Stretching Sessions?

[pelops_dl]

In my researching (aka snooping) I have seen quite a few therapists websites listing stretching sessions as a stand on their own session or an add on to a full massage session - this is news to me, but I love the idea! I have never seen this before, now in the past week I have seen it advertised 3 times. I love to incorporate stretches into my sessions but they do eat into the time.

How many of you offer this seperately from your massage sessions? Have you seen a difference when you started utilizing and offering this?

 

[Uncannyxman]

Do you mean the therapist physically stretching the clients or the therapist showing the client what stretches to do?

 

[terkeys2]

Like a half hour stretch sessions for $30. I'm assuming the therapist does a full body stretch routine, has been described as "yoga without the work".

 

[Aditya]

This is a great question/issue! :idea:
I have been wondering about this myself. I have several clients who constantly ask for stretches but also want their full massage session.
While I would like to think that they aren't deliberately trying to get more time for the same amount of money--- it indicates to me that it is time for therapists with a full load to maybe reassess their clients' needs and reevaluate the length of their scheduled appt.
How perfect if you are building a practice and can simply add this to your list of services.

 

[Gazoo]

incorporation

Hi everyone

Over the years I've learned to incorportate stretching into the massage session. The people really enjoy it and I find the two go so well together.

As I work I'm contantly pulling the legs down and slightly out. The arms I'm pulling up and also slightly out. The neck I'm pulling up and the shoulders pushing down. I'm also pulling traction from both ends (feet and hands).

Another real beaut' is when I push against the glut' and pull the leg out at the same time by holding and swinging the ankle. This is done in a slow methodical timed motion. They love it.

If I feel like it, I get up on the table with the person with my knees on both sides of their head and push downwards on the lower back. This is a massage stretch that's wonderful.

 

[Lee P]

Hello Old Dog... I love your name on here!!

While I try to incorporate this kind of tractioning and ROM into my session I am thinking of separating the stretches that require much more time. A couple of the clients want to really stretch in a way that actually would be considered exercise and they stay in their clothes.

Maybe I am wrong but I was thinking that this might be why some therapists are advertising this as an additional option.
I think it is a wonderful idea for clients who really want 2 separate techniques during the same session.
Your glute/ankle strech and ROM sounds awesome,,, I am going to try that one today!

 

[rjp3526]

Oh dont get me wrong, I apply stretching techniques in my massages most of the time - who can argue with the benefits and it just feeeels so darn good! I am wondering more about adding this as a seperate option for my clients, I will continue to apply those stretching techniques when needed - but to do full body extensive stretching would really eat into the 60 minutes of massage time that they paid for. I am thinking it would be lovely to do an hour full body, then a stretch session, on a client. or have a client come in more often alternating the less expensive stretch session with the usual massages.

I dug out my old school books for a little refresher, have a few early evenings to myself this week so I'm going to work on putting a full body routine together then practice on a friend or happy client and see what I think about adding a 1/2 hour stretch session to my service menu.

Just wondering what others found when they did the same.

thanks all!

 

[bbymomma]

Yeah,, we were taught rocking in our massage class. It is an entrainment thing. It also can intitiate parasympathetic mechanism, which is a goooood thing.

I try to always start with rocking to:

1.) to relax the person on the table
2). to see if both feet/legs are rocking in unison, this gives me some feedback as to where they are tight.

 

[Beth]

I have incorporated stretching into therapeutic sessions as appropriate, but rarely do sessions that are only stretching. For correcting bunions, reducing osteoarthritis, and the like I will talk to them in advance about whether we'll stretch the whole session or just for part of it. Though I am well-versed in several stretching methods, I generally utilize Active Isolated Stretching.

I will have to suggest the idea of offering focused stretching sessions to my employer as a specialty service. Don't know how it will sell in my area, but no one else is doing it!