Massage Draping

November, 11 1999

Michael C Callaway

The receiver of massage is usually draped or covered during the massage.

Draping is user for multiple reasons, to keep the receiver warm and to make them feel safe.

General propriety would move a giver to drape the receiver.

A drape can be any type of covering used to protect the receiver from being exposed invasive way during the massage. Sheet and large towels are the most commonly used forms of draping. In cold climates a blanket may be used over the sheet or towel to provide additional warmth for the receiver.

When doing a massage the areas of the body not being directly worked should be covered. Areas that are never exposed are the breasts and genitals of the receiver.

If there is a question of weather to use draping or not -- USE IT.

At Esalen draping is optional, in the city of Denver Colorado and most other areas it is against the law not to drape the client.  

A Client should never feel uneasy or invaded -- so drape your client.

Failure to be sensitive to your client will loss you the client and could get you a law suite.

Table should be dressed with sheets or towels depending how you work, explain to the client what to expect. Reinforce the fact that it is their session not yours.

Example:

I am going to leave the room, I would like you to undress to your level of comfort and get under the top sheet on the table. When you return knock on the door -- adjust the sheet to cover the receiver.  

Draping the Back -- With the client prone bring the sheet to the waste place hands on either side of the torso at the hips adjust sheet as low on the back as possible without showing the gulteal cleft.

Draping the back of the Legs – recover the back before uncovering the leg and gluts. Expose the leg / glut - tuck the sheet under the opposite leg and the closer hip -- the drape should be tight and cover the genitals.

Draping the back of the arms – Arms are easy place sheet under the torso so the arms are free of drape.

Turning over when having the client turn over hold the sheet at table level and have the client turn toward you, this will keep the drape tight. If the client should turn the wrong way they may expose themselves, to recover just cover them with the sheet and continue, do not make a big deal out of it -- this embarrasses the client.

Draping the leg in the supine or front of the body – the front of the leg is draped the same as the back of the legs.

Abdomen is worked by bring the drape to just above the pubic bone to expose the abdominal area. The Pubic area hair and or genitals should never be exposed.

If you are working on a female you should drape her breasts before bring the drape to the waste. This is done by folding a towel in half long-wise placing over the sheet that is covering the breast hold the towel with one hand as carefully remove the sheet from under the towel. At this point the front of the torso is exposed from above the pubic bone to the neck with the breasts covered. The reverse of this step is to place the sheet over the towel hold sheet and careful remove the towel.

If you are in a public room such a class room the client can use the corner of a the room as a dressing area while the giver holds a sheet in front of them receiver can undress they wrap the sheet around themselves and go to their table. After the receiver is on the table the giver adjusts the sheet.