Front or Back?

[betteryawn]

Just a quickie . . .

Am I the only MT on the planet who prefers to work on clients supine first and finish with them prone? I've never had a complaint from clients . . . but I have yet to find another MT who does it that way.

My reasoning is as follows:

1) Especially with a new client, I prefer having them face up in the beginning, starting with facial and head work, asking and answering any questions etc. I like the more personal eye contact in the beginning when I am getting to know them.

2) Every time I get a self-care from another MT and they start on the back and finish with the head and face I end up with oil on my face and through my hair. I hate that feeling -- especially in the morning or middle of the day when I don't have time in between clients to clean up. That's why I always start my clients with the head and face using no oil -- then complete the rest of the massage with oil.

3) At least for my clients, their favorite part is the back and neck massage and I love ending with that.

I'm just curious . . . doe anyone else do a session like that? Other than learning the prone first/supine last routine in school are there good reasons you have for starting prone first?? Advaneforum.xxxes/Benefits to the client?

Excuse if this is a silly question! Sherry

 

[legenddael]

Not silly at all. In fact, I also start supine for the same reasons, and like you, find that I don't know anyone else around me that does. In my school, we were taught supine first, and I beleive most of my classmates that are still practicing start this way. I can't stand oil in my hair or on my face, and the thought of someone working on my feet -and yes, they're clean- and then my face grosses me out. All of that said, I do occasionally start prone if I have a client that needs extra attention on the back, simply because I can work as much as I need to without having to worry about going over in our session, or having them think I didn't do enough.

 

[gibson.samantha23]

There are many therapists out there who also start supine, then move prone. Not as many as start the client prone.

Usually, I start the client prone and only because of my shiatsu training, we were taught one way chi moves in the body is down the back and up the front. Also, most of my clients sinuses almost always stuff up while face down, so by the end of the session (being face up) they are cleared.

I keep a bottle of sanitizer beside the table and thoroughly wipe my hands before massaging the face and scalp. When starting the massage with the client prone, I always start with the scalp (unless client doesn't want to mess up hair) and pump my lotion only when starting the body.
I have had several therapists start the session with me prone and put a big glob of oil in my hair which is troublesome because my hair is very fine and straight, so am sensitive about not doing this to clients. (and its not necessary)

If the client is in for shoulder issues, I always start supine to loosen the subscap/pecs/ scalenes/ ant.deltoid and biceps, then have the client flip over.

Or if the client requests to start supine, which is rare.

 

[Islamia]

mr. mush and i only start supine.
some of our reasons:
1. why start prone on people that are holding alot of their issues in their neck, back, and shoulder? starting supine allows the mind and spirit to rest, and the physical aspect of relaxing has already come well into play by the time that you do the back for the last 15-20 minutes, and the back is really ready and anticipating the work. if you go prone first, you're fighting all of this.
2. turning prone to finish, and doing posterior legs/glutes first, will stave off the sinus thing until the very last 15-20 minutes, rather than 3/4 of the remaining work.
3. i'm with the 'don't touch my face after my feet' club. and the 'no lube in the hair' one too.
4. if i'm to have a problem with a male client (mobile here), i'll know in the first 15 minutes
if he's barking up the wrong tree. i hate to find out after 30 minutes that the guy is going
to 'fish' me for something extra. mr. mush finds that it is the same for his female clients.

 

[Coolyash]

the thought of someone working on my feet -and yes, they're clean- and then my face grosses me out.

I sometimes start prone, sometimes start supine depending on the needs of the client. If I do start the client prone then I do their feet while they are prone, turn them over and then before starting with the front of the body I use a generous portion of hand sanitizer to remove any "footiness" from my hands.


Angie

 

[LaurShark]

I start some clients prone, some supine. If they have sinus issues, I always start them prone - let them drain a bit, then end with a sinus massage and they feel SO much better. If they do not want face cradle lines on their faces when they walk out - one lady called it "toilet seat face", I start them prone. If they LOVE to end with the cervical wave, I start them prone.

I also have hand sanitizer with me, so that my hands are cleaned immediately before I get to the face and scalp, no matter when that is in the massage.

With new clients, I explain some of the pros and cons of starting either way, and tell them it is their choice - how do they want the massage to end? Some people try one way the first time and the other the second time, then decide. Some people pick one and stick with that forever, and I have a couple who surprise me every time!

 

[Missus Fuchs]

If they LOVE to end with the cervical wave, I start them prone.

what's a cervical wave?

 

[Cooldude]

If they LOVE to end with the cervical wave, I start them prone.

what's a cervical wave?

While they are supine and I am at the head, I reach under their back on both sides of the spine, palms down, then slowly make a fist as I pull my hands back towards their neck. This is very gentle but FIRM pressure because of their body weight. I end at the suboccipitals and hold there for 5-10 seconds. It feels HEAVENLY - and I live too far from any of my classmates to find anyone who will do that to me. I think I'll teach it to my kids!!!

We called it a cervical wave, but it does "wave" part of the thoracic spine, too.

 

[Jos h2o]

If they LOVE to end with the cervical wave, I start them prone.

what's a cervical wave?

While they are supine and I am at the head, I reach under their back on both sides of the spine, palms down, then slowly make a fist as I pull my hands back towards their neck. This is very gentle but FIRM pressure because of their body weight. I end at the suboccipitals and hold there for 5-10 seconds. It feels HEAVENLY - and I live too far from any of my classmates to find anyone who will do that to me. I think I'll teach it to my kids!!!

We called it a cervical wave, but it does "wave" part of the thoracic spine, too.

Sorry for reviving an older post but, this is a great technique! I appreciate your post after having tried this - thanks!

 

[Douglas B]

thanks! i do the wave and didn't know it! t042

 

[Cammie]

thanks! i do the wave and didn't know it! t042

lol - I'm sure we all call plenty of things by different names -it could be fun to find out.

 

[neutreno 3000]

I usually start my clients face up too, for a few different reasons.

1. I have stars painted on my ceiling and when the lights go out, they are at their most intence.

2. I like to work their face before feet whenever I can.

3. Quite a few of my clients have mentioned they like to start face up so they dont end up stuffy for the full session.

If someone complains about bad back pain or wants a lot of work on their back, I will start them face down. I also start the majority of my 30 minute sessions face down because these clients usually want upper body work only.

 

[some girl]

I always start supine for many of the same reasons and exceptions stated above. In school we were taught prone and I'm the only one I know of that starts supine. Execept for those here of course.

 

[SweetNothings]

Wow, Gang, thanks for the responses!

I don't feel so "alone" anymore!

Just a note -- the version of the "cervical wave" we learned in school was called "pulling the pizza out of the oven." While the client is supine, you slide your hands under his/her back on either side of the spine palms UP -- as far as they can go -- and then raise your fingertips in a "Clawlike" fashion and very slowly drag them from the mid back up to the occipital ridge, holding there for 5-10 seconds. My clients love it -- but now I want to try it the other way using my fists as Mush mentioned . . . thanks for the hint! As Mush said, the clients' weight actually does all the work.

Any other nifty techniques for the back while the client is supine?

This is FUN! :dancingparty:

Sherry

 

[Megan N]

We didn't learn it at my school, but I did learn it from another MT in town. She called it, "Come to Jamaica." :

 

[Pegasus P]

I always done the "cervical wave" no one taught me, just one day I was like let me try something different and the client loved it so I have kept doing it since.
My SIL is a talker and shuts up for nothing (don't have to worry about converation when she is around at all). Two weeks ago I massaged her for the first time and it was also her first massage ever, Well when I did that (CW) she shut up. Doing that I find it turns people into jelly most times.

 

[Pompal 09.]

we were taught to do back to front. i still do this will all, but one client. i ALWAYS ALWAYS use hand sanitizer after working feet and glutes. i even tell my clients that i clean my hands after working the areas, so they aren't wondering if i'm putting their feet and butt on their faces. : i hate it when MT's do that to me. :shock:

 

[thundercatt9]

I usually start prone then go supine. Unless the client wants it the other way. I clean my hands after the feet. When I get to the face my hands are usually without any oil on them anyway. I try not to get oil or lotion on the face and hair. I have never told them I am washing my hands...I wonder if I should so they won't worry? Also I have started a little foot ritual where I spray them with a nice cleansing, cooling spray. Then if they have lots of heel cracks I slather coconut oil on and cover them with a warm towel. Then proceed with the massage. When I get to the feet again I just uncover and work the feet.

In school we learned to start supine. Most of my class mates start that way. I have one friend that will not ever do it any other way. When we do couples I have to start supine to appease her. I have another friend that will switch now and then to compromise with me.

One salon where I have worked told me to always start their clients face down to give the sheet wrinkles time to work out.

 

[cutiee:)]

My clients love it -- but now I want to try it the other way using my fists as Mush mentioned . . . thanks for the hint! As Mush said, the clients' weight actually does all the work.

that was rose of sharon.... credit where credit's due t023

 

[Chris L]

I prefer to start my clients supine, unless they have a request to start prone. I also like to talk a bit with a new client and they usually have questions even after the intake consultation, and I feel this gives them the ability to become a little more comfortable with me and my style as we get started.

If it is a client who is coming to me merely for relaxation work and/or has had massage before, I will let them know I plan to start supine, unless they would prefer otherwise.

With regulars who have a plan of what they want to accomplish in the visit that day, I will sometimes ask their preference if it seems there is reason to do so.

I'd say about 90% of my clients are started supine.