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Taboos, The massage, Therapist and client

Massage and body hair

Many people are very self-conscious when they first place themselves on a massage table and they are worried about their appearances. Body hair is one of the major concerns I have encountered. It is needless to say that this awareness of themselves and worry how they might be perceived can influence how well they can relax and let go.

The amount of body hair a client has is of no importance. It doesn’t affect the quality of the massage, nor how well the massage therapist can work on the muscles. The massage therapist uses a massage oil, which greases the hair so there is no resistance and or chance of tugging of it. A well oiled body will always be smooth to work on. Since a massage is done on the muscles and not the skin, the surface matters less. There are massage techniques which don’t require any form of oiling, that can easily be employed should it be needed.

It is worth to keep in mind that massage therapists have a broad experience and have seen everything there is to see in body hair coverage. We do not mind a hairy body and we are not concerned about how the client looks like. A massage therapist is there for the client, to give the best treatment and relax those tense muscles and make you feel good.

There is no need to apologize for unshaven legs, or a bikini line that hasn’t been trimmed. We have always seen worse. During our education we massage a wide range of different people, and have seen what there is to see. A well educated massage therapist will never be shocked or disgusted over physical attributes a client might have. You can think of a massage therapist like you think of a doctor or nurse. We are professionals and focus on treating the client, not evaluating how attractive a client might be.

If you have questions or feel uncomfortable, by all means air such to the massage therapist. It is normal to be shy and self-conscious and by talking about it, your concerns can be addressed. Should you have parts of your body you would rather not have treated or exposed, do let the massage therapist know and we will take that into consideration. There is nothing wrong in being shy. It is common and completely natural.

As a final thing, remember that a massage therapist has to respect confidentiality. We will not be sharing any details of your massage session with others. What happens during the session, how you look or what you say is between the therapist and yourself.

The only thing a massage therapist would be affected by is cleanliness. So it is advisable to take a shower prior to the massage session. It doesn’t need to be immediately before the session; the same morning will usually be enough. There are of course exceptions to this and some people might be more comfortable taking a shower a few hours before.

Do not let your physical looks stop you from getting a good massage. All people can benefit from massage and enjoy it.

About Pia Poulsen

Pia Poulsen is educated as a wellness massage therapist at Institut FIGARI in Paris, from where she passed her certification exam in January 2008. Since then she has expanded her skills to become the first Advanced LaStone® practitioner in France as well as a certified LaStone® instructor.

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