Rubbed The Wrong Way - RMT Pet Peeves

How's the pressure?
Drawing by Claude Serre

A massage can be an incredibly wonderful experience. It could also be an experience that would turn you off of the entire form of therapy for good. No doubt I love a good massage; I receive them regularly - one of the perks of being in the biz - and every massage I get is a major learning experience and good reminder of how it feels to be on the table and not working next to it.

Let this blog post inspire you to speak up for what it is you want out of your treatment if you are not receiving it. Sounds like good practice for all sorts of situations in life, doesn't it?

Things massage therapists do that drive me crazy:

• Talk too much when I've not prompted them to do so. Sometimes I like to chat, sometimes I don't. Please follow my cues. If my eyes are closed and I respond to your queries in mere nods or grunts, take that as a signal that I'm not into chatting.
• Assume that they know exactly what I am feeling. I'm the only person experiencing my body; please don't assume that my body is the same as yours or anyone else's. We've all been on both sides of this type of communication at one time or another, but let's remember that it really sucks to be treated this way. 
• Wrong pressure. I've had a lot of massages from all sorts of people; many were fabulous, some were mediocre, and a select few were absolutely awful. Thank goodness the terrible ones are few and far between. One massage that falls into the awful category was so painful that even when I asked them to lessen the pressure because I was gasping for air and couldn't breathe calmly, they didn't and instead chuckled masochistically while I writhed on the table. Another treatment felt like they were afraid to touch me; their touch was imperceptibly light on my body. That treatment left me feeling more irritated than when I arrived after not being able to find parking. All practitioners have their own methods for tapping into their client's bodies but if it is irritatingly light or infuriatingly painful the positive experience is lost. It takes a bit of bravery to speak up and ask for what you want. Massage providers, please be receptive to this feedback.
• Don't explain their rationale for treating the way they are. Ummm, excuse me, why are you treating my butt when I clearly asked for a neck treatment? Believe me, I understand that the body is a very complex system, and sometimes a practitioner must treat peripheral areas in order to restore balance to the area of concern, but please be sure that I understand this before you begin treating areas that I didn't consent to. This is known as Informed Consent. Don't forget about the informed part.
• Answer my questions when they clearly have no clue what to say. My respect for a person's knowledge grows when they have the ability to admit they don't know the answer. Saying that you don't know is actually really, really smart.
• Talk about themselves when I didn't ask them to. Pardon moi, but haven't I hired you to think about me for 60 minutes? A huge part of receiving a massage is fulfilling the need to be nurtured. This is lost when you are telling me about the pants you recently bought on sale.
• Have scratchy hands or fingernails. I've had a massage where through the entire treatment I was unable to fully relax because I was anticipating when their snaggy finger nail would turn and scratch me again. I wouldn't be offended if my client informed me that I had a hang nail that was scratching them. I always have a file, I can fix the problem in seconds, please don't suffer through the entire treatment enduring it like I did!
• Use too much oil. I especially despise excess oil in my hair, especially if I am planning to do things after my massage. I make plenty of sebum on my own, I don't need your scented massage oil to help, thanks.
• Employ sketchy sheet draping techniques.  I'm not overly concerned with maintaining my physical modestly. After all, we are all naked under our clothes. I've even been known to lounge at clothing-optional beaches so I am comfortable in the buff beneath the massage table sheets - usually. But there is something about unpredictable or inconsistent draping that makes my skin crawl. It's almost like it would be better if there were no sheets at all, then at least I'd know what we were dealing with boundary-wise.

Remember, it is perfectly acceptable to kindly ask your massage therapist to modify the way they are providing treatment. I would like to think that they will receive the feedback graciously and will be happy to make your treatment as comfortable as possible. After all, it's your time.

Do you have anything to add to the list?

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Massage is the study of anatomy in braille.

"Massage is the study of anatomy in braille."
Jack Meagher

Extended Health Coverage - You're Already Paying For It...

Take care of yourself!
Painting by: Wayne Thiebaud

Fortunate we Canadians are to have universal healthcare but blessed are those who can afford complimentary therapies for preventative care. You may have an extended health care plan to help you cover the expenses for dental, prescriptions, chiropractic, physio, acupuncture, massage therapy, et cetra. If this plan is available to you through your employer then you are likely making a contribution to it in the from of a deduction from your pay. 

That's right, folks, you are already paying for your extended healthcare plan. Your employer has arranged for this so their employees are happy and healthy. Don't waste your hard earned money, put it to use in the form of self care.

How to use your plan:

If you have no idea what your plan covers or how to claim for the services you've received, give your insurance provider a call. Every provider is a bit different. Often plans cover a certain number of treatments or a dollar amount to use toward treatment per year. When I say 'cover' I mean that you will be re-reimbursed by the insurance company when you prove to them that you received and paid for treatment. This is why the receipt I issue to you is so important; it's like money in your pocket (or at least an IOU) so don't lose it! You'll likely be required to submit your receipts once or twice a year in order to receive the re-reimbursement.

It's already more than halfway through the year!

It's always notoriously busy in the clinic through December, with our clients scrambling to use up their benefits before year end. Why not figure out how much yearly coverage you have, which modalities are covered by your plan, and then book a series of appointments spanning through the year? I know, it sounds very adult and responsible, doesn't it?

If you are looking to maximize your plan, the practitioners at Oceanside Wellness Centre can work together to formulate a treatment plan that will promote your overall well-being while putting your benefits to full use. For example: If your plan covers five each of chiro, acupuncture, and massage treatments per year, you could be receiving some form of therapy every three weeks. We are big fans of prevention and would much rather help you steer clear of injury than have to help you recover from one. It's just no fun seeing people in pain. Plus the benefits you will experience by receiving regular treatment are too many to name!

Some other great reasons to use up your plan:

• If you don't use it, you'll lose it. If employees don't use the plan, it may be scaled back or removed. Yikes!
• Be a leader. Show your employer and colleagues that your health is important to you by making self-care a priority. You will find that the little bit of effort to get into the clinic will be worth the outcomes.
• Support local small business. If not for yourself, then do it for your local private practitioner who is building their business in your area.

From someone who doesn't have any extended health insurance and pays out of pocket for treatments for all members of my family, please don't take for granted the services you have access to.

I look forward to seeing you in the clinic before December!
Dana