OK, so here comes the class that was making some people very nervous. We are doing chest work tonight, and for some, "chest" means "breasts", which we need to clarify right away. The chest area of a human body is not limited to the adipose (fat) tissue commonly referred to as "breasts". There are muscles to be palpated and worked on, bony landmarks to be identified, dozens of conditions to be helped and much discomfort to be alleviated. Who benefits from this work? People who wear tight undergarments, those who have undergone heart or breast cancer surgery, people struggling with respiratory conditions or those simply recovering from a strenuous upper body workout at the gym. I've been approached in the hallway the week before by a few students, who were anxious about "that area". Some are concerned about having to touch women "there", others have spouses or partners who find it objectionable.
In the spirit of respecting everyone's boundaries, I start by reassuring the students that no one will make them do anything they are not comfortable with. We would present them with the information:pros and cons, draping techniques and skills. Anything beyond that is their decision.
Instead of doing the demonstration on one of the students, the way we normally do, I ask one of the instructors to get on the table. She is an excellent choice because she loves chest massage, understands the intricacies of it and maintains communication with me during the demo, which helps the students relax and see it for what it is - therapeutic body work. When they go to tables, we are in a place of learning again - no more fidgeting, nail biting and nervous giggles.
Afterward, when we ask for feedback, it's a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Why would most massage therapists skip the entire area between the neck and the hips?", a students remarks. "I had no idea I was so tight in the pecs, and it explains my posture and my aches lately." "Very few schools teach this work, and many therapists are intimidated by it", I offer to the students who aren't, anymore.
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