Full Body Massage

[DennisH (No emotions)..]

I had a full body massage yesterday and I loved it, it released alot of tension i didnt even realise i had... but i was a little disappointed.

I start my massage and A & P course in May so I only have knowledge of the treatments i've had...

The massage was a full hour for full body, but she didnt massage my feet, abdomen, head or face - last time i had a full body at a different place it included all of these. I must say the massage I had yesterday was alot better than the other one i had but i did leave feeling a little disappointed.

Is this normal for a full body to exclude the areas i mentioned?

 

[alvin]

hi emma,[/align][/align]thing is, if you go to a salon or clinic or spa, the treatments are booked so back to back that the therapist cannot spend more than an hour, and after all, thats what you paid for.[/align][/align]maybe you had more time spent on your back and shoulders as these may have been problem areas? did the therapist say anything, like, i need to work more on these tense areas but i may not be able to do such and such?[/align][/align]i would be extremely disappointed if my feet and head were left out, as i consider those to be my fave bits for massage (with back). abdomen i am not bothered about, tbh.[/align][/align]when i worked in that sort of environment, i would do a full body, and explain quite clearly to the client that the areas of tension that needed more work, could not be dealt with in an hour's FBM session. its all to do with communication.[/align][/align]there is also the question of the therapists training. maybe they dont know how to do those bits? because there are so many courses available now, like reflex and indian head, maybe during training those bits are left out on the basis that the therapist then has to do more learning. quite wrong, imo.[/align]next time, go to a therapist that is either working from home or even mobile. it'll be cheaper, i would think, and possibly better, as the time element can be more flexible.[/align][/align] [/align]

 

[Papa Alpha Oscar]

Hi Emma

I'm certainly not an expert (and still in training myself) but my full body massages have always included those areas as a matter of course UNLESS our consultation has thrown up a few areas we need to miss because of specific contraindications or not wishing a particular area to be touched, because of a client's preference. It's usual practice to explain to a new client exactly what you will be doing anyway before they hop on the couch (after all, it can be a very scary experience - as all new experiences can be!).
[sm=nature-smiley-008.gif]
If you are going to return (as you liked the massage in general) why don't you ask them? No need to be shy ... after all, this service is purely for your enjoyment, regardless of whether you were a paying client or a willing case study/guinea pig

Bright blessings
Moonpoppy

[sm=sandrine.gif]

 

[John C]

Oh no i was a paying client though their leaflet just said full body so thats what i expected. Next time i think i will have an aromatherapy massage or hot stones.

 

[Martika39]

Hi Emma

I am currently doing a holistic therapy course at college and we have been taught two quite different routines for the swedish massage and the aromatherapy massage. The swedish massage isaround 1hr 5 mins and doesn't include the face or head but does include a very small amount of work on the feet and ankles. The aromatherapy massage is about 1hr 15 mins, is a much gentler massage and covers everything, a little bit more on the feet and finishing off with a lovely facial and scalp massage.

I was wondering whether the previous massage you had was an aromatherapy one and this one was swedish. Hope this helps.

Sandra
x

 

[sbinlb]

The treatments that I do usually include these areas, unless a client specifically asks me not to do them, although I do see one massage therapist who tells me that she would need an hour and a half to cover the whole body.

However, with a new client, after the consultation I always run through the areas that I'm going to massage and ask them if they're happy with that. Then there are no misunderstandings.

Lesley

 

[The Great & Powerful Oz]

Yes sandra the other massage was aromatherapy - so i guess thats the difference then.

What didnt impress me was that there was no consultation, she just asked if i had any aches or pains. I filled in a consultation form 3 months ago when i first went to the place for a completely different treatment. But things couldve changed, icould have been pregnant or had recent health concerns, lucky non of them applied but I think when i qualify i will always do a quick consultation on returning clients - do you agree?

 

[musicismyhottsexx]

I would have to agree with ro§ie - from my experience (and inevitable dissapointment each time) with massages in beauty salons and spas, I would try to find a practitioner who is mobile or self employed, or a member of a particular organisation eg I trained at theCMHschool and they have there own body - Massage Institute of Great Britain.You can only be a member if you've trained there so you knowthose on the registerhave been taught exeptional massage.

I could run off a list of problems I've had with salon massages, but it would take too long! As a therapist I always 'quizz' therapists who are treating me and try to find out what training they have done etc and 10/10 times so farthey are beauty therapists that have one 1-2days on massage. As a qualified massage therapist I feel that somehow there should be a separation between this 'massage' and that of a qualified massage therapist. Maybe one day!

Personally, when I do a FBM I do everything includingchest and neck and certainly feet (which i wipe first - I was horrified when I had a massage before xmas and she massaged them without cleaning them!). Abdomen optional for women, for men I substitute this with a head or face massage. I only include a full face massage and head massage in a 1hr 30 or more massage.

I would ALWAYS have a little update chat with clients before each visit, and make sure you make notes after the massage to keep a brief record. Again, salons appear to not do this and the only saving thing is that I know what's contraindicated etc so know if I'm ok to be massaged. The scary thing is that often the general public who go to these salons don't!

 

[Smileycourt]

Interesting thread.
I explain to the client after their consultation what areas will be massaged. Nearly all of them (first time clients) mentionthatthey have neverhad their tummies massaged or feet before when having a fbm. I find this strange, but good for me as I get them as clients!
Its true that when I have been to a beauty salon/hotel in the pastand had a massagethe therapist never does a consultation. Last time Iwent to have a treatment, I walked out as the girl didn't even wash herhands. Just walked strange into the room told me to undress andwent straight to massage me.I asked her to wash her hands and she said they were clear but as she was using oil she didn't need to clean them. I decided to leavde at this point. I no longer have massages at salons or hotels.
Its really annoyingto discover that therapists aren't trained properly, after all the hard work I put in for my exams it just makes me mad some times[sm=soapbox.gif]

Oh well!

 

[andrea.force]

ohhhh errr ...

What didnt impress me was that there was no consultation, she just asked if i had any aches or pains. I filled in a consultation form 3 months ago when i first went to the place for a completely different treatment. But things couldve changed, icould have been pregnant or had recent health concerns, lucky non of them applied but I think when i qualify i will always do a quick consultation on returning clients - do you agree?

... liability ... insurance ... maybe I'm overly cautious but you wouldn't catch me on a couch until they'd done that bit (even if I saw my therapist every week, things are bound to change even over the course of a few days)! Maybe its coz I work in the legal field but that's all part of your client care - let alone care for your own professionalism!!

Moonpoppy
[sm=sandrine.gif]

 

[East Bay Punk Mafia]

Thanks for all your replies - Sometimes I wonder if I can be a bit fussy, over critical and over cautious - it seems that I'm not and thanks for all the reassurances!

I will try a couple of different treatments maybe at different salons as I want to try them before I train in them!

Thanks again.

 

[freee your mind]

I took my ITEC 4 years ago, and the head was not part of our training at all. I therefore do not massage the head or face as part of a FBM. I am curious though - do you need to clean the oil from your hands before you go on to the head, or just ask the client whether it is ok for them to get some oil residue in their hair? I have women who ask me not to go too far up their necks as they do not want to have to go and wash their hair afterwards - and that is only a little bit at the nape of the neck!!

Karen

 

[Dj Zeaklous]

Hi Karen

Well in our aromatherapy massage class we ask the client first if they mind having oil in their hair, because our routine involves continuing from the face onto the scalp.

Personally, if I was a client I don't know if I would want oil in my hair partly because I don't like the feel of it in my hair and partly because I would have to get the bus home withhair sticking up all over the place! I think when I am qualified and adapting the routine, I would probably wash the oil off my hands before starting on the scalp.

Sandra
x

 

[Mark S]

I always have a couple of wipes to hand. Apart from the oil aspect, you would want your hands to be clean before touching the face after massaging the rest of the body.

I then use a little plain lotion with the drop of the oil blend, which I've used on the body, mixed in with it. This is not so greasy on the face and soaks in quite quickly. By the time I get to the head, there's hardly anything on my hands at all.

Lesley

 

[cindysmiththesen5]

Hi Kpuk

As part of my training (ITEC Holistic Massage) we were taught to massage the entire body (incl. face) but whether its down to your particular teacher, I have no idea! We were taught to ask our client their preference - some would like to use sweet almond oil, others like a very light moisturising hypoallergenic cream, and some don't want their face touched because of messing up their hair - but always always we wipe our hands free of oil, then use an antiseptic wipe before using their preferred medium.

Bright blessings
Moonpoppy

 

[fella]

Hi All

I am trained in Therapeutic massage with a strong holistic approach.

Ican massage all areas of the body but during a treatment I would only hone in on the area of the body which the case history threw up. In some treatments this does mean working all areas of the body but I would never include, hands, face & feet all on one treatment because I would not have time to do all areas justice. If I was receiving aromotherapy massage I would expect to have FBM as its the oils that are doing the work here. I am very careful in my advertiseing and when explaining to clients what they will receive 'tailor made massage to what there body needs in that moment' The body is never the same at any moment. I am very shocked that a case history wasn't taken, contras??!!!...oh very scary!!!I presumed that evenvery scant beauty massage course wouldcover the basics here!!!

When a client returns I find its really important to find out how effective the last treatmentwas and what was experienced, this all adds to the connective experience of the treatment and allows the client to devlop a connection with there body and the changes with their sypmtom(s). This stops the treatment from being a passive experience them and draws them into there body and its condition.

Questions like:
How were you after your last treatment?
How long did that effect last?
Did you notice when it changed?
Were you aware of what provoked the change?
Have you experieced any change in your symptom(s)...how it manifests, how you experience it?
How has it changed?
Does it occur under different circumstances?
Has the degree of pain changed?
Has the type of pain changed? (Type: acute, aching, boring, burning, chronic, cramping, sporadic, throbbing
Does it radiate to/affect other areas in same way
Are you aware of any changes in yourself - in your attitudes or in your feelings?
Most importantly...
How are you now?

I would also avoid telling the client which areas I intend to work in case I put my hands on and the case history doesnt fit what I feel. I do however ask if there are areas they would not feel comfortable having worked. I take detailed notes on all this info, my intial case history at the frist treatmentis fairly in depth,at least 10mins

Nic x

 

[HFN]

[Deleted by Admins]

 

[WannaBeChaserLOVAH]

There was an earlier discussion of what constitutes a ‘full body massage’ on the thread
[link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=282458]http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=282458[/link]

‘Scorpio’ began that thread by commenting



As I mentioned on that thread, personally I still consider that therapists who aren’t “trained in doing abdominals, glutes, chest'” shouldn’t advertise themselves as offering ‘full body massage’.

Alan

 

[bdeiquzfiomiwgejf]

you should consider a private massuese, if affordable. my father staffed one full-time here, so my massages can always be up to me, how i have them, how much i wear, how long i want them to go for and if i'm not satisfied by the end of it i can have it go longer, and if i'm not being satisfied at all *during it* my massuese will have to try harder. it's alot better than one at a spa.

 

[Michael Grennell]

To be honest, to be able to do a full body with all the area's mentioned properly, without skipping thru things would take 90 minutes. Usually I would include the abdomen in the 60 minutes, as this is a very important and usually neglected area.