Massage and nudity

There are certain moral and ethical values which must always be observed during a massage. The client's level of comfort must be respected at all times, nor must a massage turn sexual in any way. A practitioner is obliged to full discretion and can never reveal any personal information about a client.

I have often been asked the question of nudity during a massage. How much is a client supposed to undress. I always tell them to undress as much as they are comfortable. It is essential that a client can fully relax while laying on the table and not worry about being naked or what a therapist might think about how they look like. For women I insist on the removal of the bra in order to massage the back properly. If they are uncomfortable when they turn, I drape them with a towel.

Different countries and massage types have various laws and regulations in regards to nudity on the massage table. For instance, in the USA it is mandatory to use draping and/or wear underwear during a massage, while in France there is no such law and it is common not to use draping and be completely naked on the table.

Various massage techniques also benefits from various levels of undressing. Thai massage, Shiatsu and others can easily be done while the client is fully dressed, as long as their clothes do not obstruct or hinder movements, or sit too tightly. Massage Créatif, Californian massage and other full body treatments greatly benefits from full nudity since the clothing obstructs the long smooth movements and breaks the massage rhythm. Deep tissue massage, Swedish massage and other massage form which work on particular zones only requires that the area being worked is nude.

Many therapists leave the buttocks covered during a massage, which is in reality a great shame. There are five large muscles in the buttocks which serve to connect the back with the legs. By ignoring these muscles, the back and thighs can't be completely treated as tensions are not only is found in one area, but also in the neighbouring ones. For example, to treat a lower back pain, the muscles at the buttocks will also need treatment since they are connected to the back muscles.

Bottom line is that the client must always feel comfortable and relaxed with the level of nudity, and the therapist must always respect this. A person who is very conscious about themselves and being naked can't relax fully, nor let go and receive the treatment to the maximum effect.

The body can react to the intimacy of a massage without there being anything sexual in it. Therapists are taught that this is a natural reaction and not to pay attention to it, or even let the client know they have noticed anything.

For men it is natural to get an erection while receiving a massage. It is a physical reaction triggered by nerves and physical stimuli to sensitive areas. Women also can get physical reactions, though these are usually much less visible.

The more worried and stressed a client is about physical reactions to a massage, the more likely it is going to happen. It is a little trick our mind plays, and the recommendation is to breathe deeply, focus on breathing, try and ignore the physical reaction and just allow oneself to enjoy the massage. There is nothing sexual at all in getting an erection or another physical reaction to a massage.

The more used to getting a massage one is, the less is the risk of any physical reaction. The client can relax more and the 'tabu' of being touched has been 'broken' and become a natural thing.

A therapist must never touch the genitals or nipples. These are off-limit areas due to the intimacy of such a touch, nor is there any therapeutic benefit to such massage. A woman's breasts are not massaged either. A massage can be a sensual enjoyable experience, but it must never become sexual.

If the genitals happen to be in the way during the massage that area is just not massaged. There are plenty of techniques which can be used instead, and many surrounding areas which can be treated without having to relocate anything.

To sum up. Nudity is normal and non-sexual. Erections do happen and are completely natural. A massage therapist is trained to ignore such reactions. And a massage therapist will never touch any private areas.

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More about Massage and Nudity, Massage and the Sexual Aspect.

Lomi Lomi

Lomi Lomi is the name for Hawaiian massage which primarily uses palms, forearms, knuckles, and elbows, though knees, feet and even sticks and stones can be used as tools. It is a holistic healing tradition which goes beyond simple massage and is almost as old as civilization on the islands. Each family would have their own version of Lomi Lomi and everybody would give and receive.

This massage form is both relaxing and energizing at the same time. The movements are precise and planned, embracing and rhythmic, brought together in fluid harmony. It is a healing massage inspired by Aloha, the energy of love, but also by the waves of the ocean and the tropical breezes. Lomi Lomi captures the spirit of Hawaii.

The masseuse mostly uses her forearms to perform smooth and profound movements, they are surrounding and ethereal, slow and fast. She creates, smooths, encloses, cuts, but also positions herself over the body and immobilises it, while applying her bodyweight to obtain an intense massage. Linked to that is a precise and intense pressure point stimulation. The combination of all the techniques bring harmony and almost perfect balance that builds consciousness of the body and of the now. One strongly and fully senses the positive energy.

Lomi Lomi is more than just a massage. It is a treatment of the entire being, and will often involve meditation techniques, change of diet, advise, self-help activities, spirituality and other things which lie outside the scope of ordinary massage.

Massage books review

Some useful books for massage and wellness.

	This is my first aromatherapy book, or rather, booklet. Since it's a quick overview of a number of essential oils and their physical and mental properties.
	A very useful book on aromatherapy focusing mostly on the psychological aspects of aromatherapy. It works from Chinese medicine point of view, involving the five elements, chi-energy, temperature and combining them with Western approaches. There's also a brief introduction to a light aromatherapy massage. It describes 40 essential oils in depth and is very useful for choosing the right essential oils for a good massage that has a holistic approach.
	Having a rather scientific approach with lots of analysis of the oils, it can be a dry read. There are a lot of chemical naming, scientific expressions and systematic organisation of the descriptions. A book for those who wants to really get into depth with aromatherapy and treat it as a science.
	A beautiful book with many photos introducing the reader to aromatherapy and the most commonly used oils and their properties. The second half of the book teaches the reader the basics of classical/Swedish massage with plenty of photos to illustrate the techniques. There are also a few chapters upon self-massage. A good overall introductory read for those interested in learning how to massage and wanting to try things out before attending classes.
	An easy accessible book teaching the basic massage gestures body part by body part. It also covers massages for seasons, water and cleansing, some stress management as well as a very brief introduction to essential oils and their uses in massage blends. Another good book for beginners wanting to be introduced to massage and try out some basic techniques.
	A very thorough book on whole body massage, head, feet and body. It teaches the reader about various massage techniques, as well as speaks about the physical and spiritual aspects of the body giving a quick overview over various systems and energy points. It goes into detail on all three massage types (head, body and feet), with very elaborate descriptions and photos. The book also gives self treatment exercises as well as touches upon aromatherapy. This book is recommended to those who wish to learn how to massage and also as a companion to those who already know the basics and would like a brush up and more inspiration on classical massage.
	A well written and in depth introduction to and textbook in reflex zone therapy, also known as reflexology. It covers the various zones of the feet and how to treat them as well as brings a collection of case-stories serving as educative examples. A good tool for those who implement reflexology into their massages.
	A good practical introduction to Shiatsu, going step by step through a basic full body Shiatsu treatment. It introduces the reader to the energy concept, as well as covering diet, simple health problems and their treatment, accupressure points, methods of oriental diagnosis as well as shiatsu self-exercises to balance your energy. A good read to get introduced to Shiatsu and learning some basic methods.
	An in depth guide of Shiatsu written by son of the founder of the Japan Shiatsu College which covers many aspects of Shiatsu. Pressure points, meridians, treatments for a wide range of problems, muscular groups, energies and so on. It is a good teaching book.

Californian Massage

Californian massage is a gentle massage technique, which aims to bring a physical and mental balance of the client through soft long strokes that connect the entire body.

It is based upon Swedish (classical) massage, but instead of working in sections focusing on muscle groups one step at a time, Californian massage works on the entire body at once, not dividing the body into sections. The pressure is usually light and gentle, aiming more towards the mental aspect of the massage than the physical. It is a massage which works to relax and treat the entire body and not work on solving specific localized issues. The massage can work in depth if it is necessary for the emotional release, but generally it is a soft, long, fluid and caressing massage to bring the client into balance with her body.

The technique was developed in California at the Esalan institute in Big Sur in the early 1970's among a group psychotherapists. They found the need for a massage which could support their personal explorations and deep insights. A massage which was nourishing and caring, releasing and protective, tender and unifying.

Margareth Elke was taken by the psychological and spiritual aspects of the Esalan massage and brought in her knowledge of Swedish massage. With others developed a new massage form aimed towards mental and physical relaxation and wellness.

The result is a highly relaxing massage which enables people to get back into touch with themselves, physically and mentally.

Sources and further reading:
http://www.asscdm.com/articles/200511californianmassagee.htm
http://www.massage-californien.com/Massage.pdf
http://www.massagenet.com/editorials/editorial_1.htm
http://www.esalen.org/