Bolsters or pillows

[Sarah Stone]

Just wondering if any of you use pillows under the knees rater than a bolster and if you can tell if the clients prefer pillows to using a bolster. I personally prefer to have a pillow under my knees.

Also I am wondering which type of bolster to get, the half or the full round. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[vighnesvaran]

I think everyone has a different preference on pillows vs. bolster. I use a Jumbo Half-Round. One colleauge uses a Fluffy Bolster (it's a little softer). Another colleague uses pillows like you do. In my opinion, all that matters is that you use something to support the knees supine & the ankles prone. If you like pillows best yourself, you might as well stick with pillows!

 

[ssssss]

my :2cents:

if you're going mobile, i'd get a 6" half round. (what i use)
if you're equipping your own space, have both a bolster and pillows available.

i'm personally not a fan of pillows. i like half round over full because it doesn't roll away.

i wish i had a wedge, which i find great for very large folks. but it's somewhat impractical for mobile, unless it's a regular client, which i have none currently that my half round doesn't accommodate.

 

[Zubayr]

I have a fluffy full bolster, the half ones just seem to hard for me. What I like about mine is the client sinks into it so to speak.
I use pillows only for their head. Once I am done with their neck and shoulders I put a standard pillow under their head. Makes them more comfortable and able to relax a bit more.

 

[MelBo]

I don't like pillows at all for myself, but I keep one around for clients who prefer them. (Plus a long one for sidelying.) To solve the "too hard" bolster problem, I made my own - I just rolled up some softer foam I had into a cylinder, wrapped it with a Naugahyde tube (or similar), and cinched the ends shut w/ties in a casing. But most of my clients like the short wedge I made out of a wedgy-shaped cushion - instead of a triangle in profile it's more trapezoidy. Again, softer foam because it was meant to be furniture. After a nice trip to the cleaner and a new impermeable covering, it was ready to go. When clients are face-down, the higher end goes under their ankles; when face-up, the higher end goes under the knees. It's like BodyCushion junior with the shaping, and I get a lot better positioning than I used to with pillows or bolsters.

 

[Breanna]

As has been mentioned, different people like different things. For years I used pillows and was happy with that. Now I use the bolster that comes with the body cushions. I don't use the body cushions (except in special instances) but I love the bolster! It's very supportive when under the knees.

I do still use a pillow when doing hot stone massage because I like to place a stone under the knees and the bolster is too firm for that.

Try various options and then see which one works best for you.

Angie

 

[sgtslick321]

i don't care for pillows. i use a half round bolster.

 

[Kenneth C]

I'm another bodyCushion bolster person though if my bodyCushion is not available, I do have 2 dead pillows stuck into a single pillowcase that gives a very firm support for under the knees/ankles. I had to get something large and flat for under the ankles so I could rest hot stones in the instep, lesser pillows/bolsters just didn't do work.

 

[BuBlyGiRlXXX]

Thanks for the replys. Besides pillows, I am looking into the body cushion bolster option. Is this the type your talking about?

http://www.massagemarket.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MM&Product_Code=BS00ASOB&Category_Code=_BODYCUSHION_B

Or can you tell me of another place to buy them. Thanks!!

 

[Panacea]

Yes, that's the one that I use. You can buy them at any major massage supply store (massagewarehouse, bodyworkmall and so on.) Check around on the internet to find the best price.

Angie