making your outcalls 'special'

[Pompal 09.]

i just bought a fleece covered hot water bottle from bath & body works, and i think i want to incorporate it into my sessions (not quite sure how, yet)anyway, this got me wondering what sorts of things other folks here do in order to make their outcalls special.  i know, i know, having me show up at your house should be special enough  8)  but when i read about the various kinds of pampering that you can do in an office, or at a spa, i get a bit intrigued.  ahhh to have a towel warmer.  anyway-- i am not really looking for modalities, or anything-- more like special pampering ideas...  and if anyone has any suggestions for the hot water bottle, i would love to hear them!thanksjen

 

[Crybaby Bob]

Well.......even though you don't have a hot towel warmer, you can still do a hot towel treatment on an outcall.  This is what I did when I did house calls.  I would microwave one of those hot packs that comes with those "Pyrex Portables".  I have no idea if you can buy them all by their lonesome.  Anyway, I microwave that and put it in an insulated lunch tote.  I then wet a towel and microwave that till it's REALLY hot.  I put it in the lunch tote with the hot pack and there ya go......HOT TOWEL TREATMENT ON THE GO!  Mine stayed hot for quite a while.  

 

[Anastasia Marie]

hot water bottle - Ayurvedic principle is put it on the stomach - draws the Vata energy from the head down to its rightful place, the digestive system.People always comment on how comfy my table is (triple density foam), and they comment how uncomfortable other tables are.They always get a bit stunned by my essential oils box - I lug around a wooden box with about 80 essential oils in it.  I get a lot of comments about how nice jojoba feels on the skin (I use it for body massage).I don't do candles, but I do have some fancy fake leis that get draped around where they look when face down (under the face cradle, or on the struts if I'm using the face hole in the table (which sometimes gets used for pregnant clients using the bodyCushion).  

 

[balloon buster]

melb-- i like the idea of putting it on the belly.  i start my sessions supine usually, & couldn't think of a good place to use it in that position.  i also like the idea of decorating the space under the table.  i haven't incorporated aromatherapy yet, but i would like to at some point...KH-- how long do you mic the towels for?  i don't have one of my own (mic, that is) but most of my clients do, so i could feasibly just do it at their place.  may i ask when & where you use the towels?  i have seen them used on the back, and then another towel & then the draping, but i am guessing there is a lot of room for improvisation......

 

[Meilien]

where did you get the eyepillow?  does it have a washable cover?  sounds like a good way to get the 'talkers' to quiet down too....

 

[Ramya Reddy]

I actually bought mine in a Mall around Christmas time.  I did find a site that sells them cheap I actually got mine for about $15.00, check it out. Hope it helps: http://www.trilifespice.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=97Brent

 

[C.Lee]

Evergreen,You mentioned you wanted the "talkers" to quiet down....I'm a huge talker!    Should I shut and try to enjoy the massage more?  Honestly, when I go in it is a huge vent session.  I reveal things to my MT that I only reveal to my "therapist".  I have to say though, my MT and I are good friends and his sessions are so wonderful to me.  Now I'm thinking thought I would enjoy them more if I just shut up.  Sorry for stepping into this conversation and diverting the topic.  I just had to laugh when I read about the talkers though.

 

[Soupy]

I actually prefer talkers over non-talkers. The talkers are much more likely to provide me with the necessary feedback that's so vital to providing a quality massage. Communication is so important but I don't think half of my clients realize it. Also, talkers make the session more pleasant (most of the time), allows the time to go by more smoothly and quicker.  Just my input on that aspect of this thread. ;DBe well,Jen

 

[kayla_b_323]

on the talking thing... i really don't mind if you want to vent, or let out stuff or tell me everything that goes on in your life, honestly.  but asking ME a lot of questions about my life is rather distracting, in a sense, as it keeps putting my focus on me, and not on the person on the table, ykwim?  this one client is very sweet, and always asks after my family, what does my DH do for a living, how is my serving job going, etc, etc, etc....  that is the sort of stuff that i find distracting.i will probably get used to it over time thoug  ;Dre: the hot water bottle, i did notice that it wasn't super hot last night when i tried it out, more just warm.  i think i need to try hotter water or something...thanks for all the feedback!peacejen

 

[Jackie]

I microwave the wet towel for about 5 or 6 minutes.....that's too hot to put directly on the client from there, of course, but it cools a little bit because I still have to drive to my office (only 2 miles), but a I always get there early.  I use the hot towel on their back.  I usually begin the client supine, so the hot towel isn't used until half way through the massage when I turn them prone and it is still very hot.  I put a dry towel on their back.  I then put the hot towel on and cover with another towel and then the draping.  If you're going to microwave when you get to the client's house, the towel will probably stay hot enough by just putting into an insulated lunch tote.  You might want to find a friend or relative who has a microwave and experiment a little.  A less powerful microwave might take more time.  Oh yes, I also turn the towel over half way through the microwave time. I use tongs when taking it out of the microwave because it's VERY hot. How do you survive without a microwave?  Oh goodness, I don't think my family would eat if I didn't have one!  

 

[T C]

One of my teachers showed us a beauticians trick for hot towels (I sometimes use them at the end, draped gently and slowly over the back - it feels nice and it gives the client a chance to cleanse their back a little if they want to).Fold the edge of the towel over about 2 inches, fold that 2 inches back, then fold, then back, so you end up with a Z-folded towel a couple of inches wide.  Put the towel under a very hot tap (fawcet).  Twist the ends of the folded towel to wring out the water.  When you are back at your client's side, untwist the towel, and allow the Z to slowly unfold up their back.

 

[~Jessika~]

Supine, you can place a correctly filled hot water bottle under the kidneys, or at the feet.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Value added, plus create a great experience

We try to focus on giving the client more.

At first, it was an aromatherapy travel candle

Now, all of our sessions use FRESH products, so even the basic massage uses their aromatherapy shea butters.

All of our therapists also have the coordinated FRESH candles, so you get a Sugar candle burning with the Brown Sugar Massage, Sake with the Rice & Sake service and Demitasse with the Orange Chocolate massage.

Music is key as well, leaving their bathrobe on the foot of the table when you finish, coming back to them with a glass of water and sometimes a leave-behind product sample.

It aint cheap, but we have some great repeat clients and the comment cards make everyone's day.

 

[Lucky]

Hi, all! I'm gonna resurrect this old thread to ask your input as I have new client this week and was reading your replies and wanted your suggestions on the subject of music. Most of the clients I have had so far that I've done home visits with are people I know fairly well (friends and such) and when it came to music or background sound they had equipment I could use so I really didn't need to worry about lugging around one extra thing in my travels. But in this case I hadn't discussed that with this new client and was wondering if you have any suggestions. I would like to have everything be really nice as I would like this person as a repeat client and have also been told that there is a possibility that she is thinking of having a spa/massage party at some point and also that she is probably a good source of referrals.

Thanks!

 

[Woooolfff]

An MP3 player with tiny travel speakers is a wonderful, wonderful invention!! Once upon a time I had to carry a boom box. Then I found a very nice little stereo/cd player that was about the size of a 12-cd case. Now I have music loaded on the tiny mp3 player and the speaker unit is about the size of a man's wallet. The sound quality is great, I have a great variety of music at my fingertips, and it doesn't add even a pound to my load.

 

[Leira]

I've added a foot spritz and wipe them down with a hot towel. Sometimes I add a peppermint shea butter type lotion if their feet are really dry.

Everyone seems to really like it.

Angela

 

[Iloveyou]

Rose of Sharon, thank you! I often receive good ideas from your posts. Did that unit cost a lot? I already have an iPod so I can just load up some tunes into it and just need to figure out what else I would need.

 

[nikhil]

I got my speaker unit on clearance for $15 at Kohls.com but I am seeing more and more now that are quite small. I am amazed at the sound these can put out! I checked the ratings on amazon before I bought them, and found the customer reviews were accurate.

I'm very happy to be helpful! I have learned TONS here at MassagePlanetL - we really are each other's best resources!

 

[Christine C]

RoS: I spent a little more than $15 but I found something small at Target for like $79.99, which is more than I was anticipating on spending but it's so small, convenient, works on AC or batteries and has great sound. Plus I can also use it for home or when we go on vacation. It actually folds and zips up so I can fit it right into my gear bag for massage work!

 

[Wire & String]

Folds and zips is nice!!! Way to go!