, she came back for her three further treatments and never mentioned it again.

 

[staffieredspain]

Thanks all......very interesting comments.

Some should consider trying it on themselves sometime before dismissing it.

Yes.....the wine for the client is a joke ( and please don't call me "Surely" - it's spelled "Shirley" )..............I drink the whole bottle before they arrive anyway! Although, as to wine and health, I guesssome missed the lesson on "The French Paradox".

"Bondage / sex play"? Wow! Just when I thought I had heard about everything possible on this site.

kenb.......Loved the cucumber bit!!

Cheers all!

 

[Pompal 09.]

oh yeah, now you claim you inserted the offering of wine as a joke in what you purport to be a serious thread... Too bad it's not likely at this point that anyone is going to take anything youclaim seriously.

 

[Jara-Lee]

I guess it is American humor!

 

[Manikant]

The only way we grow is to try new things. They were offering chair massages with oxygen masks in Sydney Airport when I went throught there recently. Hey, if you're comfortable, your clients like it and it's not contraindicated, then why not try? You might just hit on the next big thing.

This was addressed to no-one in particular.

Warm regards everyone

Henry

 

[Curtis]

From a client point of view, it's really nice and soothing to have something over one's eyes. My therapist simply wets with cool water two of those cotton pads you use to remove your make up, and presses them gently over my eyes. It feels wonderful, and if your client is an allergic soul who gets sore eyes then I think they will really appreciate it. Cucumber is lovely, but the slightest move and it will probably slide off.

As for semantics, blindfold does sound a bit dodgy whereas eye mask doesn't.

 

[M.O.A.B]

I've been blindfolded by a German therapist, and personally I found the blindfold slightly restrictive (even though I normally have my eyes closed when I am being massaged face up). And one point which was made on a recent CPD course which I attended was that the therapist should normally be looking at the client's face while massaging a supine client: firstly so that the therapist can notice any indication of wincing if the pressure is too firm for the client, and secondly so that if the client's eyes are open, the client can be reassured that the therapist isn't looking anywhere inappropriate !

Alan

 

[Destiny Surdyk]

[align=left]You can find disposable blindfolds at www.disposamask.com
They have airline style sleep masks and paper blindfolds.
[/align]