Volunteering at a school

[Vikki]

Hi,

I have a few friends who work as elementary school teachers and they know that I am always looking for more bodies to practice on. They spoke with their principal and she asked if I would be willing to come in and work for a few hours. I am excited about doing this because this could become a good lead once I get my license. Many schools in the area hire an MT to come in once a month to help the teachers.

My question is this... I don't have a massage chair, only my table. How do I do this? I would have to take a bazillion sheets and be changing them every 10 minutes or so. What would you suggest?

 

[Emilie]

Learn to massage through clothing using kneading, compressions and presses. Then you only need to take pillowcases or small towels to put where their faces will be. Look into taking a workshop in some modality that doesn't require disrobing, like thai, shiatsu, facilitated stretching. Or take a chair massage class, (or get a couple of chair massages,) then spend a little time figuring out how to do the routine on someone who is lying down.

Good for you! Sounds like a fun gig.

 

[d3midway]

Thanx for the quick reply!

Unfortunately I don't have time to learn a new modality in time for this gig. I They want me this Friday! My school actually has a chair massage workshop this weekend...figures!

I'm going to read up on all the information I can find on doing massage through clothing.

 

[bigdon49245]

Thanx for the quick reply!

Unfortunately I don't have time to learn a new modality in time for this gig. I They want me this Friday! My school actually has a chair massage workshop this weekend...figures!

I'm going to read up on all the information I can find on doing massage through clothing.

I've done this in a nursing home. You can do your basic petrissage strokes through clothing, along with some nice, slow, gentle compressions, and it will be amazing. I agree with Breathe, don't even take sheets when they will all be clothed. Just take baby wipes or whatever you use to clean your table, and wipe it down between clients. Face rest covers (cloth or disposeable) or even a roll of select-a-size paper towels should be provided for each person, and that is cheap and easy.

Work on a classmate between classes a time or two to get a feel for it. Don't tell the teachers you've never done this before, and they'll never know! Just use the skills you've already acquired, and don't worry about the rest.

 

[Fariz]

If you really want to do Swedish-style effleurage on your clothed clients, get a heavy piece of satin and hold it in your hand. It will glide over the clothing just like oil on skin. Practice first so you can figure out how to hold it.

 

[bubblegirl]

lower your table and do compressions. Have you learned those at all? Yeah, no sheets, just some wipes will do. When i did a project similar in school I didn't even use the face cradle so no worries about cradle covers. You will be suprised how much you can do with clothes on. Nice arm and hand massage, compressions, neck massage. Just go with it and be creative. Remember, you are still learning and they don't really know what to expect. So trust yourself and don't get locked into thinking you have to do a "certain modality".
Have fun with it. You will be fine.

 

[My Question]

Just make sure to ask them to take off shoes, belts and Jewelry, because it can rip your table!

I have used a backed table cloth (from the doller store) for these events so I wipe downt he table cloth after each client, and it semi protects my table.