Massage Part 3
Helping you through
How do I make people feel comfortable? If there was someone unsure/apprehensive/etc.
I get some people who are very self-conscious coming through. They’ll say to me ‘oh don’t look at my belly or my stretch marks’ whatever it is, I’ve seen it all and I work with so many body types. I don’t want people to think that what they are self-conscious about is something that will put me off, because it will never do. I’m not judging anybody by the shape of a body. You are enough just as you are. It’s a shame, but people with really poor body insecurities just won’t come in for a massage because the stripping off makes them uncomfortable. That is very common. I try to help alleviate these by getting them to visualise the end result or to try something first that might be within a reasonable stretch of their comfort zone. For instance, a shoulder, neck and back massage allows clients to keep their trousers on. But in the end it is about relationship building, getting people comfortable with me first is sometimes the biggest step they could take on that path. This way they can feel secure, knowing I can take care of them.
My clients need to know what to expect, questions I can answer beforehand will go a long way for me to get them to that baseline level of comfort. If they think it’s important, they’ll ask about it. I make sure I give them information in advance, which is why these consultations beforehand are so important. There will always be clients that will just strip off and jump straight on to the massage table. But there are also others who will be nervous about the whole thing. And you can kind of tell, it’ll be a slight hesitation or pause. I just say I’ll leave you to get yourself ready, the towels are there, etc. It puts them more at ease. They have to be comfortable from the offset.
There are some people who are solely massage clients and others do a mix of things. Some clients will book a massage every month. That is their time, and it is non-negotiable. But there are also some people who wouldn’t dream of getting a massage. It’s a trust thing again, it goes back to trust. It’s quite intimate and personal getting a massage. I want people to feel comfortable from the moment they walk in that door. If I see someone who is a bit anxious or nervous about taking clothing off for their treatment, someone who can’t get to a baseline relaxation they are not going to be able to get the most out of their appointment.
What to expect from the moment they get to my door:
There is a reciprocal element to massage and clients should know what they need to do for me and what I can then give in return. I will talk them through each part. I check with them if they want to have a chit chat. Some people can relax a bit if there isn’t what they feel is an awkward silence, where others might prefer as little said as possible. But, it’s about that initial communication which lets me know how to proceed with the treatment. I do that with other treatments as well, its always about being consistent and clear at every step to make people feel more comfortable. I check on them fairly frequently to make sure they are feeling ok. I usually know from the body language when something is especially sore, but again it’s about the communication at every step, 100% comfortable at all times.
They also have to relax before they have their massage. The level of relaxation you need to have before I start is to be able to, for instance, give me your arm. It should flop rather than being held aloft by yourself. For me to do my job well, a client should be able to give me the weight of their body. And that’s a trust thing. In order to get the soreness out of a muscle, I need to be able to manipulate them. I want them leaving the appointment feeling their energy is a bit picked up as well. It is a primarily for physical relief, but you do get some mental relief too.
During and after, I get a lot of people who surprised at how tense they are and how painful it can be. And I emphasise to my clients that this is not a light touch sort of thing that I do. The other thing is that sometimes, there is a problem area that is contributing to the parts of the body that are being perceived. So, if someone has a sore back, it could be a lower back or glute that needs more time spent on than the place where pain is concentrated. I’m like a magnet to the muscles, I zone in on the problem areas. I can feel them. No two back massages are the same.
Why I love what I do for my clients
I love to see clients smiling and feeling better within themselves. The feedback I get is sometimes the most uplifting thing for me as well, how great they feel. That’s why I do this job. Providing solutions for clients is why I do this job! I just want people to feel better. The best day I could ever have is when I get a text after saying how amazing they feel. There’s this one person in particular who sends me the kindest messages after her facial appointments and I feel amazing, you are amazing. You really are just incredible. It makes me feel I am doing the right thing and am in the right job. I just want people to feel better, well.
