John:
Quoted message said:I'm a male interested in getting massages, but ...
I have a mild to moderately hairy back (degree depends on your perspective).
The media/advertising world has so inundated us with the idea that a male with hair on his body
is disgusting (let's not even start talking about the nonsense that women have to contend with)
that I'm a little uncomfortable asking a stranger to give me a massage.
I wish I could say that my ego or self esteem or self confidence was solid enough that I didn't
give hoot, but I do. It doesn't help that my son has started comparing his developing six pack to
my developing deli pack on top of everything.
What's the general, honest, take on this?
To tell you the truth, I'm quite hairy myself, and currently a student on an LMT program (although I
stated on a Tui Na program last year and had to switch programs due to work and family life to allow
me to graduate at the end of this year and start practising ASAP). When I was younger, I was very
self-conscious of the hair on my body, having grown up a little faster than most of the other boys
in my class at school. I'm still quite modest about my exposing my torso during the summer or at the
swimming pool and don't tend to expose it that much even at home in private (although that might
have more to do with a Catholic primary schooling).
However, in saying that, I have littlr trouble taking off my top when I'm getting a massage, and the
main reason for this is that I trust the therapist (even if they're just a student) to be
professional and to help me relax so that together we can ensure that the desired result of the
massage is reached (relaxation, therapeutic, NMT etc). I'm still self-conscious, but I can reign it
in because I realize that massage sessions are going to be beneficial to me in the long run. Even
just the massage itself makes you physically feel good, and touch therapy is often a great way to
help you heal mentally as well.
There's a couple of people in our class, who like me, are quite hirsute, and for a therapist, the
only challange that really presents is that often it takes some more creme/lotion/oil to ensure that
there's plenty of topical lubrication when massaging them.
I'd suggest a couple of things:
1) Search for a good massage therapist in your location area and make sure that if the state is
licensed, that they have the obligitory license.
2) Ask for their professional accreditaions. Most therapists are members of either the American
Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP),
each of which have a core code of ethics that all therapists agree to abide to. Membership in
either group usually guarantees that your therapist is a professional who will understake your
concerns and take them into consideration.
3) Talk to the therapist and let them know your concerns. When you first go in for the massage,
during intake, explain how you feel and let the therapist and you develop a rapport. If, at the
end of the intake, you still don't feel comfortable, let the therapist know. They'll be able to
answer any questions, and a true professional will be concerned about your emotional state.
4) If you've had friends go for a massage, speak to them and ask them questions about how they felt
before and after the massage.
5) Check www.upledger.com, which is the Upledger Institute's Web-site, and find a practitioner of
Somato-Emotional Release in your area. Many practitioners of this modality are therapists, but
others are doctors, physical therapists, nurses, and other medical professions. SER may possibly
help you overcome your personal anxiety towards touch and benefit you
6) Realize that most massage therapists are professional, and like any other professional, they
are concerned about your well-being. Just like your local doctor or dentist, they've gone
through a lot of professional training, and they just want to help you. Try to think of them on
the same level as one of these other medical professions. Here in Ohio, a licensed massage
therapist is regulated by the State medical board and are classified as practising a limited
branch of medicine.
I hope this helps a little.
--
Jason Paul McCartan
