Please Stop Apologizing for Your Body!

by Pallas Hutchison

Many massages begin with the client saying "I'm sorry, I forgot to shave my legs!" or "I'm sorry about my feet." Even worse, some people seem truly horrified when I tell them what I do. They refuse to get a massage, regardless of the benefits, because they "don't want anyone to see my body, much less touch it." By coming in to get a massage, the client trusts the massage therapist with their body and all of the insecurities that go with it. This is both a gift and a responsibility that we, as massage therapists, do not take lightly.

Massage therapists respect every client's modesty and privacy. Clients disrobe only to their level of comfort and get on the massage table underneath the sheet; this could mean completely nude or fully dressed. If the client opts for nude, the massage therapist still won't see him/her naked. During the massage, the only area uncovered is the area currently being massaged. The area then gets re-draped before the massage therapist moves on to the next area.

Everyone can pick out at least one part of themselves that they don't like. It could be a birthmark or some extra weight, skin tags or a hairy back, a skin condition or scars from an old injury. These things make each client unique and, while they are a part of you, they do not define you. Massage therapists see them only as much as they affect the function of your body and your health. For the most part, this is what massage therapist's see when a client is on the table...

Unless a client comes directly from a gym dripping in sweat or straight off a boat after a week of deep sea fishing with no shower, massage therapists truly do not get offended by the human body. You wouldn't apologize for having brown eyes so please don't apologize for other parts of your body.

[Images from Pinterest]