How the Client Felt Before the Treatment:
When I met my client for the first time she appeared rushed, tired and flustered, this could have been because of her rushing to the treatment or other factors such as work or family problems that have left her exhausted. I also noticed that she carried herself hunched over, which could be due to the discomfort she has been experiencing in her shoulders, back and hip area. When I asked her about her current physical and psychological well-being, she claimed both were good, but she also revealed to me that her grandfather had recently passed away, which could indicate current and on-going stress and unhappiness, which can add to tension in the shoulders and back, which she was complaining of.
How the Client Felt During the Treatment:
At first when I started the treatment, my client was noticeably tense, this could be for a number of reasons: She could have been apprehensive about what to expect from the treatment, she may not have been used to my touch or movements or it simply may have been the muscular tension she told me about. Once I had warmed up her muscles using gentle, then gradually firmer effleurage movements I felt her muscles and her body relax. Once the skin and the muscles were warm I used deep kneading, picking up, wringing, muscle and skin rolling movements on her areas of tension (shoulders and back) and on the areas she wanted me to concentrate on (shoulders and hip area) and about 15 minutes into the treatment my client was asleep which indicates that she was exhausted, stressed and in need of a relaxation treatment. Also as my client stated she preferred a firm massage I was able to apply this pressure to her areas to concentrate on and on the shoulders and neck where I found many tension nodules.
How the Client Felt After the Treatment:
After I had completed the treatment and awoke my client telling her the treatment was over, she appeared bleary-eyed, drowsy and completely relaxed due to being asleep and the effect my massage had on her. Her body language seemed a lot calmer and more fluid than before the treatment and she even had a softer tone to her voice, but this could have been because she had slept for a good 20 minutes! She vocalised to me that she felt “blissfully relaxed” and that she “could sleep for a million years” which suggests to me that the massage had the relaxing effect on her that both she and I wanted from the treatment.
Homecare and Aftercare Advice:
At the end of the body massage treatment I performed according to my client’s arranged treatment plan, I was able to offer her some homecare and aftercare advice. Immediately after the treatment I allowed my client to “wake up” slowly and allow her to take her time “coming round” as a back massage can be extremely sedating especially as I used many relaxing movements, I offered her a glass of water to prevent dehydration as during the massage I had drained away any toxins her body was harbouring. As the massage I performed was based on improving relaxation, draining of toxins and muscular kneading, some clients may experience feelings of dehydration, which are all indications that a good treatment has been performed. It is vital to replace those lost fluids and toxins with water straight away to avoid feeling unwell or drowsy.
I would advise my client to improve her lifestyle by trying to avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption as both these things leave the skin looking dull, old before its time and leave the body exhausted and full of toxins. I also stated that if this was achieved, she would notice significant changes in her energy levels, skin appearance and texture and that she would feel wonderful feelings of health and well-being. I also reminded her to keep up her fluid intake after her treatments as water detoxifies the body and flushes out further toxins which will make her skin feel and look healthier, improve the functioning of internal organs and cells and prevent immune system problems such as colds, flu and infections. I also advised her to keep the massage oil I had used on her skin overnight, as the oils will nourish and soften her skin without clogging it or making it too oily. I also advised her to try to eat small regular meals especially immediately after the treatment and in the 24 hours that follows so the body can continue to work on removing those toxins rather than trying to digest a huge meal.
There are many internal threats to the skin that I have advised my client to avoid if possible – which I have mentioned briefly above. Threats such as alcohol, caffeine, smoking, medication and stress for example. Alcohol deprives the skin of vitamins and their reserves (Vitamins B and C) which are vital for healthy looking and feeling skin. Alcohol also dehydrates the body and the skin which will affect the water-levels in the skin and leave it looking dull. I advised my client to drink the recommended daily allowance of alcohol (2-3 units per day for women) or less as this would improve the skins’ appearance and bring on internal feelings of health and well-being.
Liquids such as coffee and tea contain a “mild drug” called caffeine, which is safe in moderate doses but if ingested too much or at unnatural levels caffeine can cause nervousness, interfere with the digestive process, block the absorption of minerals which can lead to the appearance of the skin looking dull and dehydrated. I advised my client to swap coffee and tea for herbal teas such as green tea and replace caffeinated coffee and tea with “de-caf” alternatives.
Stress can be shown in the face as tension lines, where the muscles of the face are constantly pulled tight. This leads to the lymph and blood not being able to circulate as effectively and leaves the skin looking sluggish with lack of circulation. The facial tissues can become puffy – especially around the eyes, stress and anxiety can be the underlying cause of many skin disorders such as boils and sties. Current conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can be made worse during times of stress. As my client has higher levels of stress at work, I advised them to take time out from her everyday life to relax and have some time to herself to pamper herself.
The skin all over the body can also be affected by diet and a poor diet can leave the skin dehydrated, sluggish and in some cases with an excess of oil and comedones and pustule appearing. I would advise every client I treated to eat a healthy balanced diet, irrespective of their skin type. A balanced diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit and fibre. Foods that contain vitamins A, B and C, proteins and fatty acids are important for healthy skin. Vitamin A can be found in milk, eggs, fish-liver oils, butter and margarine. Vitamin B can be found in foods like cereals, pulses, milk, meat, leafy vegetables and whole meal flour. Vitamin C can be found in fruit, vegetables, sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, blackcurrants, strawberries, lemons, grapefruit and oranges. Protein can be found in meat fish, eggs, milk, beans, peas, pulses, seeds, nuts and fruit containing oils. Fatty acids can be found in polyunsaturated vegetable and nut oils and soft margarines. I would also advise my client to drink plenty of water (about 8 glasses a day) to maintain a healthy water-balance in the body and the elimination of toxins (which can affect the skin) and waste are sped up.
I would also advise any client of mine to ensure they partake in gentle, regular exercise. and body, regular exercise also speeds up cell division and helps build strong collagen within the skins’ structures. Keeping fit minimises the stresses my client experiences in her day-to-day life and bad effects on the skin and also gives the client a feeling of health and well-being as vital endorphins (as stated previously) are released during exercise so it is ideal for feeling good on the inside and the outside.
Overall Conclusion:
From the feedback my client gave me and my general feel for how the treatment progressed, I believe that the treatment went really well – based on the physical reactions my clients body gave me during the treatment: I could physically feel her muscles relaxing and smoothing as I used deeper petrissage movements and worked out tension nodules that were causing her the discomfort in her back. I also believe that my massage was a successful and fulfilled one, as my client was in such a relaxed state that she fell asleep, which to me as a therapist is the biggest compliment my work could be given.
Reflective Practice:
Regarding my performance as a therapist I believe I could have put more time and effort into a more thorough and concise consultation form, as I got too excited about the practical side of the treatment that I rushed through the consultation and treatment plan forms, and I could have been more attentive to my clients needs which would have lead to a treatment completely tailored to her needs. I believe that the practical aspect of my performance as a therapist was good as I adjusted my movements and pressure according to what my client asked for and what I felt her muscles and tissues required.
