Why massage the stomach

The stomach is probably the most sensitive area to massage. It is the most unprotected part of our body, and it can be a strong emotional experience to receive a stomach massage.

Physically there are many benefits to an abdominal massage. Stress and emotional tensions are stored in the stomach and can cause digestive and other related health problems. By massaging the stomach the muscles are made to relax, allowing for the organs to settle in their right places. Blood flow is increased which in return makes the organs function better.

Massage is an excellent method to address the symptoms of stress and digestive issues. The stimulation of the intestines helps the system work properly, increases the bowel movements, releases gasses and helps remove blockages that might be present. It is a method that is effective for all people, colicy babies, stressed adults and people, who due to medication have problems with the stomach.

Emotionally it can be a big step to accept a massage of the stomach. It is a very sensitive area and associated with strong emotions. It is in the stomach that we feel the strong feelings such as fear, nervousness and excitement. It is essential that the client trusts the massage therapist to give the massage. The massage therapist must in return be very intuitive and sensitive, listen to the client's signals and pay careful attention to the reactions that might come.

It can become a very releasing experience to receive a sensitive and gentle massage, where pent up feelings finally can be let go of. It takes trust and courage to display emotions to a stranger and many people will feel uncomfortable about it and hold back. Once the trust between client and massage therapist has been established, the massage can be taken to a deeper level. The massage becomes a fully holistic treatment, affecting body, mind and soul.

Massage and overweight

Overweight is usually not a problem when giving a massage to a client. The massage therapist is trained to take it into consideration and knows how to deal with what issues might arise.

As with body hair the massage therapist will not be judging or evaluating the looks and attractiveness of the client. We are used to all body types and appreciate them all for their uniqueness and the person inside. In fact, most massage therapists will welcome a different challenge and session, allowing them to explore and expand on techniques they might not get a chance to employ that often. The looks of a client is the last of our concerns. We focus on the issues at hand and at giving the client the best possible treatment on all levels. Physically, mentally and spiritually.

Even when the overweight becomes so much that the muscles are hidden, there are techniques to address these challenges. Trigger points can still be reached and stimulated as well as stretches can be used. A good massage therapist is educated in not only using her fingers to massage, but also use palms, forearms and even elbows. These are all methods that will allow the therapist to work in depth in spite of what body fat might be covering the muscles.

There is also the entire relaxation and well-being part of a massage which doesn't depend on the ability to use fingers to work on a muscle. A long smooth massage strokes makes the client relax and let go, which in return relaxes the muscles and helps removing tensions. The massage therapist aids the client in healing himself.

There are many benefits to a massage for an overweight person, both mentally and physically. Massage physically has the same benefits no matter the weight of the client, since the reactions in the body, the relaxation and de-stressing works the same. Psychologically overweight people can benefit from a massage even more than normal weight people. Studies show that massage can help people to accept their body as it is. Being accepted by the massage therapist can become a great victory and a good massage session will be a very positive experience for the client.

The massage therapist must always be sensitive to the client's needs and concerns and take all these things into consideration. It can be by draping, taking extra time to prepare to allow the client to feel at ease, talking to the client, using oils that makes the client feel confident and trusting, be reassuring and always 100% professional, never letting any personal opinion or thought surface. That said, most massage therapists have experience in massaging overweight people and are quite used to it.

A good massage therapist is always open to talk to the client about what concerns he might have and answer any question objectively and professionally. The confidence between therapist and client is sacred. There is no need to worry about what might be said and shared once the session is over.

Do not cheat yourself for a good massage because of worries about your weight or looks.

Further reading:
http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2006/08/bodywork_for_ob.html

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.

More about massage and nudity

Nudity in massage will always be affected by regional customs, culture and laws. While many massages clearly will benefit from full nudity, it is not always possible to do so. The most important aspect is to find and do what the client feels most comfortable with.

A massage therapist must always adhere to the wishes of the client. If the client is uncomfortable lying naked on the massage table, she can't relax properly and the massage will be less efficient. A person who is worried about her appearances and at unease being naked will automatically tense her muscles and be slightly stressed over the situation. This is of course counter productive to the purpose of getting a massage and as such it is better to cover the client as she requests even if it makes the massage less effective. The comfort of the patient will make up for what might be lost in the massage.

The second most important aspect is what the massage therapist feels comfortable with. If the massage therapist is uncomfortable being around a nude person, she will focus on that aspect instead of concentrating fully on her massage and the connection with the client. At worst, she might even distance herself, detach herself from the treatment and not listen to the clients signals well enough to give the best massage.

It is of utmost importance that the client trusts the massage therapist and can fully let go, and that the massage therapist feels confident and at ease with the situation. Massage therapy is a two way communication where the two partners need to attune to each other. And should this communication fail, the massage will become mechanical and without any depth or full relaxation.

Different cultures have different views on nudity. In Denmark it is not illegal to swim naked at public beaches, in France you can find film-posters with a topless woman carrying a baby, while in the US it's forbidden to even show a nipple on television before midnight. These differences in cultures can not only make the client feel uncomfortable lying nude on the table, but also the make the therapist feel unease by giving the massage.

In some places, for instance France it is common to receive a massage undraped and nude. Especially for those unfamiliar with massages and customs, this can leave the client with confusion as to what sort of massage he or she will be receiving. It then becomes even more important that the massage therapist has a proper appearance and is dressed in a manner that shows seriousness and professionalism.

Finally, there can be local laws and regulations that must be followed. In some places it is set by law that a massage therapist must drape their clients, while in others there are no regulations at all. There will also be various rules and advice on nudity and draping depending on which organization the massage therapist belongs to or which school she has been attending.

Related articles:
Massage and Nudity, Massage and the Sexual Aspect, Massage and Body hair, and Massage and Overweight.