Therapists-do you make your clients comfortable when you give a massage?

[ducky14528]

Hi all,

Agent Provocateur here

Having enjoyed or endured a massage recently got me thinking about how therapists perceive their clients?

Income generators?

People 'in need' that are in some way subservient to themselves?

It's kind of chilly in the UK so when a client books a massage how do you heat the room in which it takes place?

Do you arrive 5 minutes before the client and turn on the fan heater (dry air, love it - not) does not effectively warm the room whilst giving the illusion to the therapist that's it's 'almost too hot' as the client shivers. OK a few towels draping might help - do you warm the towels first on a radiator (if there is one) or are they cold and damp; not pleasant? Do you turn the heat off when YOU are too hot, but not the client.

£30+ for a shiverfest.

Water available to sip if needed, yeah I know you've got yours, what about me?

What is the best way to heat a room that is used to give massage or is it just a case of what's around?

An electric blanket cooks you on one side while icing the other, again not pleasant.

I'm thinking a room that is constantly heated even at a low level when not occupied using radiator or woodburner (if safe!) give good heat whereas fan heaters give poor quality heat that makes the therapist who is clothed and physically active think it's hotter than it really is and the client is cold at the same time.

Any comments appreciated about how to effectively make clients comfortable with their experience of a massage with you or do you have a take it or leave it attitude (not that anyone would own up to that!).

Hopefully within my somewhat moaning diatribe there is a kernal of truth that resonates with some and a productive discussion can ensue without the shutters clanging down.

 

[moon]

I am very fortunate to be able to work from home. I feel the cold so the house is always at a comfortable temperature, central heating is on pretty much constantly at this time of year. I live in the north east and it aint exactly warm up here lol.
Fifteen minutes before a client is due I put on a fan heater to boost the room temperature so that it is nice and toasty. I warm the towels on a radiator- I wouldnt dream of using cold or damp towels ueeew
I keep clients well draped with thick fluffy towels on areas that arent being worked on and also use a fleece throw over the towels. I find that a lot of times its the feet that are the coldest so ensure that they are well covered too.
It is a challenge though and I am constantly checking that clients are warm enough.

Looking forward to others input

 

[Noah]

Coolhandluke - have you been treated in places under the conditions you list? Did you complain? I would have written a polite letter explaining why I would not return, and there is no way I would have paid £30+ for that sort of treatment!

I always make sure that my treatment room is in a condition that I would want to be treated in - warm (25 degs minimum), plenty of clean linen (I rarely use towels - flannel sheets/light blankets are my preferred items - and never paper towel) access to water (there is an en-suite shower/loo), quiet, background music, no anatomical charts etc.

I don't think I would still be in business after 32 years if I looked at my clients as "income generators" - and nor would I be busy during the winter period, which I am, if my room were not comfortable to be naked in!!!

Perhaps I have gone some way to restore your faith in massage therapists - we arn't all 'in it for the money' - plus, therapists with that attitude rarely last long??????!!!!

 

[jareczkosjawor]

Jabba - I have undergone this treatment, although it's a bit of a composite of different therapists I have encountered.
25 deg fantastic, the only way I can achieve that is at home if I try really hard and in the 'Summer' in fact I'm starting to think I should make massage a late spring and summer treat and hibernate the rest of the time (from massage).
I do make polite requests but somehow we can't seem to agree what warm is. Funny enough she said her work falls away drastically after August "with Christmas coming up and people short of money"; how do I tell her maybe that's not the reason people go away until the Spring!!
Her massage is great when it's warm enough so it's really a sadness rather than anger that she just doesn't seem to 'get it'.

Credit to the first replies being cogniscent of the need for warmth and actually providing it in practice.

 

[Starbright]

Hi there,

I usually work in a spa with both warm rooms and heated blankets but am just about to begin working freelance as well and have my first client in a few weeks. Due to lack of space in my own home I am starting by offering a mobile service. A heated blanket I can take with me, and I always offer extra top towels for warmth anyway, but obviously the temperature of the room is down to the client, I can merely suggest at time of booking that they heat the room their treatments to take place in. Are there any other mobile therapist out there who could share some tips and experiences in terms of keeping their clients warm enough?? Is a cold room often an issue as a mobile therapist?

TB xx

 

[monica c:]

I couldn't think of much worse than having a treatment in a cold room! I usually freeze thanks to a healing crisis immediately following a treatment anyway, so I don't think it's very fair to let a client freeze either!

During the summer it's not too bad in my treatment room at home, so a blanket to hand is usually enough to keep a client warm if the temperature does drop, in the winter I have the heating on, and in the treatment room, I have an oil filled heater which can be left on even during treatments as it isn't noisy like fan heaters...and it does get very warm.

I frequently put the main bath sheet I'm going to use on top on the oil heater to really warm it up before use.

Always provide a drink of water following a treatment too, and of course the obligatory box of tissues for those unexpected teary moments.

Oh and I can't stand blumming paper towel on a couch either! Therefore I have a couple of couch covers which get washed following every client.

Caroline

 

[Alexia]

my rooms are central heated.

but

I also have a heater on too..

majority of people come in and comment on how cosy the room is. I have approx 3 clients that don't do warm, so I switch the heater off for them and I put them on top of the towels and just lightly cover them with a blanket so that there middle portion is covered.

In one room I have a heated blanket also, and its if its a tad nippy I pop a heater on to blast the room.

don't forget that we therapists get cold too. If I don't feel comfortable massaging or reflexologying then my clients arent.

In winter months I tend to pop top blanket on radiator to preheat.

If tootsies are cold I place a lavender wheatbag on them that is permanently in the towel cabi.

I hate being cold and will actually speak up for this problem.

I tend to layer, so clients can dictate how much they want. Plus my regulars know they can ask and within 2 seconds they are swathed in more blankets/towels or heated blanket is switched off.

good topic.

 

[ucegauiwiksimwera]

My own pet hate: massage therapists who abruptly say "Sorry, but my hands are a bit cold" and then place them on your bare skin before you have time to register their words. Yee-ouch!

My even worse pet hate: message therapists who don't even say "sorry" first.

My even worsest pet hate: message therapists who laugh when my body jumps 6" off the couch at the shock.

 

[Emilia V]

Hi Trueblue, i am a mobile massage therapist and do find a cool room an issue at times.

I use a heated blanket during the winter months and clients love it, they feel it is an added extra. I have fleece blankets and towels on top and make sure the feet are covered so i am keeping what i can nice and warm. However i do sometimes come across issues of the room not being warm enough. I do tell clients when booking about the importance of a warm room so that they get the most from their treatment and how the body temperature drops during massage. However some clients don't listen to that and i will find myself round there and its cold, so then i suggest turning up the heating, just in case. Although some clients don't mind the cold and are used to not having the room too hot.

Once i get working with clients i usually get to know if they want the heated blanket on etc.

 

[MUKUND]

I'll agree with that!!!! Another point, I once went for a massage, and the therapist stayed in the room while I got undressed, call me prudish, but I much prefer to be allowed to take my clothes off and hide under the covers, before anyone peels bits of towels off to treat me. I understand that we see virtually naked bodies day in day out as therapists, butI felt like I was on display! Never went again.

 

[ebailnql]

Someone told me that a therapist once said to her "Get your kit off, then." That's really really bad.

 

[Louisha]

I try to keep my room warm for clients. I'll put the central heating on 30 minutes before they arrive. There is also an addtional heater in the room. There's a heated blanket on the couch and an extra fleece blanket to put over the towel if needed. With all the heat I tend to get really warm but endure it for my clients comfort. I always ask the client to let me know if they get too hot or cold. There is water at the end of the treatment but I will also offer them water at the start of the treatment.

I do ask clients to let me know at any point if there is something that I need to change.

I know we don't generally tell therapists when something isn't right but we are not mind reader and if there is an issue then point it out rather than suffering in silence.

 

[Naz F]

Thanks Andan!

Am definitely going to arrive to my bookings armed with heated blanket, and extra top cover blankets!

Like everyone else here I couldn't think of anything worse than being cold whilst receiving a massage! ...I don't like being cold at the best of times lol!

TB xx

 

[Christina Leo]

Going to a therapist that doesn't even realize how cold the room always makes me wonder how connected they are to this very special job we do.

My room is warm/hot. the height adjustable electric couch has a heated underblanket.
Washed hands can be cold so warm them up again and use warm oil so that first contact is a pleasant experience and NOT one that fires off the flight or fight responce. All these little things tell the client they are in safe and caring hands.

Comfort should be present in the whole package where possible.
15 Mins "float time" either side of the appointment time.
Listen carefully, by allowing a proper "chat time" before leaving the room at the start of the massage

 

[Scuby]

Yes! I really hate 'production line' therapy. I space my sessions so that I never have to rush clients out of the door. I really dislike it when I've had a massage and am feeling nicely relaxed - but the therapist's energy is saying "Time's up - bugger off." Spoils the whole experience.

 

[New Little Miss]

This is a good topic!. My ways to keep the client comfortable are the same as many of you all, heated couch cover, fan heater for warming the room up prior to the client arriving (as well as central heating), having the music playing in the background when they arrive, candles lit and lights (if needed) on dimmed so that it feels warm and cosy, and warmed top towels.

 

[Kendo]

Just realized I forgot to mention my most serious complaint when I get a massage (be it checking out the local opposition, or at a spa hotel setting )

Where is the face ring !!! or OMG the couch face hole, no matter how wonderful the massage or massage therapist if you want to totally ruin the client comfort experience try having a massage without the above.

 

[SecuritySupportAV]

Hi SJ

I only use couches that have a face cradle. Holes are horrible. Just a cheap solution.

Talking about couches has anyone have problems with those "Feel Good" cheapy imports couches where the plug for the the face hole (which I never use) keeps dropping out? I think I shall go to the clinic one day and glue some small pieces of plastic just under the hole so the plug doesn't drop out halfway through the treatment.

Best wishes

RP

 

[mech]

Hi RP

Let the debate begin ! face hole or face cradle.? ?

I hate face cradle's, I never feel safe/comfortable hanging off one end of the couch.

Some good quality couches have both options ........and a shelf for your arms

 

[ghevtukxisuiykedx]

Face cradle is best, adjustable and padded.

Face Hole no good, especially with no material just vinyl, end up almost getting wedged in a sticky hole and leaving the premises with a nice big red ring on yer boatrace.

While on the subject some couches have the stability and feel of a glorified wallpaper pasting table and many are too short except for short peoplefeet should be supported too not left hanging in mid air?

Agree also about the cold hands mentioned in earlier posts still nice of me to let you use me as a a handwarmer and one who is paying for the privilege