massage for general public at massage school

I am currently attending a massage school, and we do have a
student clinic. My first "professional" massage was at that
clinic. It was incredible! Kept me coming back, and was one
reason I decided to study at this school.

The only potential downside that I can see to going to a
clinic is that you may get a relatively inexperienced
person. It is a training facility for all the students,
after all. I know in our school, students have a full year
of technique and studies under their belt before they are
introduced to the public, so even an inexperienced MT has a
good amount of background. I was just there last weekend and
had an excellent massage from a newbie. She had all the fresh-
faced excitement of someone moving into the next level of
exposure, and the technique to give me a great massage.
There were areas she didn't/ couldn't work on due to the
fact that those areas hadn't been covered in her studies
yet, but that was the only thing I had any comment about.
The treatment was as good and even better than some I have
paid full price for.

Two main advantages are that: typically the cost is
significantly less than professional massage and often times
the treatment is as good or better, and; you are helping the
student get the hands-on training they need. I have heard
stories of individuals who started at the clinic with an MT
they really liked, and maintained the relationship after the
training was complete. In this regard, it can be a great way
to find someone you like inexpensively, and get in with them
at the start when they aren't as likely to be charging full
rate. The student is helped by having ready-made clientelle.

The rooms at our clinic are large, multi-use with curtains
for partitions, similar to a hospital. It may not be as
luxurious as at some spas or private facilities, but again,
it is a clinic. The policy is that only whispering is
allowed in the treatment area, so it is relatively quiet.

As part of my education, I am encouraged to get
treatments both in the clinic and out in the "real
world". The things we have to do.... I have experienced
all kinds of spaces from spas to setups in bedrooms and
livingrooms. The main goal was to establish a safe
environment for the client, something that was handled
well in most, but not all of these cases. The clinic our
school runs has the feel of a professional operation, one
I have always felt safe being in.

John Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a notice about massage for the general public at
a massage school when I was driving past.

As a member of the general public do I want to have or
avoid a massage at a massage school?

Are massage school massages given in private rooms or in
barracks type settings?

What are the pros/cons of getting a massage at a
massage school?

Do the students actually want to work on the general
public, as opposed to each other, during their time
at school?

THanks,

JS

P.S., I called the school to ask these questions, but they
were closed.

I can echo most of what Greg said. I'm a student MT, since October. We
spent the first few weeks practicing on each other, so we each got to give
and receive a massage from most of the other group members, then started the
open 'salon's or clinics for the general public. This is an important part
of the training, as it allows us to experience the full process of meeting a
client for the first time, and treating them with full professionalism,
which is more difficult with the other members of the student group. You
can be assured that your therapist is likely to be a little nervous, but
well-motivated to give you a professional treatment. Our clinic is of the
'curtains' style, so is perhaps not as private as a spa setting. If you've
never had a massage at all, it might be worth getting one at a professional
salon first, but it might not necessarily be a better massage, but possibly
a nicer environment. The cost difference is big though, with professional
massages round here for around £40 per hour and student massages for £8
(roughly double the figures to convert to $). Hope you enjoy it, whichever
you choose. Why not try both :-)

"John Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a notice about massage for the general public at
a massage school when I was driving past.

As a member of the general public do I want to have or
avoid a massage at a massage school?

Are massage school massages given in private rooms or in
barracks type settings?

What are the pros/cons of getting a massage at a
massage school?

Do the students actually want to work on the general
public, as opposed to each other, during their time
at school?

THanks,

JS

P.S., I called the school to ask these questions, but they
were closed.

When you go to the clinic, do you have to disrobe or can you
wear light clothing?

~~~~~~~~~
Greg <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am currently attending a massage school, and we do have
a student clinic. My first "professional" massage was at
that clinic. It was incredible! Kept me coming back, and
was one reason I decided to study at this school.

The only potential downside that I can see to going to a
clinic is that you may get a relatively inexperienced
person. It is a training facility for all the students,
after all. I know in our school, students have a full year
of technique and studies under their belt before they are
introduced to the public, so even an inexperienced MT has
a good amount of background. I was just there last weekend
and had an excellent massage from a newbie. She had all
the fresh-faced excitement of someone moving into the next
level of exposure, and the technique to give me a great
massage. There were areas she didn't/ couldn't work on due
to the fact that those areas hadn't been covered in her
studies yet, but that was the only thing I had any comment
about. The treatment was as good and even better than some
I have paid full price for.

Two main advantages are that: typically the cost is
significantly less than professional massage and often
times the treatment is as good or better, and; you are
helping the student get the hands-on training they need. I
have heard stories of individuals who started at the
clinic with an MT they really liked, and maintained the
relationship after the training was complete. In this
regard, it can be a great way to find someone you like
inexpensively, and get in with them at the start when they
aren't as likely to be charging full rate. The student is
helped by having ready-made clientelle.

The rooms at our clinic are large, multi-use with
curtains for partitions, similar to a hospital. It may
not be as luxurious as at some spas or private
facilities, but again, it is a clinic. The policy is that
only whispering is allowed in the treatment area, so it
is relatively quiet.

As part of my education, I am encouraged to get
treatments both in the clinic and out in the "real
world". The things we have to do.... I have experienced
all kinds of spaces from spas to setups in bedrooms and
livingrooms. The main goal was to establish a safe
environment for the client, something that was handled
well in most, but not all of these cases. The clinic our
school runs has the feel of a professional operation, one
I have always felt safe being in.

John Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I noticed a notice about massage for the general public
at a massage school when I was driving past.

As a member of the general public do I want to have or
avoid a massage at a massage school?

Are massage school massages given in private rooms or in
barracks type settings?

What are the pros/cons of getting a massage at a massage
school?

Do the students actually want to work on the general
public, as opposed to each other, during their time at
school?

THanks,

JS

P.S., I called the school to ask these questions, but
they were closed.

BMC said:

When you go to the clinic, do you have to disrobe or can
you wear light clothing?

As in receiving a massage from any therapist, you may leave
on your underwear, and in many school clinics, it's required
that you do so. You will be covered with a sheet, and only
the part being worked on will be exposed - leg, arm, back,
whatever. If you don't wish to disrobe at all, another type
of massage might be more comfortable for you, such as thai
or shiatsu, which are done with clothes on.

sue

"BMC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

When you go to the clinic, do you have to disrobe or can
you wear light clothing?

~~~~~~~~~

It's generally easier to massage someone with clothes off;
at our school, the policy is that clients leave their
underwear on as a boundary and as an anchor for the "drape"
(top sheet). The drape is used as a protective covering so
that only the area being worked on is expeosed.

However, if a client is uncomfortable with removing their
clothing, the MT can work on them through the clothing.
Because the MT can't use oil, and because there is a
barrier, it probably won't feel as good or be as deep.

As was suggested before, it might be advisable to get a
treatment at a private facility first, just so you know more
or less what to expect.

BMC <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When you go to the clinic, do you have to disrobe or can
you wear light clothing?

~~~~~~~~~

You sure could remain dressed. As a matter of fact, when I
finished school, I went back to the school clinic (and
continue to do so) and that morning, the director of the
clinic didn't have the proper key to get into the closet
with the sheets. He told us that we would receive work with
our clothes on though at no charge. I am all about saving a
few bucks so I went with it. My practitioner did a better
job then most do when I am undressed. He was nervous of
course, as this threw him off completely but I was amazed as
how relaxed and how good his touch was.

If you go to a clinic and they say you must undress, I think
that is unprofessional.

Tiffany

John Smith said:

I noticed a notice about massage for the general public at
a massage school when I was driving past.

As a member of the general public do I want to have or
avoid a massage at a massage school?

Probably "have."

Quoted message said:

Are massage school massages given in private rooms or in
barracks type settings?

At the school I attended they were in a large room that was
curtained off into individual cubicles (the same setup we
used for our own practice sessions.)

Quoted message said:

What are the pros/cons of getting a massage at a
massage school?

Pro: low cost ($20.00 vs $60.00), you're probably going to
get a professional-grade massage (at least in my experience,
because the "internship" was the last part of the
curriculum.)

Con: you'll be getting someone with less overall experience
than you'd find at a professional spa or massage
establishment.

Quoted message said:

Do the students actually want to work on the general
public, as opposed to each other, during their time
at school?

By the time I got to that point, I'd been working on my
fellow students for about 9 months. It was interesting to
work on people with different body sizes and shapes.

-Chris Zakes LDP Massage Texas

"If I've reached the place where I'm a good influence on
anybody, it's time I cultivated some new vices."

-Oscar Jensen in "Space Cadet" by Robert Heinlein

It seems odd that the massage school would object to towel-
only draped subjects which is exactly how they will be
presented to the technician in her professional practice.

Obviously there are whole groups of muscles which cannot be
massaged through clothing as they would with bare skin; this
would put the graduate student in a position of having to
perform service for licensure or fee without previous
experience on that musculature. To me, it sounds like she
would be ill-prepared without the hands-on experience of a
realistic subject presentation.

People who have trouble looking at or handling the
unclothed human body while engaging in providing massage
service are in the wrong business. This applies doubly to
schools. I took a summer course in massage therapy at a
small private massage school adjacent to a commercial
massage business; we used each other for subjects and in
all cases, only toweling was used for coverage. None of us
had any problems with that.

There is a simple one-word answer here...."Liability". In
this wonderful, letigious society in which we live, everyone
is worried about lawsuits. Not having gotten that far in my
studies, I don't know how the school addresses the glutes
and other muscles in that area, but considering they are
renouned in these parts, there must be some provision built
into the cirriculum.

Anonymous via the Cypherpunks Tonga Remailer
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It seems odd that the massage school would object to towel-
only draped subjects which is exactly how they will be
presented to the technician in her professional practice.

Obviously there are whole groups of muscles which cannot
be massaged through clothing as they would with bare skin;
this would put the graduate student in a position of
having to perform service for licensure or fee without
previous experience on that musculature. To me, it sounds
like she would be ill-prepared without the hands-on
experience of a realistic subject presentation.

People who have trouble looking at or handling the
unclothed human body while engaging in providing massage
service are in the wrong business. This applies doubly to
schools. I took a summer course in massage therapy at a
small private massage school adjacent to a commercial
massage business; we used each other for subjects and in
all cases, only toweling was used for coverage. None of us
had any problems with that.

Greg <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

There is a simple one-word answer here...."Liability". In
this wonderful, letigious society in which we live,
everyone is worried about lawsuits. Not having gotten that
far in my studies, I don't know how the school addresses
the glutes and other muscles in that area, but considering
they are renouned in these parts, there must be some
provision built into the cirriculum.

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school dicision
whether or not to do that. I don't think its a liability
issue, just a way for the school to not have to worry

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to work
just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

I'd have to disagree with your "just as well through a
draping" assessment as you cannot use long stokes
(successfully, IMHO) over draping. Yes, you can do some good
through draping (with a fist), but that is totally different
in feel and overall results. The way I look at it, you are
reducing your massage options by more than 50% if you only
work over draping.

"Tiffany" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school dicision
whether or not to do that. I don't think its a liability
issue, just a way for the school to not have to

worry

Quoted message said:

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to work
just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

Depends on the therapists technique. I get best results
working points so if a client wants to remain draped or with
underwear on, I work points and energy flow in the area. If
someone is not comfortable with their bare ass sticking out,
then that won't be the best way to work, will it? Its about
what is best for each individual.

Tiffany George <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd have to disagree with your "just as well through a
draping" assessment as you cannot use long stokes
(successfully, IMHO) over draping. Yes, you can do some
good through draping (with a fist), but that is totally
different in feel and overall results. The way I look at
it, you are reducing your massage options by more than 50%
if you only work over draping.

"Tiffany" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school
dicision whether or not to do that. I

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think its a liability issue, just a way for the school
to not have to

worry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to
work just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

All liability can be waived. The school must have an
informed consent prosess, just like in a full running
clinic. It is up to the therapist ( student , school, clinic
) to ensure that any work to be done is explained BEFORE
hand. All questions asked must be understood, by ALL parties
involved. With the client's signature and a witness, the
only thing you have to worry about are your own
"Professional Ethics".

WE all as Therapists have had to work in a school setting.
Without it, how would we be able to get the supervised
practicum that helps us learn?

When we are almost finished with our education, we must
treat clients provided by the school, ( in Ontario 200
Hrs minimum ) in a clinical setting. The cost to the
client is merely half, but the clientele knows what they
are getting into.

As a Therapist for over 6 years, Massage to the public from
a certified school attracting clients for the purpose of
educating is worth the risk. Go enjoy your Massage and give
any feedback that you feel nessessary to help the
prospecting professional.

And do not ever forget, you are in control of the treatment.

GL; to all

D; "George" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd have to disagree with your "just as well through a
draping" assessment as you cannot use long stokes
(successfully, IMHO) over draping. Yes, you can do some
good through draping (with a fist), but that is totally
different in feel and overall results. The way I look at
it, you are reducing your massage options by more than 50%
if you only work over draping.

"Tiffany" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school
dicision whether or not to do that. I

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think its a liability issue, just a way for the school
to not have to

worry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to
work just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

I can't for the life of me figure out how one would massage
an abdomen unless we're talking about guys and gals with six
packs (even when they're relaxed).

JS

Tiffany said:

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school dicision
whether or not to do that. I don't think its a liability
issue, just a way for the school to not have to worry

Quoted message said:

Tiffany

Tiffany said:

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to work
just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

I've had 5 professional massages in my life (3 in the
last 3 weeks).

The first was markedly unremarkable. I left that massage
with the idea that professional massages were a pointless
waste of money.

I had a second one several years later. The MT told me to
strip to my underwear and wait on the table. The massage was
pleasant, but again unremarkable.

My third massage, a few years later, and the MT told me
she'd be back after I undressed and to lay face down on the
table under the sheet. I stripped down to my underwear and
laid down as instructed. This massage was different than the
first two: it felt very good while in progress and even the
next day I noticed my chronic lower back pain was
temporarily gone. This was a massage I felt was worth my
time and money.

Something the MT said made me tell her that I didn't know
whether I was supposed to keep my underwear on or take them
off. The MT told me she could do a better massage with them
off and if I was comfortable to go ahead and take them off
next time.

The difference the next time between the previously limited
massage (with an underwear barrier) and the second and third
of 3 massages was striking! Previously neglected lateral hip
areas/gluteal areas responded very well to the massage. For
me the difference, with this MT, was significant.

Now I'm just trying to win the lottery so I can have
daily massages!

JS

I have one client in particular with a lot of abdominal pain
in that musculature. (she is also fibromyalgic) She tells me
early into her fibromyalgia that her abdominal area is where
she began getting pain signals and really got some relief
and a good night's sleep after working that area.. There are
no six packs on her belly however.. But we were taught to
work clockwise and with the motion of the upper and lower
GI.. it can cause a very deep relaxation.. and why not..
there are muscles in the abdomen that are supporting our
posture and aid in flexion forward.. tilting side to side..
twisting our upper torsos, etc. It's not just organs and
ribs up there. :-) ALSO.. I might add.. that I was
verrrrrrrry impressed with the results of some early
myofascial releases we did on people's abdomens.. it seemed
to work as a nice catalyst for the relaxation process as a
precursor to the actual massage.

Mj "John Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I can't for the life of me figure out how one would
massage an abdomen unless we're talking about guys and
gals with six packs (even when they're relaxed).

JS

Tiffany said:

My school allows gluteal and abdominal massage with or
without that area being draped so it is a school
dicision whether or not to do that. I

don't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

think its a liability issue, just a way for the school
to not have to

worry

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Tiffany

John Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tiffany said:

When doing gluteal work though, one should be able to
work just as well through a draping.

Tiffany

I've had 5 professional massages in my life (3 in the last
3 weeks).

The first was markedly unremarkable. I left that massage
with the idea that professional massages were a pointless
waste of money.

I had a second one several years later. The MT told me to
strip to my underwear and wait on the table. The massage
was pleasant, but again unremarkable.

My third massage, a few years later, and the MT told me
she'd be back after I undressed and to lay face down on
the table under the sheet. I stripped down to my underwear
and laid down as instructed. This massage was different
than the first two: it felt very good while in progress
and even the next day I noticed my chronic lower back pain
was temporarily gone. This was a massage I felt was worth
my time and money.

Something the MT said made me tell her that I didn't know
whether I was supposed to keep my underwear on or take
them off. The MT told me she could do a better massage
with them off and if I was comfortable to go ahead and
take them off next time.

The difference the next time between the previously
limited massage (with an underwear barrier) and the second
and third of 3 massages was striking! Previously neglected
lateral hip areas/gluteal areas responded very well to the
massage. For me the difference, with this MT, was
significant.

Now I'm just trying to win the lottery so I can have daily
massages!

JS

Good luck with that lottery winning!

I do also like to not have underwear on if needing and
wanting my gluts done but I, like you, are comfortable with
it. If one isn't, they just won't dig
it. Many clients will, after establishing trust, go without
underwear. Sometimes one has be to be patient.

T

John Smith said:

I can't for the life of me figure out how one would
massage an abdomen unless we're talking about guys and
gals with six packs (even when they're relaxed).

Ever have your tummy rubbed? It feels really good!

But seriously.... There's lots of things to work on in the
abdominal area. Up under the ribcage, you can get at the
liver, spleen and diaphragm. In the lower part, we were
taught how to access the psoas muscles. In between, we were
taught clockwise stroking, a small counterclockwise movement
for the small intestine, and a stroke called the wave, that
goes from side to side for massage of the large intestine.
And the abdominal muscles can still be felt even when
they're not developed at all.

sue

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 04:58:31 GMT, John Smith <[email hidden]> wrote:

(snip)

Quoted message said:

Now I'm just trying to win the lottery so I can have daily
massages!

There's an easier way. Do what my wife did: marry a massage
therapist. <G>

-Chris Zakes LDP Massage Texas

Have you ever noticed how much "political correctness"
resembles a complete lack of a sense of humor?