Anna, a question for you

[Guest guest]

Hi Anna,

Since you do massage, could you tell me what oil or oils you prefer to use

for the massage? I have a vendor who is wanting me to do massage oils for

her and I am not sure what to mix up for her.

Thank you so much for your help.

Karen S

 

-

<awhite777

 

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 9:30 PM

Salt Scrub

 

 

>

> Hi Carol,

>

> I'm a massage therapist and I do salt scrubs almost everyday. I have

> streamlined my process down so I can include it in my basic massage. After

> I've done

> the massage, I'm on the back and I finish the massaging with extra oil, so

> that

 

> Anna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Karen, I use lots of different oils and change them with different

clients, my mood and what I have on hand. But, for the most part, I do have some

favorites and have found that these are usually very popular ones with clients.

Lavender, Lemon, Lime (my newest favorite), Grapefruit, Rose, Peppermint,

Orange, Tangerine, Spruce, Pine and Ylang Ylang. I have them in a kit and take

them

with me. I use any or all of the above oils in a treatment, incorporating them

into the massage. For people with special problems, I will use oils that are

geared for their issues, and I sometimes make a blend to give them for use in

between treatments. I use them neat and put a drop or two on my fingers and

then cup my hands over their nose while I watch the client take three or more

breaths. If they are responding well to aromatherapy, I'll use more oils, if

they don't seem to like it (and few don't), I'll discontinue and just stick with

massage. But, most people really love having the oils to smell and then, I do

a whole head, neck and scalp treatment in the process of using different oils.

If someone books an hour massage, I allow ten minutes for this process. In a

two hour massage, I take my time and space out the oils a bit more and do this

area in 25 minutes. Then, I do the rest of the massage on their front, have

them turn, massage their back and finish with the Dead Sea salt scrub. I do use

an occasional oil on their back from time to time, Peppermint, Spearmint,

Lemongrass, Birch and Marjoram are some of the ones I've used in the past few

weeks for back treatments. I also use all the same oils for Reflexology

treatments and frequently will do the cupping under the nose bit as I introduce

a new

oil and then, without touching their face or head, go straight into working

with each oil and incorporating them with Reflexology. A lady had this last

night

and she said she felt as if her feet could fly afterwards.

 

I don't use Eucalyptus very often, specifically because SO many massage

therapists use this as their only essential oil. I also use my oils neat,

because

most massage therapists will add a few drops to their massage oil and the aroma

is much diluted by the time it actually gets to the client. Clients are

usually not expecting such a heady, intoxicating aroma and as they breath it in,

they are relaxing their physical body, enhancing their treatment. I would never

recommend pre mixing an essential oil in massage oil until after consulting

with the client and at that time, use a small bottle, such as a two ounce bottle

to prepare a massage formula. When I went to massage school (The Edgar Cayce

School of Massage), we prepared our oils individually, just before each client

so this seems normal to me.

 

Also, I have treatments that don't use massage oil, such as Lymphatic

Drainage and I can use essential oils in those without compromising the

treatment

outcomes. So, find out what your massage therapists are doing and then you can

help them design an effective treatment plan with the oils you have to offer.

 

Anna, in sunny and warm, West Palm Beach, Florida