As a Massage Therapist we aren’t judging your body

The first thing taught during our apprentice program here at Orem Center for Massage is that our work revolves around people, not bodies.

Therapists work with individuals and aim for their goals in a unique manner, depending on each client’s needs, like relaxation or healthy benefits.

Many positive sides of massage therapy, including the soothing effect of touch, works exactly in the same way for overweight people.

You can even say that many treatments, like lymphatic drainage and compression massage, benefits people with edema of the feet or legs even more when the person going through these specific regimen is overweight.

Don’t fall into traps! Obesity can be quite misleading: many people believe those who are heavier than average avoid exercises, but overweight people also exercise and care about their own bodies.

It’s important to relieve the strain from joints and muscles (caused from milder or heavier exercises like walking or running) with massage therapy.

Overall, the whole world is getting bigger and bigger. America, specifically, has only four states with an obesity ratio less than 20 percent.

You can be sure that massage therapists all around the world are used with working with extra pounds, so you shouldn’t carry any concerns to such a pleasant activity. The only thing you should care about is your own comfort.

Overweight people carry a bigger amount of pressure in their bodies — knees, hips, neck, you name it.

All of these specific parts are prone to pain and in case you don’t treat these symptoms, you can end up with an edema or a smaller range of motion in a long-term situation.

Of course, all of these conditions can get better with the help of massage therapy.

For instance, if you’re having trouble reaching your full range-of-motion, a concept know as ROM, you can benefit greatly from mobility work and resisted stretching for joints and muscles. This way, you will be able to do anything, unassisted.

Feeling under pressure? Therapists doesn’t necessary need to apply a great deal of deep pressure to get through the adipose tissue of overweight people.

Massage affect the muscle even when you can’t feel the muscle or any bony landmarks — and many people opt for not so deep massages, a free choice to everyone looking for a massage therapy.

Even so, the extra pounds are a vascular and professionals always need to warm the tissue very well, with light strokes or with Swedish techniques, making sure your body is ready and all set to be relaxed during the process.

In case you don’t have any experience with massages, feel free to talk to your therapists if you feel any kind of discomfort or even if you want to focus on different parts of your body.

Remember that the therapy is about you and your own body.

It’s all about you Many obese clients suffer from a low-grade pain so constant that they aren’t even aware since the stings are so constant.

Professionals have to work gently and apply lighter strokes to check for anything wrong.

Larger people can experience chronic pain caused by the extra weight. This pain is usually reflected on aching joints or in a tremendous overall fatigue.

Professionals won’t ignore your struggle and will be willing to understand the connection between your body and your pain, gaining an extra perspective specifically for overweight people.

Still feeling conscious about being overweight?

Remember that massage therapy works in the same way for overweight people, skinny people, old people and young people.

Professionals don’t expect to treat only one type of body. It’s their job to make sure every client is satisfied and it’s also their job to help you find out what is the best possible treatment to any problem you could be facing.

Massage therapy cares only for you, without any kind of prejudices.

The whole treatment is focused on making sure you feel good not only about yourself, but about your own skin and bones, and improving your body so you can live a fuller and relaxed life after meeting with your professional therapist.

Don’t forget to have an open dialog with your massage therapist in case you decide to start any kind of treatment.

It’s important that you’re comfortable and at peace with yourself during the process.