Posted by Jen Star on July 12, 2005, at 19:05:24
In reply to Touch Issues - Massage, etc - - - - MT??, posted by jammerlich on July 12, 2005, at 17:44:13
hi jammerlich,
I don't have the touch issues that you do, but I was nervous/ambivalent about my first massage.Before the massage, I wondered whether it would feel "dirty," sexual, creepy, uncomfortable, lewd, massage-parlor-ish, etc. When I got there, I found that the people were very professional and relaxing, and that there was no air of intimacy or sex at all. It was purely about the therapeutic uses of touch.
I was able to relax about 95%. It WOULD have been 100%, except I was still thinking that eventaully the massage would end and I'd have to get dressed and find my shoes and drive back home and get back to errands & stuff. The mundane stuff never completely leaves my mind, I guess!
My advice would be: Remember that these people are professionals. At such a fancy spa, they will have impeccable credentials and will be very good. They're not going to hurt you, and they're not going to try to be intimate with you, either mentally or physically. They're just going to use their training to ease your muscles. Try to think of it as a sports training event, as something good for you. And if you don't relax at all and are really hating it, let yourself speak up and say, "You know, thanks but I think I've had enough. I'm a bit more sore than I expected and I'm going to cut it short. Thanks, though!"
You reserve the right to quit the massage at ANY time for ANY reason. Maybe keeping that in the back of your mind will help -- YOU'RE in control of this touch, and it will go on only as long as you want it to.
Anyway, I hope you have a great time. I hope you do enjoy the spa, if you decide to go!
JenStar
poster:Jen Star
thread:526822
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050706/msgs/526869.html