Massage Gifting Tips!?

[LindseyRaeFace]

Im sure there will be too many dirty jokes and shitty comments to swallow, but in all seriousness...

My group will have a few massage therapists and certified energy work practitioners and we are planning on gifting massages & energywork to people this year, however i am aware of the complication of playa dust with lubricants making it less than a relaxing massage... Other than complete showers, what tips/advise/ideas do you have on maximum glide with minimum mud? (Insert laughs here).

My only ideas so far are either babywipes or sponge baths before the massage...

Ive seen other camps giving massages so I was hoping for some tips, what worked, what didn't.

Also: Other than providing future clients the delightful aroma of playa dust coming from my massage table for years to come, did anyone use anything else to have them sit/lay on?

Thanks in advance! <3

[Lord Of Ruin]

Im sure there will be too many dirty jokes and shitty comments to swallow, but in all seriousness...


Thanks in advance! <3

Well, I've been gifted a massage in one of the departments I work for...

It was awesome.

Their stipulation was that you bring your own towel. I'd try to create a little area (maybe separate genders if you want to accommodate the shy people) where you have some chairs or benches. Ask people to schedule massages and arrive 15 min. early. Escort them to that area, give them a cool drink of water and ask them to clean up with baby wipes. I wouldn't waste the therapists time doing such things. You'll have too many people showing up to be bathed!

You could get some rolls of that sanitary paper they use in a dr.'s office...I think it's pretty cheap and it would work on the table top. If the person didn't bring a towel, it wouldn't be too uncomfortable, and would help keep the table relatively clean. If you had a small burn barrel set up, you could burn each day's paper pretty easily.

LoR

P.S. Keep us posted on your camp name! I want in line now!

[dr.placebo]

It's your space, you can set the rules. You could require the towel (or sheet or whatever). You can have appointments or drop-ins or some mix. You can allow guest massagers or not. You can allow covered, uncovered, separate or mixed.

Unless you have nearby showers (unlikely) people will come in with some dust even if they cleaned up just before biking over. Having been both a giver and receiver of massage in past years on the playa I'd have to say that the dust is not really a problem unless it is blowing around. Your best bet may be to run the massages from 10 am to 2 pm, before the wind kicks up a lot.

Since you have experienced massage givers you will, no doubt, already know about setting ground rules for what can and can not be touched. If you allow guest massage givers then it will be important to keep them on the same page, since there have been incidents in the past where people crossed boundaries (legally rape in at least two cases).

HeeBeeGeeBee's has run massages for years. If you can find someone from there they would have a lot of insight into what works or not. See

http://www.heebeegeebeehealers.org/

[AntiM]

Totem does (did?) a massage tent. They keep it enclosed and run a swamp cooler. I didn't notice anyone using oils. Playa dust slides over dry skin nicely. I spent a lot of time in front of the cooler, that was the year I went to the playa two days after finishing radiation treatment, so I really needed a place to literally chill. People would hang out on the cushions and mats in the informal waiting area, the masseuses (masseusii?) would ask who had been waiting. People were encouraged to give as well as receive massages if they had the ability. I bet you could find the contact info for Totem and ask how they ran things.

One year I saw a man gifting massages in Center Camp. He was only working on pretty young women. Larry talked him into working my shoulders, but we could tell he didn't want to massage a fat old married lady. Sad, huh? Please, be sure the old and the chunky feel welcome also, that would be a nice change of pace.

[Ugly Dougly]

Even in Defaultia, massaging a dirty person is a chore. I would provide my client with a sponge bath, but they would have to self-administer that.
A nice enclosed yurt or dome will not have that much dust in it.
You probably want to remove the oil afterward, since it combines with dust to make Portland cement.

[gyre]

Don't use oil.

If you can't adapt your style to working without oil, you're in for a lot of extra labor or limiting to dustfree folks.
Always wonderful giving or getting a massage, especially out there.

[klondike_bar]

id avoid using oils, theyll likely just be counteracted or made useless by the dust.

its still possible to give a great massage to a dusty back, and it will be highly appreciated nontheless

[theCryptofishist]

Be careful with communication and boundaries. "Happy Endings" shouldn't be assumed by either party and should be entered into very carefully. Sometimes they turn out not to be so happy in the long run.

ETA: one letter for gramatical reasons.

[CLARKcon]

What about using sunscreen as an element ?? Sounds like the perfect "2 for 1"! Revitilizing vitamins, absorbs well into skin, and has the UV protection to send em' back out into the sun. Not only would you be providing a remedial gift, but a light First Aid/Medical one at that

[swampdog]

In ancient rome I think they oiled a body up and used a scraper to remove oil and dirt.

[Ugly Dougly]

It may be too late, but get a garden sprayer to get off the bigger dust clumps.

Playa dust is alkali and is more slippery than an acid such as vinegar.

[LindseyRaeFace]

One year I saw a man gifting massages in Center Camp. He was only working on pretty young women. Larry talked him into working my shoulders, but we could tell he didn't want to massage a fat old married lady. Sad, huh? Please, be sure the old and the chunky feel welcome also, that would be a nice change of pace.

Old, young, chunky, skinny, married, single, everyone needs love, and everyone loves massages. In fact I feel like the old, chunky, and married could use the love and affection even more. Many dont get ti as often since they arent being oogled and admired, extra weight can be tirign for muscles too. Im open to working on all shapes and sizes. Hopefully people will be clean'sih (other than dust of course, i dont mind that) Like no severe BO, bodily fluids, etc. Other than that, Im all about it!

AntiM, I hope I meet you so I can give you a massage! <3

[C.f.M.]

What's your camp? I could definitely use some help and don't care how gritty or dirty it might be.

[LindseyRaeFace]

We arent a theme camp, but should be easily located. We are going to be around 3:30 and D and there will be neon tetris pieces out front.

We will have 2 massage therapists and a healer, just casually doing treatments whenever needed. Nothing structured.

[C.f.M.]

Awesome. I'm at 3 & A. And I love Tetris. I will be the one that just walks up and says, "Help?" and falls onto a table.

[LindseyRaeFace]

Awesome. I'm at 3 & A. And I love Tetris. I will be the one that just walks up and says, "Help?" and falls onto a table.

Dont be offended if someone throws a beer at you and jumps on top of you!

[Ugly Dougly]

You clearly don't know CfM.

AntiM, your "friend" was just interested in groping young ladies. Anyone accepting a massage should be aware of that.

[LindseyRaeFace]

(Read above) Im an equal opportunity groper

All joking aside, CFM if you come by we'd love to work on you. Sounds like you could use a massage and some relaxation =)

[theCryptofishist]

AntiM, your "friend" was just interested in groping young ladies. Anyone accepting a massage should be aware of that.

Oh, I'm sure AntiM knew exactly what was going on. She's a woman of the world (thank the navy) and was once one of those young ladies.

[gerlachedNloaded]

DEFINITELY a stop i will be making. haven't had a massage in like 10 years...

[illy dilly]

We arent a theme camp, but should be easily located. We are going to be around 3:30 and D and there will be neon tetris pieces out front.

We will have 2 massage therapists and a healer, just casually doing treatments whenever needed. Nothing structured.

I got a message last year, and the dust worked fine. On playa, your muscles are so stressed that any massage is an amazing massage.

What day do ya'll plan to arrive, and be set up?
We hope to arrive Monday around 10am, be set up by 11am before it gets really hot. We're camping with BDV at 3:30 and E, so come by and grab a cold one! Look for the tie dye CO flag!