I understand, we all got it........GAS! And most of us... it does not smell like ROSES!
In my 10 years of doing massage I have never encountered a person like this before though. Every once in a while I get someone that farts unacceptably and I would never judge, we ALL get it.
In this case, I get this very nice, petite little woman who you would think could never do anything atrocious, but she proved me WRONG. As soon as I started to work on her back thighs the gas started coming. I couldn't believe the sounds that came from that lady. I just thank God that it didn't smell, but the sounds did not stop. It kept coming from one leg to the other. Sounds that you only hear from a Star Wars movie. Again her small stature amazed me with the noise that came from within. But the one thing that totally bothered me, was that she never said anything. No "Excuse Me", "Sorry", or "My Bad"........ NOTHING.
So my suggestions. As a therapist you really can't say or do anything, GAS HAPPENS. For the client, please DO NOT eat something the day before or the day of your massage that makes you gassy. We've all been there, where gas just happens and you can't stop it. But if you are about to receive a massage please be courteous to yourself and your massage therapist and be aware of what you are putting in to your body so that you know what is going to be coming out of it.
Heart Ya, Ginger
Now everybody has gotten a sunburn one time or another in their lives and we all know what happens a few days later.......... we peel. So for massage therapists this can be an AWFUL situation to deal with. If your skin is dry, you smoke, you recently got to much sun, you don't drink enough water, or you don't moisturize your skin this leads to your top layer of skin exfoliating off into the massage therapists' hands and arms. GROSS!!!!!!
One time I got a client that was peeling so bad from getting a sunburn that when I massaged them their skin just peeled off like they were a ZOMBIE like their body was just falling apart! Again GROSS!!! Also alot of the times the skin rolls up into little, gross, dark skin balls that look like boogers and are not only on me but all over the massage table. So when a massage is over and a client gets up they think the table is just dirty, UGH NO!!! It's your skin.
Just so you get a visual. Remember when we were young and would put Elmers Glue on your skin, let it dry, rip it off, and roll it between your thumbs and the disgusting booger like matter would be left. That's EXACTLY what it is like!
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a ZOMBIE! First exfoliate your skin before getting a massage. Go to the store and buy a back brush and while showering scrub your back and extremities. Also keep yourself well hydrated. Your skin is an organ and if you are adequately hydrated your skin will not be dry. Then there's moisturizing. This is key. The more moisture in your skin the healthier it is. If you smoke, try to cut back. Smoke is EXTREMELY harsh for your skin. We all need the Vitamins in sunlight, but cut back if you are a SUN BABY. If you do this you will repair wrinkles, add elasticity to your skin, and even out complexion.
For the therapist who encounters this client my only suggestion is use as much lotion/oil as you can. The massage won't be as deep but it will cut back on the grossness. The more product you use the less friction there is, so it cuts back on the exfoliation. You will still have skin just not as bad. Also have a small hand towel available to take off extra skin when it accumulates. I know GROSS, but it's better in a towel than in your hands and arms.
SKIN IS A GIFT!!!!
Heart Ya, Ginger
