Massaging Men

[Pompal 09.]

Happy New Year, everyone!

I got a massage table for Christmas from my lovely husband, and all seemed well until I tried to give him a back massage on it.
With his face in the face hole his adam's apple presses against the table, which is very uncomfortable. He tried shifting positions, and I tried raising his forehead slightly with a folded face towel, but we didn't get anywhere. I even tried using the attachable face cradle thingy, but the level of it is slightly higher than the main table so his shoulders were raised up slightly.

I just wondered what the usual way of supporting a male client would be - I've only done an introductory course in massage and the class was all women. We only used the folded towel under the forehead really.

Any advice very gratefully received.

 

[Zkjfg Z]

Hi Thell,

My OH isn't comfortable unless he has rolled towels under is shoulders. He says this pushes his shoulders back a bit and allows him to put his face over the hole without the couch touching his neck. Might be worth a try next time?

 

[ria <3]

Hi Thell

As a user and practitioner of massage (and a bloke), I have never had such a problem. It certainly isn't a male thing! A better way is to consider that a client has individual needs.

Examples:

Folded towel or pillow under the chest (especially for big boobs)
Bolster under the knees to reduce tension in the lower back (supine - belly up)
Boster under ankles to reduce pressure on the knees (prone - belly down)

Most people hold intense tension somewhere on the body. Does your husband have neck tension? Prehaps massage the neck and shoulders first (belly up), so when you turn him over he may be more comfortable.

Massage does bring up these challenges, but to me this is part of fun, finding a solution to a problem. Hope all goes well.

RP

 

[Silver529]

Hiya
I tend not to use the face hole at all, and just have my clients supported by a pillow under the head. Not had any complaints yet.

 

[ASAD]

He should be careful not to poke his chin through the hole - the pressure should be mostly on the forehead and depending on the length of the hole, can take some pressure on the chin.Perhaps he should move down the couch a bitso his chin can't go through?
I never use the facehole without a padded face ring thing. The 1 I'm using at the moment is a velour covered memory foam travel pillow (forms a C shape but it near enough meets to form a ring - I place it so the gap is at the chin) - nice and soft without creating too much extra height, therefore not flexing the neck backwards - should have head-neck-spine in straight line. Using this professionally I make a cover with a disposable mob cap so can change it for every client.

 

[D.MackinAllDay[:]

Hi,
What I have found is the use of a pillow under the chest is helpful. But I don't think its just a male thing its often experimentation with differing client need and asking people how comfortable they are. Its not a one size fits all solution.
Regards,
Beowolf

 

[sofeinurbizness]

Thanks guys, some fab tips...it's tricky when you're just a keen amateur and don't know where to begin.

I'm sure DH won't mind another try soon

 

[Tina has Twins]

I love your wide eyed and bushy look, sooo sexy