How would you feel/react if...

[Autumn.]

Just curious... How would you feel/react if you appeared for a scheduled massage and received more energy work and trigger point work than anything else? For me, I like to feel touched throughout my massage in a firm, fluent, and consistent manner. It's distracting to my ability to relax when there is a lot of "stopping." I have a friend that is also an MT, and she struggles to establish or maintain a clientelle. I think it is because she values energy modalities so greatly that it is simply what she does - integrates this in the the form of massage that she provides, and I think that sometimes people are looking for something else. What are your thoughts about this. I always ask clients what it is that they are looking for and adjust accordingly. My friend doesn't appear to adjust, as she says, "I do what I feel is necessary." Hmmm?

 

[Deirdre B]

Excellent question! When I went in for a massage with an MT I had met a couple of months previous I was quite dissapointed that the session was much more polarity than massage. I had gone in for a massage, but got mostly polarity. When she asked how I enjoyed the session afterwards I explained, as nicely as possible, that I had been expecting a massage and being unwarned about the amount of polarity work and very little actual contact with the body that I was dissapointed. Honestly if she had said "I think you could use polarity today," or even warned that her sessions are primarily energywork I would have felt better about the session. I've not gone back to her.

I do enjoy receiving energywork, when I plan to actually receive it. I enjoy going for a reiki session, and really enjoyed a recent polarity and massage 90 minute session (from another therapist where I had requested the "holistic" massage from at the time of the booking).

But the other situation left me feeling like the therapist didn't respect what I had gone in for. If you order iced tea at a restaurant because you've just sprinted from the other side of the parking lot and you end up being served hot tea because your server felt that's what you needed that day you'd walk out of the restaurant. Not so easily done from a massage table with your clothes hanging on the peg in the corner!

 

[Asha]

One time at the chiropractor, there was a reiki lady there, and they made me try her out - I guess I was the guinea pig. She laid her hands on me in a few places, but I obviously didn't get a massage. While she was very nice, by the end I was like "What was the point of that?" It was a complete and utter waste of time, at least to me, to have someone put their hands on me and do nothing. I prefer massages where the therapist doesn't "break contact" a lot. When the therapist has to stop every minute to walk to the other side of the table, change the music, or get more lotion, etc...it gets very distracting and makes the massage more interrupted and less enjoyable. Obviously, some delays are necessary, but too many, and it takes away from the massage.

 

[Katy needs Sustagen!]

As far as breaking contact with the client is concerned, I was taught to keep one hand on the client at all times. Now, I dont have a hand on client ALL the time, I do believe I break contact with the client a lot less than other therapists do. Even when I am digging out a stone I do my best to do it with one hand.

 

[Ummar]

Since I do alot of exchanges and love learning different things I usually let who ever is working on me do what they feel I need. But if that day I need regular bodywork I will specify what I am looking for. And I will say something if I don't feel that what is being done is what I asked for. Luckly I have not had too many bad experiences.

 

[oRtEgA]

I am totally bugged by receiving unsolicited energy work when it involves stopping the motion.

 

[applegrance]

I would be really bothered. I always ask what kind of bodywork people practice and what their sessions are like. If I felt like I was misinformed then I wouldn't go back. If she practices more energywork then she just needs to make it clear that that type of bodywork is what her clients are consenting to, otherwise it's unprofessional and unethical.

 

[CMF37]

If you order iced tea at a restaurant because you've just sprinted from the other side of the parking lot and you end up being served hot tea because your server felt that's what you needed that day you'd walk out of the restaurant. Not so easily done from a massage table with your clothes hanging on the peg in the corner!

You hit the nail on the head! This is EXACTLY how I feel with respect to attending a massage appointment. I am paying for a massage session, and I didn't sign up to pay for an energy session. This has occurred to me TWICE with different therapists and I didn't return to either one. In my opinion, BAD business.

 

[Pompal 09.]

apples an oranges......

Personally, I do not mind intergration of Reiki and massage, as long as it 's done rather seamlessly and I am unaware of what the therapist is doing.As a massage therapist and Reiki practitoner, I tend to intergrate alot of Reiki into my massage without breaking the flow or contact. Whenever I am doing effleurage and I sense energetic blockages along the way, I "boot up" my Reiki and continue the stroke without breaking contact, and my client seems very unaware of what I have done. The key here is keeping the client happy and unaware of what you are doing. For those of us wonderful, balanced and happy Reiki practitioners here on the forum, feel free to use it (Reiki) when you think you need to,just intergrate it seamlessly into your work-the client will often relax even more than usual, and the muscles will just melt under your fingers!! I separate the two when I need to, but will mesh them if needed. I just use my intuition to guide me in the right direction. I am not afraid to use Reiki-I love Reiki and believe in it's effects. You are free to accept or reject it as you please-noone is forcing it upon you!!!!

Blessings and Light-
Johnny

 

[Hardrock]

HappyKarma, I am slightly confused about your post. I have seriously considered taking Reiki and have done quite a bit of research on the subject. From what I have read and from those Reiki practitioners I have spoken to, the client is supposed to be aware of the fact that they are receiving Reiki -- that it is part of the process?

You say that they have a right to refuse it -- but how can they refuse it if they are unaware of the fact that you are using it? From your post, it seems that you "slip it in so the client is unaware of it." Why? If I were your client, I would much prefer that you tell me that you are a massage therapist who also practices Reiki and that you might use that at appropriate times. And if the client needs an explanation of what Reiki is, that should be forthcoming.

Since you have such great respect for Reiki and its results, why would you not try to spread the word about it -- rather than "slipping it in so clients are unaware that your are doing it?" How does that promote the value of Reiki?

Honestly -- these are innocent questions and I mean no offense. As I said, I have seriously considered adding Reiki to my practice. Any comments from other Reiki practitioners out there? They would be very appreciated!

Sherry

 

[banananose_89117]

whoa........stop the bus!!!

I am sorry if I confused you. I was very tired when I posted and forgot to read it before posting. I never use Reiki wiithout the client's permission.
I never force Reiki upon one who does not desire it. I have a brochure clearly explaining what Reiki is, its uses and treatment process. I am always happy to answer any questions about Reiki. It keeps the client informed and fully aware of what to expect. I also co-host open house Reiki to spread the word about it, as I want ppl to learn all they can about it.

Blessings and Light-
Johnny

 

[katelin]

Thanks, Johnny!

I realize now that when I first read your e-mail and you were mentioning that the client was "unaware of the Reiki being performed" -- I took it to mean that you were doing something the client was not aware of.

I see now that your main point was that Reiki can easily be worked into a massage -- and that the client is instead "unaware" of any break in the actual massage which could be disruptive. The light comes on!! :

I got it now! I would really like to hear more about your experiences with Reiki . . . but that would be done in the energy forum, right?

I'm getting the hang of this! Thanks for your reply!

Sherry

 

[Pompal 09.]

I'm weird in this regard. As a client I don't mind breaking contact, tho I agree that it could be distracting if it is over done. Breaking contact for me gives me a chance to digest what I'm feeling whereas constant contact has the effect of lulling me into a trance like state that I wake up from hardly able to remember even getting massaged in the first place.

And having someone do something unexpected - like reiki or some other modality instead of what i was expecting can sometimes make the experience more memorable.