Things that massage therapists do that annoy you as a client

[Donnleigel]

Hei!
Just wondering about those people in the forum that are not practitioners but enjoy bodywork as clients or practitioners that get regular massage treatments.
What sort of things annoy you as a client?
As an example, one of my pet hates is when the practitioner is breathing right on top of my face when working my neck and shoulders. Not to mention if she or he has eaten garlic!!!!!
M

 

[unhinged]

hi there
not leaving the room when you are getting dressed and undressed, and having the window open because they are having menopausal hot flushes whilst you are shivering on the couch!! Love Melanie x

 

[aFautepheptdap25]

I've had lots of massages over the years, most of which I've been happy with and felt relaxed afterwards.

I had one girl who stank of cigarette smoke and that wasn't nice. I also had another massage therapist who talked rather too much (but then I did know her very well and maybe she thought it was OK).

Oh, and one girl had such a light-touch that it just felt like an insect crawling over you and not what I'd expect from a massage.

 

[Lulaloo239]

When they keep talking to you throughout the treatment!

Masha

 

[CrAzY pEaR]

Losing contact with me by constantly walking away to get more oil.

Not grounding me at the end of the treatment and just leaving the room without any instruction - eg the session is finished so please dress and I'll have water for you or I'll get water for you and then you can get dressed. (I may have had my eyes closed but I wasn't sleeping.)

 

[sylrosel]

Using dampish, cold towels to drape me when a dry warm towel can be such a pleasure (just put it on the radiator for a few minutes before the massage begins).

 

[wyjelhrz]

Male pulling my knickers all the way down to "massage my lower back". :S

 

[Kipifartieria]

Therapists who talk all the way through a massage.

When they don't listen to your needs - or they listen but they then continue with their set routine anyway and don't pay attention to the places mentioned as being areas of pain/tension/stiffness.

Therapists with false nails or long nails - I have no idea how people massage with nails like that.

Using way too much oil.

When they give a treatment you didn't ask for - I went for an aromatherapy massage once and half way through i got a couple of hot stones shoved on my back. If I had wanted hot stone massage I would have gone for one!

 

[speywfug]

Why was he wearing your knickers!?

 

[neale]

Did I say it wrong? Or are you just making fun? English's not my first language!

 

[zonkers85]

Hi Claire
I think coolhandluke was teasing you,anyway did you say anything to the male therapist? did he do your glutes as well as your lower back?

 

[StephenWeinstein]

I thought he was... Yes he did my glutes after I told him I didn't want my glutes done. I was quite tense after that! :S

 

[Powderpuff]

I'm not surprised you were tense,i guess you never went back to him,however i hope it hasn't put you off going to male therapist.I have had similar issues yet it hasn't put me off trying somebody else remenber not evryone is the same.

 

[kwemyuejijeiziejd]

Did he do anything else that you didn't want him to do

 

[ariellee.]

Worst Offences?

(1) Wearing fake tan on their hands and then massaging my face and nose. Gaggtastic. Not much better with cigarettes.

(2) Ignoring what I say and just carrying on with their set routine- eg when I want the back of my head or my glutes done (or not done)! Sackable offence if they just dont listen or care.

(3) Dirty, damp or manky towels.

(4) Talking about their wants and psychological needs before I get to know them.

(5) BO and bad breath, particularly after fish or garlic.

(6) Refusing to massage my stomach if I ask them to.

(7) Using too much oil and/or cheap oil that makes me smell like a chip pan.

(8) "Stroking" rather than massaging, unless I want lomi lomi.

(9) Talking rubbish about physiology or medical matters.

(10) Making me wear underwear during a massage despite covering me with towels, having the lights dimmed and the heating full on.

Sadly I have had a lot of duff massages, where the above have materialised. Ooops- and just realised I sound like a "grumpy old woman" ....!

 

[summer.rain]

No, I am not put off! I also used to see a Chinese masseur but my problem with him is that he was too "violent" and really hurting me and didn't speak English (that was in the uk) so I couldn't tell him. He used to massage my tummy by pressing his fingers into my stomach as hard as he could (or so it seemed). It made me feel quite sick! I know it's probably just the Chinese method but that's just not what I want from a massage... He was also pressing with his thumbs inside my upper arms, but not in the fleshy bits, it was almost like he was pressing the nerves and tendons onto the bones. Ouch. Very uncomfortable.

 

[dudelove]

Not really but that was bad enough for me... As a woman, I guess I feel more easily uncomfortable with these kinds of things...

 

[Maggie W.]

I thought of another one - uncovering my back by sliding the towel down, it feels kinda sleazy and I wish the therapist would just pick it up and fold it back.

Cold and clammy hands feel yucky. I also once had a massage from a guy whose hands felt very rough.

 

[Willie D]

1. Not using enough lotion or having lotion that really causes friction...doesn't glide.
2. Having a massage near a gym or some place that is not relaxing and quite.
3. Not being thorough...therapists that refuse to include glutes or abs I wouldn't go to.
4. Therapist has to seem confident in their own abilities - you can tell when someone seems too unconfident. Laid back but confident personalities are the best, not someone who is uptight.
5. Cold hands is always bad.
6. Constantly losing contact with the body, walking around the table, adjusting the music...the more the therapist can do in less time the better.
7. When therapist has a set routine and will not modify it for your personal problems
8. When the room is extremely messy or too light...light shining right in your eyes
9. When the therapist is either too deep or way too light.
10. When therapist proceeds to tell you for most of the massage about their own problems.

 

[Oswald W]

Is it acceptable to do the glutes through the towels? That's what I do. If someone asked me to do the glutes without the towel, I would, but I think a lot of people would freak out if I started massaging their glutes without the towel. Most people keep their knickers/boxers on without me having to ask for anything. For me, it's a sign that they don't particularly fancy showing me their bum...

Edit: just noticed you're in America! Maybe things are different there? Apparently in France they often massage the boobs too! I wouldn't like it... And I'm French (never had a massage there though)!