Tips for Draping & Flow for Massage Therapy
When I first became a massage therapist I really struggled with draping - that is, covering and uncovering my clients with the sheet - and felt like what I was doing actually detracted from the massage. As such I played around with a number of methods and techniques to make my draping flow as if it were a part of the massage itself instead of something I had to do in between sections of the massage.
Recently, I shared a few of these tips with my students at Natural Touch School of Massage in Greensboro. They were kind enough to let me tape part of the demonstration so that I could share it with others. Hope it is of some help to you! If for some reason you can't see the screen below, click here to see the video on YouTube.com. You can see other videos of mine there too - please rate them well if you like them so that they'll move higher up the list!
Recently, I shared a few of these tips with my students at Natural Touch School of Massage in Greensboro. They were kind enough to let me tape part of the demonstration so that I could share it with others. Hope it is of some help to you! If for some reason you can't see the screen below, click here to see the video on YouTube.com. You can see other videos of mine there too - please rate them well if you like them so that they'll move higher up the list!
Posted by Felicia Brown LMBT at 11/6/2009 6:04 AM 
Categories: Training and Education, Client Care and Customer Service
Tags: draping boundaries flow client care massage
Categories: Training and Education, Client Care and Customer Service
Tags: draping boundaries flow client care massage
Very useful this videos. Thanks for your info. great job!
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Draping is very important to modest clients. I will have all my therapists read this post and watch this video
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It is amazing how every detail is so important during a massage.
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Very informative article/video. Thanks for the "tutorial"
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Thanks Shennan. Draping done well is an art. I was really clumsy with it as a new therapist and worked very hard to make it a seemless part of the massage session.
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I still don't get why draping can ruin the flow of a massage. Seems very simple to just cover somebody up but I'm no expert. I'd love to hear others' opinions.
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Tony -
Thanks for your comment. I can tell you that I was TERRIBLE at draping when I first got out of school, something that was pointed out by my boss when he got that first massage from me. He showed me ways to make draping an artful seamless part of the massage, something that a lot of therapists don't do.
I liken it to a part of choreography similar to dance or figure skating. If skaters or dancers can only perform the "big tricks" and maneuvers but are not adept at making transitions between each element of the program - their performance is choppy and looks more like a collection of athletic stunts rather than a flowing, elegant composition. This is not nearly as enjoyable to watch. Thus a massage with lots of stops, starts and rough transitions is not nearly as wonderful to receive.
Of course sloppy draping is not the only thing that can de distracting in a session. But I find it is more common that it should be and is something that can so easily be fixed
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Good post about draping. Thanks for the video. I think you've highlighted some good techniques.
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Thanks for your feedback! Please feel free to share the videos with anyone who may need help with simplifying their draping techniques.
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