Hi all
I'm a newbie on here, so hello everyone and here goes with my first post.
I know I could have chosen a less evocative subject, but it is one that is close to my heart.
I've been having massages of one sort or another for the last dozen or so years, be they; Aromatherapy, Indian Head, Reflexology, Swedish or Thai, mostly from female therapists, although not exclusively. Predominantly they tend to be Aromatherapy or Swedish based treatments be they to ease aching and knotted muscles, stress relief or just to take some time out of the fast lane and get some 'me time' which everyone needs from time to time.
I've abridged the opening part of Jaez's original post, I hope no one minds, then I've broken up the points that were put forward for feedback/discussion, so that I can answer them individually in a single post, rather than making multiple posts. Hopefully overall it will make my response clearer and more coherent.
Ok, well, I had my first naturist massage last month, after careful selection of a genuine naturist therapist who did not offer extras, because even though I wanted the most comprehensive massage possible, I did not want 'those bits' treated. I can say that I had the most comprehensive massage I've ever had the privilege to receive.
Unlike Jaez's experience, the massage I had left nothing untreated, except for 'those bits'. I don't think there was a single square inch of my legs that was not treated. My buttocks were fully treated as well, as was my abdomen.
I feel very fortunate to have found a therapist that also fit my only other requirement, which was that I wanted a female therapist, from experience know that I simply do not relax as much when being treated by a male therapist.
The treatment was not overtly different from the once a month Swedish based massage that I've been having for around the last 18months, with my current female therapist. She provides Swedish based massage (me only naked but draped), Indian Head, Reflexology and Reiki.
With both therapists I get undressed/dressed and on/off the massage table with them still in the room; although with the naturist therapist I do not have to worry about facing the corner and or waiting for her to hold the towel up as I walk to and get on the massage table. I feel I need to face the corner with my regular therapist even though on several occasions I've walked to the massage table when she's had the towel ready but for whatever reason hasn't held it up until I've sat on the massage table to lay down on my back for the start of the massage. I must say that I find it a more 'relaxed' atmosphere at the naturist therapists practice as I know that it is not necessary to try and keep myself from view.
Of the actual naturist massage itself, it was not that much different from the Swedish based massage I get from my regular therapist, although there wasn't any tapotement. With no towels in the way it did seem to flow better as the therapist could work from head to toe as it were without moving towels and it meant at no time did you ever think, that's the end of the massage for my legs as even though the initial area of treatment was more concentrated on the legs, even when she had concentrated on the back for a while, she still then worked the strokes all the way back down to the feet and back up to the head before either continuing more on the legs, buttocks, back or shoulders, so for me it was a more flowing massage and I suppose seemed a little less structured, i.e. it wasn't a case of feet first, then legs, then stomach, then shoulders and neck, then head, right turn over, legs again, buttocks, back, shoulders, neck, head and you're done. Instead it was like almost everywhere was being massaged almost all of the time, I've seen other people say a naturist massage flows much better and I tend to agree. Hopefully the explanation immediately above will explain that a little better.
My naturist masseuse's website states she has professional training and qualifications and the massage I received clearly shows she does, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
It's not essential for the therapist to be naturist, if my existing therapist provided a naturist massage where she was clothed, then I would be more than happy to see her for such a treatment, she's only a 30minute drive away rather than 50minutes so it would be great for me if she offered naturist massage, but she doesn't and that's fine, I'll still continue to see her for massages, but not so regularly now I've found a naturist masseuse where we are both naturist during the treatment.
I didn't have a naturist massage so I could look at the therapist, I had one to hopefully get the most extensive professional massage possible, my eyes are closed for the entire massage, save for the bit where I turn over, so for that reason it would only be a mental thing whether she was naturist or not. But, I suppose it might not be quite so relaxing if the therapist was clothed, as you might feel slightly vulnerable laying there naked, knowing they were not. I've not really given it that much thought until now, but if you are both naked then there are no barriers between you and you are both equal. I certainly felt very 'free' when I had my first naturist massage and I don't mean devoid of clothing or towels and able to move around easier.
The room obviously needs to be considerably warmer than your typical massage treatment room, I'm not sure what temperatures people keep their therapy rooms at for a draped head to toe massage, probably around 21 or 22 degrees Celsius I suppose, but I do remember commenting as I sat there in jeans, t-shirt and thin fleece jacket prior to my first naturist massage that it was very warm in the room and the therapist looked up behind me and said that it was only 27 degrees so wasn't that warm.
Temperature is very important as you do not want to feel chilly, let alone cold, at any point during the massage, so if you are going for or giving a naturist massage, you really do need to make sure the room is warm enough, high 20s Celsius for certain.
Having complete privacy is also important, my regular therapist lives in the middle of the countryside and the only window in the room runs parallel to the massage table and has horizontal blinds that are down but set so you can see out or in. It doesn't bother me as I'm draped and if she ever sees a family member coming up the drive she adjusts them so no one can see in.
But I was pleased that the blinds at the naturist therapist's practice were closed and that she even locked the door to the treatment room for the whole of the treatment and left it locked until after we were dressed, giving you added comfort in the fact you knew you had complete privacy.
Well, as I am not a masseur I can only comment on this from the perspective of being a male client and the experience I had at my first naturist massage.
The initial chat the naturist therapist and I had before she even agreed to treat me (which took place at her practice before my first treatment) was thorough, frank and very open. Various things were discussed, which included the possibility that arousal might happen. The therapist said that it doesn't always happen and that it can vary from person to person and even from one visit to another for the same person. She went on to say that even if it did happen it would not mean the treatment would stop, nor would it restrict how the treatment continued, saying that it would not stop her from giving me a full treatment and that as long as it did not make me uncomfortable, that the best thing for me to do was to just relax and not think about it.
The massage started with me laying face down and occasionally I was aware of a certain amount of a change in my state, but this had passed by the time she asked me to turn over. I can honestly say I was not aware of my state when I was laying on my back because I really was so relaxed that it wasn't long at all before I was in that semi asleep state where you know you're having a massage and where was being massaged, but you knew you would really have to concentrate to move if you had to.
It wasn't until I sat up after the massage was over that I knew arousal had taken place because the sign had not gone away. But, with both of us being naked and talking to each other it really didn't seem to matter. She had said it wouldn't matter if it happened and it certainly seemed like that as she didn't seem in the least bit bothered by it. In fact I can remember her leaning down on the massage table on her elbows and forearms near the foot of the massage table as I sat there with my legs dangling each side as we continued to talk about what I had thought of the massage, whether it had been what I was expecting, had I been concious of being naked, had I been comfortable with the fact that she had been naked, and various other aspects of the experience as a whole. One thing that we did not talk about was the state I was in, one it would have been un-necessary and two it might have made me feel uncomfortable.
For me, becoming aroused was not an aim of the massage, sure I knew that occasionally there had been a small change in state during my regular massage when my inner thighs or abdomen was being massaged, but never to the degree that occurred during the naturist massage. But, with both of us being comfortable with being naked in front of each other, having talked about this possibility frankly before the massage the fact that it happened and that we were in direct eye contact as we chatted away not two feet apart from each other as the evidence was still evident seemed surreal looking back on it, although I can honestly say that nothing felt uncomfortable about the situation and even knowing that I must have been aroused during at least some of the massage when I was on my back, well, the masseuse was not bothered and neither was I.
At the end of the day, we are both human. Sometimes things happen that we have no control over, but if it's natural and can't be helped then why worry about it. I did not want any extras and I did not get any. What I did want and what I received was a thoroughly professional massage that was more extensive than any I've received before. Sure it can be considered extremely personal and many people might not be comfortable with that, but as long as you are happy to go into the situation having had everything fully explained and you're comfortable in yourself with what might happen, then there's no reason to worry.
The only massage I've had abroad that was anywhere near naturist was in the Maldives, my fiancรฉe and I went to the spa on the island and had a couples massage from two female therapists at the same time on massage tables that were side by side. We had already undressed completely and put on robes in the waiting area and having been led to the open air treatment area, we were told to disrobe and get on the massage tables on our backs, there weren't any towels and the therapist simply placed what amounted to a face cloth over my bits before resting a folded face cloth over my eyes. The treatment was as thorough as you might expect being covered by just a face cloth and everywhere that wasn't covered was treated as was everything under the face cloth except my bits.
It amused me in a way that whilst the masseuses were wearing very little certainly no underwear, shear and fairly see through loose wraps is the best description I can give, making them almost naked. They made a point of covering my eyes whilst everyone was virtually naked. But, I suspect it will either have been the policy of the spa, or may even have been a religious thing, who knows. It made no difference to me as my eyes would have been closed anyway.
Regardless it was a very relaxing experience and one that we are hoping to repeat on our honeymoon after we get married later this year. Both of us were quite happy to be naked in front of two virtually naked masseuses and to remain virtually naked throughout the treatment. The masseuses seemed relaxed and quite comfortable in the situation so I think everyone involved was quite happy with everything.
I suppose I would say that telling a caller that you can't see them until sometime next week because you are fully booked is a good start, most 'other motive' callers will probably want a same day appointment, or maybe following day.
You could also tell them that you will need to see either their current photo driving licence or passport (not a copy) and to take down their name, address, telephone number and date of birth for your records, as well as making a note of any pertinent medical conditions.
If you then went on to tell them that when they arrive for their first appointment that asides from seeing a valid form of ID and taking down their details, that you will also have a general chat with them about, why they want a massage and to find out what they are expecting to gain from having a massage, before you can say if you are able to treat them or not, explaining that you reserve the right not to treat them and that those reasons need not be disclosed.
If they are prepared to see you knowing that you might not treat them, that you are going to need top see some form of valid photo ID and that you will need to take a note of their name, address, etc. for your records (I would expect nothing less when seeing a genuine therapist) then I think anyone who turns up should be ok, but you will still be able to talk to them first and say no if you are not comfortable.
I suspect requests in suitably titles threads is already the way that this is being done.
It certainly has, I only hope some of my responses above have been insightful and useful.
I'm a newbie on here, so hello everyone and here goes with my first post.
I know I could have chosen a less evocative subject, but it is one that is close to my heart.
I've been having massages of one sort or another for the last dozen or so years, be they; Aromatherapy, Indian Head, Reflexology, Swedish or Thai, mostly from female therapists, although not exclusively. Predominantly they tend to be Aromatherapy or Swedish based treatments be they to ease aching and knotted muscles, stress relief or just to take some time out of the fast lane and get some 'me time' which everyone needs from time to time.
I've abridged the opening part of Jaez's original post, I hope no one minds, then I've broken up the points that were put forward for feedback/discussion, so that I can answer them individually in a single post, rather than making multiple posts. Hopefully overall it will make my response clearer and more coherent.
Ok, well, I had my first naturist massage last month, after careful selection of a genuine naturist therapist who did not offer extras, because even though I wanted the most comprehensive massage possible, I did not want 'those bits' treated. I can say that I had the most comprehensive massage I've ever had the privilege to receive.
Unlike Jaez's experience, the massage I had left nothing untreated, except for 'those bits'. I don't think there was a single square inch of my legs that was not treated. My buttocks were fully treated as well, as was my abdomen.
I feel very fortunate to have found a therapist that also fit my only other requirement, which was that I wanted a female therapist, from experience know that I simply do not relax as much when being treated by a male therapist.
The treatment was not overtly different from the once a month Swedish based massage that I've been having for around the last 18months, with my current female therapist. She provides Swedish based massage (me only naked but draped), Indian Head, Reflexology and Reiki.
With both therapists I get undressed/dressed and on/off the massage table with them still in the room; although with the naturist therapist I do not have to worry about facing the corner and or waiting for her to hold the towel up as I walk to and get on the massage table. I feel I need to face the corner with my regular therapist even though on several occasions I've walked to the massage table when she's had the towel ready but for whatever reason hasn't held it up until I've sat on the massage table to lay down on my back for the start of the massage. I must say that I find it a more 'relaxed' atmosphere at the naturist therapists practice as I know that it is not necessary to try and keep myself from view.
Of the actual naturist massage itself, it was not that much different from the Swedish based massage I get from my regular therapist, although there wasn't any tapotement. With no towels in the way it did seem to flow better as the therapist could work from head to toe as it were without moving towels and it meant at no time did you ever think, that's the end of the massage for my legs as even though the initial area of treatment was more concentrated on the legs, even when she had concentrated on the back for a while, she still then worked the strokes all the way back down to the feet and back up to the head before either continuing more on the legs, buttocks, back or shoulders, so for me it was a more flowing massage and I suppose seemed a little less structured, i.e. it wasn't a case of feet first, then legs, then stomach, then shoulders and neck, then head, right turn over, legs again, buttocks, back, shoulders, neck, head and you're done. Instead it was like almost everywhere was being massaged almost all of the time, I've seen other people say a naturist massage flows much better and I tend to agree. Hopefully the explanation immediately above will explain that a little better.
My naturist masseuse's website states she has professional training and qualifications and the massage I received clearly shows she does, which is exactly what I was hoping for.
It's not essential for the therapist to be naturist, if my existing therapist provided a naturist massage where she was clothed, then I would be more than happy to see her for such a treatment, she's only a 30minute drive away rather than 50minutes so it would be great for me if she offered naturist massage, but she doesn't and that's fine, I'll still continue to see her for massages, but not so regularly now I've found a naturist masseuse where we are both naturist during the treatment.
I didn't have a naturist massage so I could look at the therapist, I had one to hopefully get the most extensive professional massage possible, my eyes are closed for the entire massage, save for the bit where I turn over, so for that reason it would only be a mental thing whether she was naturist or not. But, I suppose it might not be quite so relaxing if the therapist was clothed, as you might feel slightly vulnerable laying there naked, knowing they were not. I've not really given it that much thought until now, but if you are both naked then there are no barriers between you and you are both equal. I certainly felt very 'free' when I had my first naturist massage and I don't mean devoid of clothing or towels and able to move around easier.
The room obviously needs to be considerably warmer than your typical massage treatment room, I'm not sure what temperatures people keep their therapy rooms at for a draped head to toe massage, probably around 21 or 22 degrees Celsius I suppose, but I do remember commenting as I sat there in jeans, t-shirt and thin fleece jacket prior to my first naturist massage that it was very warm in the room and the therapist looked up behind me and said that it was only 27 degrees so wasn't that warm.
Temperature is very important as you do not want to feel chilly, let alone cold, at any point during the massage, so if you are going for or giving a naturist massage, you really do need to make sure the room is warm enough, high 20s Celsius for certain.
Having complete privacy is also important, my regular therapist lives in the middle of the countryside and the only window in the room runs parallel to the massage table and has horizontal blinds that are down but set so you can see out or in. It doesn't bother me as I'm draped and if she ever sees a family member coming up the drive she adjusts them so no one can see in.
But I was pleased that the blinds at the naturist therapist's practice were closed and that she even locked the door to the treatment room for the whole of the treatment and left it locked until after we were dressed, giving you added comfort in the fact you knew you had complete privacy.
Well, as I am not a masseur I can only comment on this from the perspective of being a male client and the experience I had at my first naturist massage.
The initial chat the naturist therapist and I had before she even agreed to treat me (which took place at her practice before my first treatment) was thorough, frank and very open. Various things were discussed, which included the possibility that arousal might happen. The therapist said that it doesn't always happen and that it can vary from person to person and even from one visit to another for the same person. She went on to say that even if it did happen it would not mean the treatment would stop, nor would it restrict how the treatment continued, saying that it would not stop her from giving me a full treatment and that as long as it did not make me uncomfortable, that the best thing for me to do was to just relax and not think about it.
The massage started with me laying face down and occasionally I was aware of a certain amount of a change in my state, but this had passed by the time she asked me to turn over. I can honestly say I was not aware of my state when I was laying on my back because I really was so relaxed that it wasn't long at all before I was in that semi asleep state where you know you're having a massage and where was being massaged, but you knew you would really have to concentrate to move if you had to.
It wasn't until I sat up after the massage was over that I knew arousal had taken place because the sign had not gone away. But, with both of us being naked and talking to each other it really didn't seem to matter. She had said it wouldn't matter if it happened and it certainly seemed like that as she didn't seem in the least bit bothered by it. In fact I can remember her leaning down on the massage table on her elbows and forearms near the foot of the massage table as I sat there with my legs dangling each side as we continued to talk about what I had thought of the massage, whether it had been what I was expecting, had I been concious of being naked, had I been comfortable with the fact that she had been naked, and various other aspects of the experience as a whole. One thing that we did not talk about was the state I was in, one it would have been un-necessary and two it might have made me feel uncomfortable.
For me, becoming aroused was not an aim of the massage, sure I knew that occasionally there had been a small change in state during my regular massage when my inner thighs or abdomen was being massaged, but never to the degree that occurred during the naturist massage. But, with both of us being comfortable with being naked in front of each other, having talked about this possibility frankly before the massage the fact that it happened and that we were in direct eye contact as we chatted away not two feet apart from each other as the evidence was still evident seemed surreal looking back on it, although I can honestly say that nothing felt uncomfortable about the situation and even knowing that I must have been aroused during at least some of the massage when I was on my back, well, the masseuse was not bothered and neither was I.
At the end of the day, we are both human. Sometimes things happen that we have no control over, but if it's natural and can't be helped then why worry about it. I did not want any extras and I did not get any. What I did want and what I received was a thoroughly professional massage that was more extensive than any I've received before. Sure it can be considered extremely personal and many people might not be comfortable with that, but as long as you are happy to go into the situation having had everything fully explained and you're comfortable in yourself with what might happen, then there's no reason to worry.
The only massage I've had abroad that was anywhere near naturist was in the Maldives, my fiancรฉe and I went to the spa on the island and had a couples massage from two female therapists at the same time on massage tables that were side by side. We had already undressed completely and put on robes in the waiting area and having been led to the open air treatment area, we were told to disrobe and get on the massage tables on our backs, there weren't any towels and the therapist simply placed what amounted to a face cloth over my bits before resting a folded face cloth over my eyes. The treatment was as thorough as you might expect being covered by just a face cloth and everywhere that wasn't covered was treated as was everything under the face cloth except my bits.
It amused me in a way that whilst the masseuses were wearing very little certainly no underwear, shear and fairly see through loose wraps is the best description I can give, making them almost naked. They made a point of covering my eyes whilst everyone was virtually naked. But, I suspect it will either have been the policy of the spa, or may even have been a religious thing, who knows. It made no difference to me as my eyes would have been closed anyway.
Regardless it was a very relaxing experience and one that we are hoping to repeat on our honeymoon after we get married later this year. Both of us were quite happy to be naked in front of two virtually naked masseuses and to remain virtually naked throughout the treatment. The masseuses seemed relaxed and quite comfortable in the situation so I think everyone involved was quite happy with everything.
I suppose I would say that telling a caller that you can't see them until sometime next week because you are fully booked is a good start, most 'other motive' callers will probably want a same day appointment, or maybe following day.
You could also tell them that you will need to see either their current photo driving licence or passport (not a copy) and to take down their name, address, telephone number and date of birth for your records, as well as making a note of any pertinent medical conditions.
If you then went on to tell them that when they arrive for their first appointment that asides from seeing a valid form of ID and taking down their details, that you will also have a general chat with them about, why they want a massage and to find out what they are expecting to gain from having a massage, before you can say if you are able to treat them or not, explaining that you reserve the right not to treat them and that those reasons need not be disclosed.
If they are prepared to see you knowing that you might not treat them, that you are going to need top see some form of valid photo ID and that you will need to take a note of their name, address, etc. for your records (I would expect nothing less when seeing a genuine therapist) then I think anyone who turns up should be ok, but you will still be able to talk to them first and say no if you are not comfortable.
I suspect requests in suitably titles threads is already the way that this is being done.
It certainly has, I only hope some of my responses above have been insightful and useful.