The Art of Draping
Though it seems simple, draping is an
important skill to learn. The sheet covering the client provides a
sense of comfort and safety.
The reason we drape is to cover the
client's private parts and to keep the body warm while focusing on one
part of the body. I think the best sheets to use are flannel because they
feel good against the skin, they don't show oil stains (oil stains can
sometimes remain even if the sheets have been cleaned and sterilized),
and they are the easiest to work around because they stay put when
undraping the body.
Sloppy movement of the sheets can cause
anxiety in the client by making him/her feel overexposed physically,
and can cause the the client to question the skills of the therapist,
even if the massage is great.
Knowing how to drape will also allows the
massage to go more smoothly because the sheets will not shift or get in
the way. Always think clean lines. Do not allow them to bunch up.
Once you have undraped the body part, try
not to work under the sheet. Massage the area that is uncovered. If you
can't see where your hands are going, you could accidentally bump
something that you dont want to bump into. If you didn't expose enough
of the area, it is better to redrape than to guess.
By the way, not all massage therapists drape their
clients, but I'd say about 99% do. And covering the body isn't just for
the modesty of the receiver. Even if you're ok with being nude, I can
promise you that many therapists are not ok with undraped massage, and
do not want to see that side of you (beautiful as I'm sure it is!)
Prepare the table the same way one would prepare a bed. Cover the table
with the twin-fitted sheet, and then the flat sheet. The face cradle
can be covered with the pillowcase or with a towel, or you can also
purchase special covers from a massage supply store.
At the beginning of the massage, the client
should be covered with the sheet completely from the shoulders down.
It's best not to cover the face and/or head, although sometimes I do
use an eye pillow to shade the eyes from light.
The Back
The back is the easiest to drape and undrape. The simplest way to
undrape this area is to make make a couple folds in the material, until
you have exposed the low back area, but without exposing the clients
behind.
1ST FOLD:
2ND FOLD:
Soon I will be posting how to undrape:
The Leg
The Abdomen
The Arm
The Diaper Drape
Turning the client over
But I want to have pictures to go along with the descriptions. I think that will make things much clearer for you.
They will be up soon!

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