Massage and Nudity

The thought of being nude in front of strangers makes almost anyone feel uncomfortable. This fear of nudity is a big concern for people who are thinking about getting their first therapeutic massage. Yes, you will have to take your clothes off for most massage treatments at the spa. But don’t let that scare you away. Although nudity in massages is required in most cases, it’s not obscene. Modesty is still highly regarded. And if you are absolutely opposed to receiving a massage in the nude, rest assured that there are treatments you can order that take place fully clothed. Usually, the apprehension associated with nudity is what scares people the most. After the massage is over, most people leave feeling like the nudity component wasn’t bad at all. Therefore, learning about what happens during a massage treatment is crucial to feeling more comfortable with the prospect of nakedness.

How it works

Here’s how it goes: you’ll arrive at the spa before you treatment and check in with the front desk. At a large spa, the concierge should give you a robe and slippers to change into. This might not be the case at very small day spas. If you do get a robe and slippers, you’ll be directed to the locker room where you can change. Leave your clothes in a locker there and wrap yourself in the robe; you can keep your underwear on if you like. Once it’s time for your treatment, the therapist will escort you into a private room and talk to you about your preferences. Then, she’ll leave the room while your slip out of your robe and lie on the massage table. You’ll lie face down and cover yourself with warmed sheet, so no part of your body beyond your shoulders will be exposed. After knocking, the therapist will reenter the room and begin the massage. American spas use a technique called draping during massage treatments to ensure that no part of you is exposed when it’s not necessary. Your therapist will use draping techniques throughout your treatment; she’ll only uncover the part of your body that’s being worked on at that moment. For most spa massage treatments, you’ll remain on your stomach the whole time. Your buttocks should remain covered for the treatment as well. Only your legs, arms and back will ever be exposed, and never all at the same time. When your massage is over, the therapist will leave to room for a second time, instructing you to get up and dress at your leisure. You should take your time readjusting after the massage, but spend no more than 10 minutes in the room. Once you leave, you’ll return to the locker room, get dressed, and head to the front desk to pay.

Fully clothed massages

Most massages follow the description above. You do have to be nude to receive them, but modesty isn’t much of an issue because only your back, arms and legs are exposed. If you think you would be uncomfortable with any kind of nudity, however, you can opt for a massage treatment that takes place with clothes on. Read over the following massage styles to find the kind that seems most appealing. Thai massage: Patrons wear loose clothing for this massage treatment, which combines pressure point massage with focused movements. Reflexology: This massage works on the feet, so there’s no need to be nude. Adherents to reflexology claim that the pressure points in the feet are linked to the entire body, so you’ll leave a session feeling rejuvenated all over. But even if you don’t get a total-body tension tamer out of it, reflexology will at least provide you with a great foot rub. Shiatsu: This ancient Japanese therapy uses the thumbs and fingers to press into energy centers, or meridians, on the back. Not all spas perform shiatsu on customers with clothes on, but some do. Ask your spa about its shiatsu clothing policy before booking a treatment. Cranial-sacral massage: A cranial massage delivers light touches to the head and neck. There’s no need for nudity with this treatment. With all of the above massages, you shouldn’t be expected to show up in the buff. Still, it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask about clothing policies to be on the safe side. Remember: you may still be given a robe and slippers if you book a clothed treatment. Do with them what you like. You might want to forgo the robe altogether, but you could also wear it over your stretchy clothing; the choice is yours. Unless you are morally or culturally opposed to nudity, it’s a good idea to give it a try at least once. The nudity element in a massage is so minor that you will probably forget you’re naked after a few minutes of treatment. And you’ll never know if you mind spa nudity or not until try it out.