Massage Etiquette: The Thin Line Between a Harmless Massage and Sexual Misconduct

Pursuing a career in massage therapy is never that easy. As a massage therapist, I subscribe to Google Alerts about the latest news in massage therapy and, ever so often, I receive alerts regarding massage etiquette violations. I often ask myself: what went wrong in these cases? What are the boundaries that separate a simple slip and sexual misconduct? Let's find out.

Massage is a sensual activity. Meaning, it stimulates the senses. It stimulates the nerves in such a way that it brings sensations to the area being massaged. These sensations can be interpreted by some as okay, while others may treat it way over their scale. And sometimes these "sensations" lead to misinterpretation... Although it may also mean the real thing... There really is a thin line that separates the sensual from the sexual so it is important to stress out the role of the Massage Code of Ethics to avoid any Criminal Suits against therapist and to know whether or not you are being violated.

Do's and Don'ts of Massage Etiquette (for the Massage Therapist and the Client)

DO's;

For the massage therapist:

• It is your responsibility to provide a relaxing, conducive and professional environment for the client.


• You should inform the client what the massage/treatment will be comprised of before the client lies on the table.


• Leave the room to allow the client to change and get under the massage sheet on the table alone. Do return if the client is ready for the massage to start.


• Drape the client properly. This is to only expose the area to be massaged.


• As a massage therapist, be consistent with your confident touch - not too light nor too hard.

For the client:

• As a client, you should communicate with the massage therapist.


• To both the client and the massage therapist, do follow the accepted standards of your country/state where you are located in terms of the space or boundaries for two people speaking to each other.

DON'Ts:

For the massage therapist:

• As a massage therapist, do not disclose too much personal information that may lead your client to feel uncomfortable during the course of conversation.


• As a massage therapist, don't extend past their appointments to compensate late arrivals. As a professional, stick with the schedule. This is very basic in massage etiquette.


• As a massage therapist, do not touch the genitals of your client. Also, breast massage is not included in a full body massage.

For the client:

• As a client, don't be alarmed if you have to undress for the massage therapy. However, be aware that the amount of clothing to wear depends on the type of massage you'll undergo. For a full body Swedish massage, it is normal to undress but it is not necessary. You can also wear your underwear if you want to.


• As a client, don't hesitate to tell your massage therapist if you're uncomfortable with undressing, you can wear anything that you're comfortable with.