Need Help

[cjt]

Hello Everyone,<br><br>I'm not a massage therapist myself. I need to ask you guys a question about a certain technique this massage therapsit used. I actually posted this one another site but no one responded.<br><br>I was wondering if it is normal for a massage therapist, while the client is lying face down, to get on the table and staddle the client...and sit on them while massaging their back. It happend to me and I when I mentioned it to a couple of people they said it was inappropriate. I hoping all of you who are actual massage therapists could shed some light on it.

[Sandyolmt]

I have had a massage therapist do this to me also.  She was a small petite woman, and it did not bother me.  She is also a well respected MT and has written ciriculum for one of the MT schools in my town.  I, on the other hand,  would never get on top of my client.  I would be afraid to hurt someone.  I am not fat or anything, but I am not petite.  Obviously, this is a technique that is taught in some schools.  As long as the therapist did not hurt you, you shouldn't worry.

[Joe_E]

Getting on the table is fine. <br><br>Stradling your client for better leverage (especially if your petite) is fine. <br><br>Sitting on your client is not.  <br><br>Joe E. <br><br>

[cjt]

thanks for the replies, joe_e she was only sitting for about 10 to 15 seconds...is that okay? <br><br>oh and she didn't hurt me, she was a petite woman and she was very gentle.

[merlescuz]

It seems to me that if she didn't hurt you, and didn't appear to be doing anything inappropriate, no harm, no foul.<br>Is there a reason you are concerned?

[bodyfocus]

i do this allot. i can go allot deeper when i get on the table. but then again most id say 70% of my clients are men and it doesnt bother them

[Texas-gal]

Hello Everyone,

I'm not a massage therapist myself. I need to ask you guys a question about a certain technique this massage therapsit used. I actually posted this one another site but no one responded.

I was wondering if it is normal for a massage therapist, while the client is lying face down, to get on the table and staddle the client...and sit on them while massaging their back. It happend to me and I when I mentioned it to a couple of people they said it was inappropriate. I hoping all of you who are actual massage therapists could shed some light on it.

I have had a therapist do this on me.  I don't think it is inappropriate at all.  It is a definite technique and I have found it done in a deeper session adressing lower back issues.  Sometimes for the therapist it is easier on them to get onto the table and work both sides of the spinal column at the same time this way.  Your body may have called for it or it may just be the techniques he/she is best at for that area.  The lady who does it to me, is about 180lbs.  Personally, I really liked it.  :)

As for Joe's comment on "sitting on the client"... You have to know, Joe is well respected here and so I am in no way countering his comment .... but, my therapist does simi-sit (though not completely) on my pelvis (me laying face down) in order to stretch the region more, so I would say, that sometimes might happen, under "certain circumstances", and that would be ok.

[Joe_E]

Texas Girl, I agree with what you're saying 100%.  Occasionally, just by the size of the therapist and client you may lean on your client when doing this kind of deep work.  A shift from left to right might add some weight that the client might feel, but sit on the client while we do the work?  That's the part I didn't get from the original post.  You used the words "semi-sit" which gives me the impression that you are aware the therapist is over you while sitting implies to me that the therapist lingered.  Cjt did add it was for only 10-15 seconds but that seems kind of long to me (what do you think?) and if she didn't feel weird about it (meaning cjt), then I wouldn't worry about it.  But she did post here so my impression is it might have bothered her.  And I write this while trying to not put words in anyone's mouth.  <br><br>Also, as a male therapist, I suppose I might be more attuned to this as it might seem different for a female client with a male therapist.<br><br>Also, don't you think while sitting on the client and using force at the same time, you could hurt your client.  The hands are trained but are our butts!  This post gives me pause and I don't mean to sound glib.   I guess it boils down to how you as the client interpreted it.  In the end, that's all that matters.  <br><br>What do the others think?  Now I'm curious.  <br><br>Joe E. <br><br><br>

[merlescuz]

 But she did post here so my impression is it might have bothered her.  

This is why  I asked. From my reading, it could be interpreted that someone told cjt that it was inappropriate rather than that she was concerned. If that is the case, it seems like somewhat of a non-issue.

As for an mt using their body weight to advantage, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, I would have to guess that they have the technique down. I personally would have no problem with it. I can't imagine using it myself....afraid I would break someone...

[jewelalchemy]

There are several shiatsu moves done that way, but they don't translate very well to tablework, unless both you and the client are smallish. Or your table is really biggish. <br>If I were to do this in a session, I would definitely let the client know what I'm doing before getting up on the table.<br>Jill

[cjt]

thanks again for the replies<br><br>It's not that I was overly concerned about it, it's just that when I told some friends that I got a massage and described what it was like, they mentioned that they might of though it was inapproprite. Then it got me thinking. That's all.<br><br>And I think semi-sit is a better description as to what she did. She wasn't just stationary putting her full weight on me. She was actually quite light. <br><br>I also agree with you Joe_e about the gender difference. If a male mt had done this I probably would of felt uncomfortable. I just wanted to see if it was something that was done in the field. <br><br>Btw...I'm a guy.<br><br>

[kathryn]

 If I went to a massage therapist and they did something like that, I would never go to them again.  The therapist should lower her table, use tools or a heating pad to loosen up the muscle.  Better yet, why not learn the barefoot massage technique.<br>  I know I'm alone on this one, but I think it's highly unprofessional to be straddling the table on the client or over the client.  Imagine if that was someone's first massage and it freaked them out and they never got a massage again and told their friends who might never want to try massage.  Even to lean on the client is unprofessional.  I do lean on my table but am very careful not to lean on the client.<br>  I am petite, slender and find no need to be straddling a client on the table or to lean on them to do deeper work.  

[mush]

i agree with joe's first statement.<br>i was taught that if you need to gain additional leverage, you may kneel on the table to do so after informing the client.<br>i've done this once with a larger male client who had extremely tight muscles, and the table was as low as it could be.  

[Texas-gal]

Also, don't you think while sitting on the client and using force at the same time, you could hurt your client.  The hands are trained but are our butts!  This post gives me pause and I don't mean to sound glib.   I guess it boils down to how you as the client interpreted it.  In the end, that's all that matters.   <br> <br>What do the others think?  Now I'm curious.  

<br><br>I personally think it depends on what kind of training one has had and just how comfortable one would be with a move such as this.<br><br>I am going to tie that in to the "barefoot massage"...

Better yet, why not learn the barefoot massage technique.

which, I am quite sure is a technique that was found to be "unprofessional" by some when it started being taught mainstream here in the US.  I see the roots of this "stretching-the-pelvis w/ the butt - while using the upward-pressure-into-the-lumbar-region" most likely asian in influence... and possibly more along the Thai lines.  <br><br>

Even to lean on the client is unprofessional.

<br><br>As for this statement, I will have to say I disagree.  I know in school they went on and on about this, but in a professional environment, there are times I find I need to actually lean on the client.  It has nothing to do with table height or whatever.  It does have to do with technique that I may have to configure in a way to "get the job done".  I think that is all about intent.  <br><br>

i was taught that if you need to gain additional leverage, you may kneel on the table to do so after informing the client.

 For me, I do find I use a knee on the table at least once every few days.  I don't inform the client of it, and have never had a problem with that.  However, I thank you for making the comment, as it does leave something to think about.<br><br>-- Well, I take that back... I think on occasion I may mention, something to the effect of, "I have to get up here to get this worked out". --<br><br>Thanks!  :)<br> <br>

[touchabilities]

I have also had this done to me, but instead of actually sitting the therapist planted her knees into my gluteal muscles (the sheet was over my buttocks) and did gliding compression strokes up my paraspinals from lumbars up.  I was not uneasy with this in the least.

[Samantha]

Our teacher has shown us a few Tai Massage moves where he flexes the prone client's knees, then sits on their feet, then stretches the arms. We'll be learning more Tai moves from a professional in a few months. So it looks like sometimes with some modalities sitting on a client might be part of the technique. <br><br>On the otherhand, when we studied Shiatsu (which is usually done on the floor but can also be done on a table), throughout the massage we frequently had to position ourselves straddling the client's body in order to apply the correct amount of pressure from the correct angle, and using our body to lean into the strokes. You're either kneeling or sort of squatting to do this and it can be pretty draining on your legs so there can be a temptation, especially for newbies, to get more comfortable by sitting on the client. One of the students did this in class on the instructor and he immediately corrected her (while working on his back she was straddling him and sitting directly on his glutes). <br><br>We all knew she had no ill intention. She was doing her best to learn the proper technique and just got comfortable. Of course we had fun with that. We joked about how it was a good thing she did this while he was prone and before he turned over so she'd be corrected before the position was REALLY bad. <br><br>A few days later, I was under pressure performing our final hands-on Shiatsu exam while the instructor watched. I focused so much on my breathing, rhythm and srokes, that I forgot to be aware of how I was positioned when I had to straddle my client (a fellow student). At one point during the massage, with client prone, I suddenly became aware that I was sitting on my client!! <br><br>I quickly corrected myself and no one said anything about it. I got 100% on the exam so I guess it went completely unnoticed. It made me realize that just because a therapist does something a little unusual (like sitting on you, leaning on you, etc), it probably doesn't mean anything other than that they are so focused in giving the massage, so focused on YOU, they weren't aware of an easy mistake they may have made. <br><br>I'm not naive, I know there really are some unethical MTs out there, but I think the % is pretty small. From what cjt said, I wouldn't worry the least about that experience. And, cjt, if you go back to the same MT, you might want to mention that you prefer she doesn't sit on your glutes, if it makes you feel at all uncomfortable. <br><br>MTs rely very heavily on honest (and kind) feedback, so we can give a more customized massage. Everyone is so different in their likes, dislikes, their comfort level, the level of pressure they like to receive, etc.

[Katykangaroo8]

We have a therapist in the office that does this, and the clients love it.  Some have told me they thought it was weird at first, but then they loved the moves that went along with it.<br><br>I can't imagine doing it myself.  I'd be afraid I'd fall off the table - or knock us both off.  I'm tall-ish, and a bit awkward.  Many of my clients are older and very modest/conservative.  I don't know that it would be an appropriate move for them anyway.<br><br>Katykangaroo

[Samantha]

. . .clafinckius muscle and degiderate your excramiflaxials

Ah, man! Just when I think I've got the muscles and names of basic massage techniques down, I learn of more that I've never, ever heard of! My school hasn't taught us any of these terms!

Cute, EB! LOL ;D

[Texas-gal]

...impending acrobatics and give cjt a chance to say "climb on me and your a dead man"...

<br><br>I LOVE it!  *hehehe*<br><br>In all seriousness, I also am in agreement with EBMT,<br>I too let a first time client know what I do in my session.  Now, after they have been around a while (long-term client), I am not so good at always mentioning something new that I may do... but, as mentioned earlier, never been a problem in that context.<br><br>What a wonderful thread, cjt.  Hopefully you will return with more threads to inspire us from the "clients point of view".  :)<br><br><br><br>

[merlescuz]

"Degiderate"? Yeah, I think I did that once by accident!  ;D