90 minutes ... fully clothed!

[Pompal 09.]

I got a call today from a woman wanting to redeem her 90 minute gift certificate. I booked her for 10 hours from now since I had an opening. Then she tells me she wants the massage fully clothed and wants deep tissue. She said she's very skin sensitive and can't take any oils with a hint of fragrances. I told her I had natural grapeseed oil, completely unscented, but she didn't budge. (She's in holistic therapies herself, does energy work, gets acupressure regularly and has had massage before, so she knows what she's asking for.)

Naturally, I'm a bit bewildered how I will be able to do 90 minutes through clothing. I've done enough chair massage to know how raw my hands can get. I'm thinking I'll take a satin sheet with me to work through, but I'm unsure if that'll really help much.

There's not much time for a response before the session happens, but no matter, if you have any thoughts let me know. Her reasons for needing clothed massage may be other than what she's stated, but as long as she's not hiding something detrimental to me I'm okay with her "reasons."

BTW, I'm trained in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release and Hot Stone. I figure in addition to whatever regular stuff I can achieve, I'll try some deep MFR (if the clothing is smooth), joint mobilization (though I don't know a lot of stretches), vibration (body rocking), tapotement and compressions. I wonder if she'll let me do her neck and head without coverings? Sigh...

 

[hippiechick]

Just work very slowly and intentionally, and the time will fly. Satin to work through does help - they even sell something satiny through Massage Warehouse for doing chair massage. I work a lot through clothing and have done 2 hour massages - one 3 hour DT massage - through the clothing. You will do fine. Trigger point is even pretty manageable, as long as she wears soft, stretchy clothing and not jeans! Though it can be done through jeans.....

 

[miyokiyo2000]

I too have a few clients who need me to work on them through clothes for various reasons. Massage Warehouse has this product called "Magic Hands" that is a double satin piece of cloth that is really effective. You are able to do massage strokes that you would normally need lotion to do. I was surpised how good it worked.

 

[Monsieur Rick]

Since you don't have time to buy a product to help.....

You said you do hot stones.... use em!

I also agree, go slow!

 

[Mnemonic]

If it were me, I would lower my table and do lots and lots of compression, myofascial work, and stretching! Since she'll be clothed it'll be real easy to do some of those stretches that normally require fiddling with the drape.

Also, since she sounds experienced, you could ask her exactly what she wants. Ask her specifically what other therapists have done that she liked.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[drache]

Hi.

I too can vouch for "you can make this work". In the office I really prefer not to work through clothes, because it does make it somewhat harder on the therapist -- but, I have a great experience to share, that may help along with the other wonderful replies.

We had the great opportunity to work on everyone from Extreme Makeover Home Edition, when they came to our city. It was freaking cold and rainy outside and they had us stationed in a large tent with a heater blower afixed underneath one tent side! Obviously everyone kept their clothes on (and boots!) and we had a bucket load of blankets on top of the clients. We would do anywhere from 10 min. to 1 and 1/2 hour massages. The best way we found to do this, was to use a lot of compression work. Like someone else said, slow it down and the time will fly.

An additional note: I would have thought the massage wouldn't of felt good, but each and every person was really happy about it.

I am sure you're gal will love what you do. And, I second, using those hot stones if she'll let ya. t045

Hope you will let us know how it goes!

 

[gretcho]

I know I'm coming in late here, but if the issue is product being used on the skin, then what about working without any lubricant and unclothed? Anything that you would do over clothing would be easier to do directly to her tissues.

Unless she is embarrassed and has other issues about disrobing, and is using the sensitive skin issue as an easy out for herself.

 

[Janet R]

I'm curious how the session went ...

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and timely responses and the private message (gee, y'all are night owls!). The session went really well. I feel certain there is definitely some other issue (or belief) than just oils, 'cause from what I could see her skin was in beautiful condition (arms, neck/head and ankles exposed) and when I told her I could do MFR which doesn't require any oils or creams, plus other techniques sans lubricants, she still declined. She wouldn't even let me take off her short socks when I gently asked.

I started supine and worked on her neck/scalp/face first and she said she could feel some leg release from the MFR I did on her neck (her right leg was the subjectively-stated major problem). I tried using the satin sheet and it did make some difference, but I also found that the clothing she wore was fine for the most part, so I didn't use the sheet much. Most of the things I tried worked and I simply moved on from the things that didn't. She was very good-natured about the little stumbles (like diving under her back with my hand and pulling up the erectors, that just bunched her shirt and caused my hand to stutter coming up her back, if you can imagine what I mean). I didn't use any hot stones, maybe another time.

Anyway, it wasn't nearly as much of a challenge as I'd imagined and she was really delighted with the results. She even said she has a good number of MT friends she's tried and I'm only the third that she would actually recommend (the other two are in neighboring states), which was a nice compliment. She scheduled a second appointment and took a bunch of my cards to give out. So I'd say it was a success!

 

[kss0098]

congrats on a successfull session!

 

[Bad Mother F*cker]

...She scheduled a second appointment and took a bunch of my cards to give out. So I'd say it was a success!

Whoo hoo!

Thanks for letting us know what you did, too! Always nice to have a few new tricks in my bag.

 

[jeremy.isley]

I'm thinking that maybe I'll do a practice session on someone sometime so that if I am ever asked to do a fully clothed massage (non-CST session) I'll have had some experience. I do some clothed work, but have never done a full 60 or 90-minute clothed deep tissue session.

Thanks for the info ... and Great job!!! t023

 

[erideni]

I just wanted to reiterate that which was already said above: if you use a satin sheet, be sure to double it up to give you glide. I'm now thinking about making myself a version of the "Magic Massager" Massage Warehouse sells: http://www.massagewarehouse.com/itemdetail~cat~~MENU~~item~230+0082.asp

Good idea to get a practice session in before you're confronted with an actual clothed client!

 

[Lovely:)]

I just wanted to reiterate that which was already said above: if you use a satin sheet, be sure to double it up to give you glide. I'm now thinking about making myself a version of the "Magic Massager" Massage Warehouse sells: http://www.massagewarehouse.com/itemdetail~cat~~MENU~~item~230+0082.asp

I highly recommend the Magic Massager. I have two sizes and take them with me when I do chair massage. I have also used them for a few clients who did not want legs/thighs undraped to work on (but were ok with over the sheet work). So, I pulled out the magic massager and was able to work smoothly over the blanket.

 

[woofs n whiskers]

I second the magic Massager!

 

[Pam R]

Hey, BackCountry--just a thought, since you said that she declined to work unclothed--maybe it is trauma-related? Even though she has experience with massage, a trauma experience could explain her unwillingness to disrobe as well as her dislike for oils and scents.

I could be barking up the wrong tree completely, but just wanted to pass along my thoughts.

Glad that it went so well for you, btw! Working over clothing is definitely not my favorite, and it's encouraging to hear that it can go really well.

 

[DOGFOOD]

I just purchased the Magic Massager, it is handy to have with me, for the "just in cases"

Backcountry, getting a silk sheet is/was a great idea, that might be nice to have in my arsenal of things also.

 

[Possibly Right]

I just bought the Magic Massager too. Came in handy when I was doing chair massage at a salon and everyone had sweaters on. I just love it.