classmate dilemma

[Jerico]

classmate dilemma

Samirish -

I will not minimize what you have previously experienced. My apologies if my comments seemed to offend, but I was not aware of your history.

I do have a history of abuse in my backround (as many women do unfortunately) and that is probably clouding my judgement and I accept that, but it is what it is.

Yes, the experiences you have had will (and do) cloud your judgement. The same can be said of everyone, about their reactions to all kinds of things.

As a massage student, I hope that you will meditate on this experience and try to understand it thoroughly from many perspectives (yours, the student therapist's, the school director's, etc.). As you revisit it over time, see if your feelings toward it change, and whether your feelings about receiving massage from a male change.

I strongly recommend that you discuss your history of abuse with one or more faculty members of the massage school you attend so they can help you more effectively throughout the learning process. It's probably not something you enjoy dredging up, but it could have a serious negative impact on your learning experience if they are not prepared to help you avoid/deal with various possible situations.

If you choose to share this experience with them, it would be a good learning experience for your classmates. It will help them better understand the importance of setting boundaries, establishing clear lines of communication, and doing a better job of helping clients understand what is going to happen, what is happening, and what just happened. The male students, in particular, need to hear this sort of thing so they can prepare to avoid repeating the errors made by the student who worked on you.

On another note... after my last response to you, I realized that I forgot to mention that I have been using a prone frog leg position with many clients for several years. It is generally more comfortable than the supine version I had described, and I find it very useful.

Just this weekend I was at a CE event where I learned that Pat Archer (sports massage expert), uses a similar prone frog leg position to treat various hip/leg issues. It's easy to drape securely, but some of the techniques that were taught in the class could be very painful if a therapist worked too aggressively. That might also explain why the student who worked on you kept asking how the thigh work felt. Students typically don't have a good feel for too much/not enough pressure, and an attentive and concerned student might check in with you more frequently.

Best wishes for your success in massage school! I am happy that you are going into it with enthusiasm - it will be a challenge, but nothing you can't handle.