How many towels do you use?

[Nacho-Nick]

Recently I increased the number of towels I use with practice clients. Now there's one on the headrest, one on the stool under the headrest (for their arms) one for general wiping up purposes, and one for emergencies. The other day I needed the 4th towel to make a chest bolster for someone.

How many towels do most people go through in a session? It's starting to feel like a lot of towels. Two practice clients and I'm out 8 towels in one evening! I did get a really nice deal on a 15-pack of white towels from CostCo that are perfect for this use, and I'm thinking now of going and getting another 15.

 

[smoochy "yassassin"]

I only ever used one per client. As for the head rest I would use a pillow case.
I never used hot towels either as I hate how they feel on me. I have one friend MT who uses way to many hot towels on me during a session and I feel like I just got out of a bath.

I have a small pillow for chest bolsters(rarely ever used)

 

[Ellie B]

I have some towels but rarely use them. I use flannel face cradle covers generally speaking. But I will roll a small towel and place it in the cervical curve of the client's neck while they are supine. (You'd be surprised how much relief that's brought to some of my clients!)
I use a round bolster under the clients knees... though I did have one senior client who couldn't stand it if her heels touched the table... so I'd often make another long slim bolster out of another rolled towel... just so it was big enough that her heels didn't touch the table...
I might have been able to use another one for the chest if she'd requested ab work, but she never did. She's since found a MT who is located closer to her home... the 30 min. drive for a 30 minute massage and then a 30 minute drive home was starting to get to her I think.
She was one who had been referred to me @ the salon I used to work @ by one of the chiros I asked for referrals.
He's since quit working as a chiro and is now a deacon in his church.
Of course I'll miss her... but I don't really enjoy doing the 30 minute massages and have taken them off my "menu" at the health food store.

 

[iambettyboop]

i'm mobile only and i use 2. (i use a fitted face cradle cover.)
one is a hand towel for my personal use.
the other is a standard bath size. when the client is supine, i use the towel for a 'head pillow' or cervical roll. when prone, i may use it for warmth and cover the client, or in the seat for their arms. during the winter months, i carry a fleece blanket (50" x 60") ~ thin, warm, lightweight, and most of all, cheap!

 

[ALLURING]

In a massage where I am not using hot stones I too only use 1 hand towel per client. We have a small wedge bolster that I wrap and place under the client's head while they are supine. When they are prone I use a face cradle cover. If, for some reason I am out of face cradle covers I use that same towel over the face cradle. Yes, it's not as nice as a cover or pillow case even but in a pinch it works fine.

I use a rolling stool placed under the face cradle for the clients to rest their arms (it also keeps it out of my way) but I don't cover it with anything. After each massage I wipe it down with disinfectant.

And when I AM doing a hot stone massage I use 3 large bath towels (one for my back layout, one for the stomach/chest layout, and one for setting my stones on when I take them out of the roaster. I use 4, give or take, hand towels for moving the rocks, keeping them wrapped and warm, ect. I have the luxury of not having to do my own laundry. I work in a wellness/fitness center and we have PLENTY of towels on hand at all times, which is nice.

Steph!