aromatherapy massage!!!!

[Beer n wings]

Has anyone else checked out their local clinics to see what they offer and what the treatments are like? I desperately needed a massage so i thought I would kill 2 birds with 1 stone and book in to have an aromatherpay massage. I rang round a few clinics and one had free appointments what ever time i liked, now is this a good thing to admit or not? I decided on a 3/4 massage which included the back head and face, great just what I needed. Half an hour later I was sitting in a rather cramped little shop/beauty clinic. Asked to fill out my personal details. ie name address etc.
I was then taken into one of the therapy rooms where a very inviting couch greeted me. Nice plush towels, with top towel and blanket made up like a bed. Ooohh. Again the room was cluttered with bits of equipment for beauty treatments of all kinds. The therapist, who was smartly dressed and a bit nervous, asked if i had any pain or problems in my back. I replied I had a very aching lower back and shoulders like rocks. She left the room to let me get onto the couch.Which was lovely and cosy. She returned, asked if I was pregnant and then decided what oils she would use, explaining why she had chosen the two oils. The therapist then disappeared and came back a few minutes later with a blend of oils, lavender clary sage & bergamot. i don't like clary sage !. it was ok not too overpowering. Good pressure over muscles, although a bit too much pressure over my lower back and not enough time spent on my shoulders, they felt half done. I turned over, looking forward to a nice face and head massage.......................well she applied pressure point massage to my face and my head didn't get touched. What a shame as I was so looking forward to it. I won't be going back there. I shall try somwhere else.
I didn't say anything as It didn't make me cross just disappointed.
It is interesting to see how other therapists work.
has any one else had treatments they thought could have been better etc.
Do you think it is possible to find a therapist who can massage the way we want to be massaged or the way we massage other people, if you get my drift!!!!!!!!

I am planning my next treament, I shall be broke but relaxed by Christmas !

 

[doonussmisa]

Hi Hotpepper

So sorry that your aromatherapy massage was disappointing - it gives all of us a bad name.

I am an aromatherapist working from home and renting a room in a couple of clinics. Unfortuntately, when I do rent a room, there are some compromises. One of the rooms is quite cramped, the heating is a noisy fan heater that is either on or off, the lighting not brilliant, etc. I do speak to the proprietor on my requirements, but it is difficult to get everything just the way you want it.

However, I do make a point of introducing myself to my client, explaining that I have to carry out a health and lifestyle consultation, which includes a question on what the client's expectations are, so that hopefully I can meet them or if I think they are unreasonable, I can explain why. I then go on to explain what the treatment will entail. I tell them before I mix the oils which ones I will be using and why and give them the chance to smell the blend as well. I also check to see if they are warm enough, comfortable and tell them to let me know if the pressure needs to be more or less during the treatment.

Hopefully the treatment will be a good experience for them and then I explain to them any possible contra-actions and aftercare advice.

In my view, a therapy is far more than just the treatment itself - it is making a connection with the client and understanding what they want from the treatment.

There are good and bad in every field and it was unfortunate that your experience was not as you expected. I am always happy to speak to potential clients before their treatments so they can have a chat about what they want and what could be achieved, so I would recommend that you phone up an aromatherapist and have a chat beforehand. You can then ascertain their attitude to their clients and their treatments before you book.

Good luck.

Lesley

 

[Tibiman]

HI

I am a complementary therapist and I have been to loads of places for massages to try them out and none of them massage how I want to be massaged.

It is extremely frustrating really, but one of the main reasons I have come up with is that most of the places are beauty salons and I am a complementary therapist.

I think beauty salons have so many therapies to offer that they tend not to massage often and so when they do it isn't as good as someone who massages all the time.

Calmspirits

 

[Gellex ?]

I know what you're saying Calmspirits. However, I work freelance in a Beauty Salon in a Health and Leisure centre, i.e. I rent a room as a Holistic Therapist so I only ever do aromatherapy, reflexology and holistic massage. So it may be as well to check. Some beauty salons provide what they call aromatherapy, but the oils are all pre-blended.

As I said, best to call and speak to the aromatherapist before booking, to get an idea of what to expect.

Lesley

 

[Stella S]

I find it incredibly hard to get a good massage and only know of one person who does it very well and I can't get her often!

I know there are good therapists practicing in all sorts of places, but in the main I wouldn't go to a beauty salon for a good massage.

There are lots of very mediocre therapists around sadly, which gets us a bad name, but on the plus side the good therapists stay busy. I was once turned away from a beauty salon as I had a stiff neck and she wouldn't touch me.

She shouldn't have used clary sage on you without more investigation, ie did you have a period at the time/do you have heavy periods or would be you be drinking alcohol later?

It's worth continuing your research and seeing if you can find anybody who is good near you and you can also discover other things that you like/don't like about them and the premises.[X(]