The perfect massage

[Hsjaja Yshajjahahd]

Hi
I have been thinking about starting a thread on the perfect massage. My thought is that opinions will differ and what I consider to be important may not apply to others. With this in mind I thought I would mention a few things and see what others have to say.
First of all and this may sound obvious, i would like the masseur to be skilled, ie to know what they are doing and be interested in it. I suspect this skill can come from many sources eg courses, reading, practice.
Secondly I would like the masseur to have an interest in me or at least in my body, etcetera. When I say an interest I mean that they are considering me as an individual rather than say a piece of work. maybe not quite like painting a masterpiece but more than whitewashing a wall.
I first had a massage to deal with muscle problems and I continue to have various tensions in different parts of my body that relate to excercise and lifestyle and no doubt age and so on.
When I meet a masseur I would like to have a brief conversation about these aches and pains but mainly I would like the masseur to use touch to discover where the tension is and work more on the tense or knotted areas.
Something about conditions. O I would like a massage table that is big enough, while being ergonomic for the masseur. I dont really mind what height I am at. I would like it to be warm enough to be comfortable. I guess not too bright light and I am ok with "ambient" music.
Time seems to drag with a bad massage but if it is good I feel that an hour and a half would be right.
I have been asked what pressure I would like but I find that hard to answer because I feel that the masseur who is in tune will work out the pressure while going along.
Oils I dont really see an either or. ideally although the massage I would look for might be described as sports a carefully blended aroma therapy oil adds to the experience.
Washing - ideally I would like to start clean and sometimes that might mean showering on the premises. It would also be good to be able to shower afterwards.

I am sure I have missed a few things but I would be interested in the views of others practitioners and consumers as to what makes for the "perfect massage"

Hum

 

[Randal]

Hi Hum,

Just spotted this post in the W.Yorkshire forum, and moved it over to here, albeit a few months late.

On behalf of the Moderating Team,

calla lily

 

[justme123]

Hi I agree with most of the above, but please don't refer to massage therapists as masseuses, I find that word very derogetary.

Also I would want to go to a qualified therapist, with insurance, not necessarily skilled as this suggests that they learned massage from a book. Possibly you mean with experience.

Secondly, some massage therapists will not be qualified in aromatherapy, therefore will just use a base oil of there choice. e.g. grapeseed oil or like me wheatgerm and soya bean oil which is lovely. You obviously have to go to a qualified aromatherapist for the use of oils.

Also its the responsibility of the client to shower before a massage, a lot of places actually that I've been to have never offered a shower before and after. The oil is obviously very nutritious for the skin, and bathing/showering is not advised for around 2hrs afterwards. But of course that is the choice of the client.

I am pretty easy going with what I like and not like : consultation definitely, focus on problem areas but most of the time, if I have a massage, its usually a swap and is carried out in my home as I have all the supplies so pretty perfet for me.

 

[A I]

Hi Hum. As a massage therapist myself I like to be treated the same way as I treat my clients. I am lucky in that I swap massages with other therapists and have found a handfull that I prefer. Thats not to say that the ones I least prefer are bad therapist. It's just that the ones I do prefer work in a similar way to myself. Just like any other health care professional - there are some doctors and dentists one would prefer over others.

So my perfect massage would firstly depend on the reason I want a massage. If it's a sports injury I go to a sports therapist and if I'm looking for some general stress relief I go to a holistic therapist. They would of course hold the appropriate qualifications and insurance.

I would expect a consultation covering health and lifestyle. This discussion would also ascertain the draping required or not as the case may be - type of music - essential oils etc. I would go ready showered and would not expect to shower afterwards as the oil used is beneficial to my skin.

I would not expect my therapist to be a mind reader so would welcome being asked if pressure etc was OK. We are all different and what is good for one person is not so good for another. I would also expect the therapist to accept feedback from me and act on that feedback. I know my body and what it needs. I don't expect the therapist to have to guess. Good communication is what makes for a good massage session. I'd go for empathy over skill any day.

 

[efeqiuwjialiojevc]

I have been disappointed a couple of times when I have gone for what is advertised as a "full body massage" and then isn't.

In my opinion, a full body should include back, neck, shoulders, legs (back and front) feet, arms, hands, head and face. Some also include stomach and chest, but I do understand that not everyone likes these areas done. Missing my feet and head out though - always a big disappointment.

 

[infificinvomo]

Hi

I'm soon to finish my VTCT in Swedish massage and just wanted to mention that on my course we have never been taught any techniques for massaging the head... We do everything else mentioned above, including neck and shoulders, but not the head/scalp area or the face... I always presumed this was normal for swedish massage but can anyone confirm this?? Not to worry though, I am doing a course in Indian Head Massage in September so that should fill in any gaps in my knowledge of these areas!

Just wondered if head and facial massage was a 'normal' part of swedish full body masage routines?

I agree with the above poster regarding empathy, I don't know how to explain it, some therapists I've had have just had this amazing ability to make me feel very safe and secure and able to 'let go' and relax into it... it's not always the technique so much as the manner of the person giving the treatment. I know when I give massage, I give a much better treatment if I am relaxed, happy and able to focus completely on the client and the treatment than if I am stressed about something and my mind is elsewhere.

 

[Big John Horton]

Back and sides of legs, bum, back, shoulders, neck
Front and sidesof legs, feet, arms hands, tum and rest of torso inc chest (optional for the ladies) upper chest. Face - nice but not essential. Legs should go to top of thighs inside and out (without any funny business, but if the therapist is so scared of the body on the couch that the thighs stop just above the knees he/she is in the wrong job.

freedom of choice about underwear, and with or without drapes.

 

[Patrick K]

Great post by Alrl,sounds perfect to me

 

[Me me me]

HI
Thanks to Calla Lily for moving the post so that someone else read it!
Heaven Spirit I didnt use the word masseuse. I used the word masseur. I was trying to use a word that could apply to a male or female practitioner but what do practitioners want to be caller? I meant skilled that is to say good at doing it, that could come from experience but experience wouldnt guarantee it.
Bodywork mentioned feedback and the massager not being a mind reader. I think that is fair comment. I guess though for a perfect massage, it would be good to have someone who is very responsive to feedback but also has their own idea of how to proceed. On the subject of draping, my perfect massage would be at a temperature where draping was not necessary to keep me warm.
I take the point about not showering afterwards so long as the oils are compatible with your clothing.
Celtia - I tend to agree, It feels very containing to have feet and head massaged. Generally also to have muscle groups treated as a whole rather than having parts of the body skipped.
I do think a lot of it is about the practitioner involved feeling safe and confident and working from that relaxed position so that the client can enjoy the massage without worrying about what the practitioner is feeling.

 

[funky]

Perfect massage needs to include the buttocks and inner/upper tighs).

Cant stand therapist who stop just above the knee. Full body should mean full body, although obviously excluding certain areas

I find as a client that the thighs are the most enjoyable part

 

[HatKaraoai]

Has to be the whole body! i would feel short changed if someone missed some bits out ( unless i requested it )
Its rare that i apply a full body treatment as it takes around 2 hours. I can still get the same result in 45 mins if needed.

A perfect massage to me would be one where i knew someone was working on me with intent, thats the power in massage!

I inform my clients about everything before i start, then i get on with my job.
I can pretty much tell what a clients needs within the first instance, but what is under my hands will tell me what is required.

Turn on & Tune in people!

 

[Lois20]

My perfect massage is when I get that realisation within a minute of someone starting work on me that they know what they are doing. The pressure is good, they are as involved in the process in giving, as i am in receiving the massage and you realise that you are connecting.

The masseur doesn't say too much as I don't want to stay in my head throughout the treatment - the sequence I leave to the therapist, but I do like my feet, abdomen and head and face treated.

I'm not into pain so nothing too deep - I like to feel secure, and in safe hands with a nice warm room, music is fine, but not a necessity.

Love Binah
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