Learn to drape!

[LilMissLi]

When you complete your bodywork training and begin working professionally, it is important to remember that your work will be judged partly by your draping. If it is loose, or slips out of place, or clumsy... it can be distracting and even alarming for the client.

If your draping is confident, smooth, snug, and doesn't allow gaps for drafts or unwanted exposure, it will enhance the client experience and their perceptions of your work.

When receiving bodywork, notice the draping. If it feels particularly good, ask them about it afterward. Learn the tricks to excellent draping for different situations, and see what difference it makes in your own practice.

In school, my partner and I learned various draping methods that work pretty well for most situations. But since then we have learned other methods that work far better, and that knowledge contributes to the satisfaction of our clients every day. When we interview MT applicants, one issue we see over and over is poor draping. An applicant that draped very well for the interview massage would stand a much better chance of getting the job!

 

[Prudence B]

Somebody needs to write a book with an included DVD on the art of draping, and then offer CEUs!

I keep my clients covered, but I still *feel* clumsy in my draping, particularly of the legs. In school I had a teacher who was the "draping nazi." We tucked and folded and re-tucked. It felt as if half of the massage time was being spent on draping, even after we "got the hang of it". ONe of my mentors confirmed this when I gave him a massage. He told me I was taking too much time! Just fold it over and let it fall between the legs, with maybe a little tuck, is what he said. But, I've been draped that way and felt a little insecure - not by him, but by another practitioner. Maybe he was just better at placement? I don't know! LOL

I have never had a complaint, and I tend to tuck more than my mentor would like I suppose, but I'm still not comfortable *sigh*. And my draping often slips. Never reveals anything, but still slips.

Sorry for the rant. I for one would love some help with this.

 

[Zhuge Liang]

No one complains about bad draping - they just don't come back.

For the legs I've found clients prefer to FEEL the drape so I use a method that is quick, easy and works great. Grab the edge of the sheet, just above the level of the knee. Lift the clients leg slgihtly with your other hand under the knee and tuck the sheet under the inside of their leg. Then set the leg down and tuck the outside of the sheet under the hip - the drape then is compeltely tucked aorund the leg, the client FEELS that the sheet is completely tucked around the leg and the entire process takes 30 seconds or less. Bing, bang, bong. And when it's "business as usual' to you the client feels comfortable because it FEELS like you know what you are doing. Longer than 30 seconds of fumbling and the client gets nervous.

Incidentally - I just had this gripe earlier this week to my husband. I got a massage from a new girl (I'm STILL looking for a good therapist within 2 hours drive *wry grin*) who draped horribly around the leg. I actually did say "I've found many clients feel more comfortable when....."

Um - when their full buttock isn't hanging out! *laughing* Yes - really. 5+ months into my third pregnancy I am not exactly a modest person but how does one complete massage training and leave someone's butt completely exposed. When I asked for hamstring work I was SO not expecting to have the sheet pulled down all the way from shoulders to knees!!

Angela

 

[Amy]

Yep draping... hmmm..

It is especially trying because, darn it, everyone's body shape and size is different so just when I think I have it nailed down! haha

I would love to see a video of many different draping techniques on many sizes of clients.

 

[Michaela]

No one complains about bad draping - they just don't come back.

I must be doing OK then, as I have a good number of regulars LOL. But you're right. I suppose if I were the client I wouldn't say, "Dude, that draping was awful." I just wouldn't go back.

Emily

 

[Fins+Wings{8 - 88}]

This just doesn't seem to be as much of an issue for the clients I see. Not sure what to tell you. They come back, and they love the massage. I undrape the back, as well as both legs, at the same time. I confirm that they are comfortable before they begin.

My massage does not go in sections. I don't undrape the back, work it, drape it, undrape the left leg, work it, drape it, etc. It actually ticks me off when I get that kind of massage. The human body isn't a series of segments. It's one whole body. I massage it as such. The thing about that is that my draping is a little more liberal--but I always check with the clients first, and reassure them that I can always cover them more if they need me to. Maybe a half dozen have asked me to drape them a little more conservatively. The rest are more concerned with the actual massage.

To me, I think it becomes a question of intent. If you do whatever kind of draping you do in a confident manner, and perform the massage without nervousness or hesitation, your client will sense that confidence and find comfort in it. I've even had clients who've told me that they wished I hadn't draped them at all. Was that a sexual come-on? Maybe, but I get the feeling that it wasn't--regardless, I didn't take them up on that suggestion in the next, or any future, sessions.

I should put forth the fact that my draping, although more liberal than what they teach in the schools, doesn't show any more of the person's body than your average person puts on display at the beach. I should also point out that these are my findings, and your mileage may vary.

 

[!..dip it low..!]

This just doesn't seem to be as much of an issue for the clients I see. Not sure what to tell you. They come back, and they love the massage. I undrape the back, as well as both legs, at the same time. I confirm that they are comfortable before they begin.

My massage does not go in sections. I don't undrape the back, work it, drape it, undrape the left leg, work it, drape it, etc. It actually ticks me off when I get that kind of massage. The human body isn't a series of segments. It's one whole body. I massage it as such. The thing about that is that my draping is a little more liberal--but I always check with the clients first, and reassure them that I can always cover them more if they need me to. Maybe a half dozen have asked me to drape them a little more conservatively. The rest are more concerned with the actual massage.

To me, I think it becomes a question of intent. If you do whatever kind of draping you do in a confident manner, and perform the massage without nervousness or hesitation, your client will sense that confidence and find comfort in it. I've even had clients who've told me that they wished I hadn't draped them at all. Was that a sexual come-on? Maybe, but I get the feeling that it wasn't--regardless, I didn't take them up on that suggestion in the next, or any future, sessions.

I should put forth the fact that my draping, although more liberal than what they teach in the schools, doesn't show any more of the person's body than your average person puts on display at the beach. I should also point out that these are my findings, and your mileage may vary.

Ooooh, it's too cold here to drape like that. My clients would be shivering on the table LOL!

 

[athomasmueller]

Ooooh, it's too cold here to drape like that. My clients would be shivering on the table LOL!

And you are in North Carolina. Think Wisconsin!!! :shock: t099 t009 t103 We'd all turn blue!

 

[Johner]

Maybe a half dozen have asked me to drape them a little more conservatively. The rest are more concerned with the actual massage.



I should also point out that these are my findings, and your mileage may vary.

I would dare to venture there is a difference in "skin exposure" comfort levels from Florida to rural Oklahoma. :-D

I've had clients who's idea of "undressing to their comfort level" meant leaving on their STARCHED wranglers and/or chaps AND cowboy boots! I actually had a client on the table with spurs on. Yeah. I'm in hicksville. If I undraped someone shoulders to knees I would be an instant "woman of unsavory character" in the community. LOL! I was the first massage therapist in the city I'm currently working in. Yeah. Ever. It's been an educational process for the community.

Angela

 

[Lily<33]

Ooooh, it's too cold here to drape like that. My clients would be shivering on the table LOL!

And you are in North Carolina. Think Wisconsin!!! :shock: t099 t009 t103 We'd all turn blue!

I'm in the Mountains of NC, so that does make a difference of at least 5-10 degrees in temp from the lowlands most of the time. But, I hear you! I lived in WI until I was 13. I remember when they canceled school because it was 60 below.

 

[Giny]

I would dare to venture there is a difference in "skin exposure" comfort levels from Florida to rural Oklahoma. :-D

Angela

 

[[email protected]]

I agree with all of these statements. I consider it one of the advaneforum.xxxes here in FL, actually, because in the summer hardly anyone wants a blanket, and NO ONE leaves on anything but underwear. Makes my job a ton easier.

Oh, and Ang, I think you misunderstood. I don't undrape "shoulders TO knees". I undress the back AND the legs, leaving the glutes draped when prone and the genitalia draped when supine.

As far as the culture goes, I grew up in Pensacola--where there's a church on every block. Although I work in Navarre, a little further to the east--which is more of a beach-type community--I still see some of the conservative types from time to time. The real killer was working for my ultra-religious fruit loop chiro, because all of his patients were the same way.

"What do you mean, I have to take my shirt off? Can't you work through my shirt?"

"I guess I can, sir, but the work really would be more effective if I could make contact with your skin." :roll:

 

[Destiny]

Oh, and Ang, I think you misunderstood. I don't undrape "shoulders TO knees". I undress the back AND the legs, leaving the glutes draped when prone and the genitalia draped when supine.

Yes - I often do this as well.....especially for glut and hamstring work. I'll undrape the back and one leg leaving the other glut covered as well as the gluteal cleft. I usually will pull the sheet up a little further on the far side of the back just to help the client feel more comfortable.

BUT - I would only do this after explaining to the client (usually showing pictures and diagrams) why I want to do this particular work and making sure that is ok with them.

I DID misunderstand - thanks for clarifying.

I didn't have a fanatic chiro but I did have a pastor once ask me how my good christian parents could let me do "the work of the devil". (He did not SAY that - just kind of gave that vibe, you know?) He always kind of disrtusted my professionalism....until he was recovering from brochitis and his intercostal muscles were so tight that three weeks later he could stand or breathe. He came to the house and I worked on him for an hour in the living room with his wife present and lo and behold - After that I a ministering angel with blessed hands!! **LOL!**

Angela <

P.S. My most recent massage experience really DID involved draping that was pulled down to my knees. She didn't know how else to work my gluts and hamstrings which I had specifically requested. It was a bit disappointing to go in for a therapeutic massage and end up having to "teach" how to drape.

 

[Anonymous]

P.S. My most recent massage experience really DID involved draping that was pulled down to my knees. She didn't know how else to work my gluts and hamstrings which I had specifically requested. It was a bit disappointing to go in for a therapeutic massage and end up having to "teach" how to drape.

I hope she gave YOU some money for the tutorial or at least discounted your session for your valuable time.

 

[answers smartass]

P.S. My most recent massage experience really DID involved draping that was pulled down to my knees. She didn't know how else to work my gluts and hamstrings which I had specifically requested. It was a bit disappointing to go in for a therapeutic massage and end up having to "teach" how to drape.

I hope she gave YOU some money for the tutorial or at least discounted your session for your valuable time.

Ha ha - Nope. I considered it my tip.

:roll:

 

[Steven H]

I was blessed to be told by instructors in school that draping a client should be done in such a manner that it almost feels like you are dancing with the client as you move the sheet/drape to accomodate the work.... to me that translated into teaching myself to move the sheet smooth, quietly, and quickly into positions that cover what needs covered and to reveal what I need to have my hands on at the moment..... when transitioning to the next area there is just a flow about how the sheet that was revealing the lower leg is now being replaced as the upper leg is appropriaately revealed [no, I don't lift and tuck all the time.... wastes time and annoys clients around here and I suck at it!] We were also taught that clients can perceive your level of confidence in your ability to do massage by the way you do your draping [as well as your actual work, obviously.] They were right. One colleague of mine volunteeered her opinion that it didn't matter how you moved the sheet around as long as you got the massage done. My opinion was definitely not that. So, we had a friend lay on a massage table and we tried out our draping routines on her [no massage just draping] w/o telling her which one of us was doing what. [She blindfolded herself and "squinched" her eyest too.] It was no contest..... I WON!!! I'm supremely confident in my draping skills, my colleague not so much..... As our friend told us after this odd experiment..... it jsut felt like the smooth transitions were more confident and more polished..... the other one with all the tucking and stuff just didn't do it for me...................

So, long story short, practice draping till you find that special way that feels like you are dancing with the client [there will be occasional exceptions] and go for broke.

fwiw

 

[Angelina]

AnastasiaB,

So when are you going to make the DVD so we can all see and learn from you?

 

[Serghey]

I was blessed to be told by instructors in school that draping a client should be done in such a manner that it almost feels like you are dancing with the client

Who needs forearm dance when we have draping-done-right dance! :-D

Angela

 

[Pompal 09.]

:

New meaning to the old song "Dancing in the Sheets"

 

[Emmett]

:iagree: t043 t044 t045

:massage: All's I'm sayin' is I practices "dancing" alot so my client don't think I'm incompetent..... even now, there are days my hands and the sheet just don't move as well as I would like them too, but, fortunately most of my clients don't notice my frustration.

Brian, if you lived anywhere near hear, I'd have you bring over a digital camera and we'd make that video together, market it, get rich and both of us could retire fat, sassy, rich and lazy...................... LOL FOF........... but, since that's unlikely to happen tomorrow, I'd better get back to "dancing".....