Lotions and Potions, Oh My!
I strive to create the highest quality massage experience at my Magnolia studio. That effort includes the lotion I use for a variety of massage modalities. After trial and error (with error too strong a word—nothing was horrible) I’ve found a non-scented lotion that facilities glide for Swedish and relaxation massage, yet is sticky enough for deep tissue, sports and injury massage. According to reviews of the lotion, it’s deeply moisturizing, and includes antioxidants to protect skin against free radicals. It has no oily “after-feel.” I’ll never forget when I received a massage once and I was covered in a certain brand of massage oil that took three soapy showers to remove from my skin and hair. Yuck!
My clients are busy people. They want to be presentable after their massage session, and they definitely don’t have time to add an extra shower into their schedule. Very often they are on their way to work, or to a luncheon meeting if the massage is in the morning. Even if they are receiving a massage in the evening, they still might have an errand or two on the way home. When a new client calls and makes an appointment, I assure them they won’t leave the studio all icky-sticky, but with moisturized skin and a relaxed body. I can avoid messing up your hair, too, unless you’d like a scalp massage.
A few clients do prefer a massage with oil, and I have some on hand. Occasionally some are allergic to the ingredients in the massage lotion, and I have alternatives. Also, I’m trained to massage through clothing, using no lotion at all. Massaging through clothes is common practice in sports massage, on-site massage (in an office, for example) and also in working with disabled or injured people.
I’m not telling the lovely brand of massage lotion I use, because a gal has to have some trade secrets. I will say the inventor of “Biofreeze” deserves a Nobel Peace prize. That weird-looking, pain-relieving blue gel works super-fantastic—it’s not just for athletes anymore
Lindsay Butler, LMT, RF