questions

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all

Happy new year to everyone. Is this list still running?

I thought you might be interested to read this question I had from a member of

the

public:

 

Dear Helen,

 

May I ask a question re aromatherapy?

 

I have been reading about all sorts of relaxation and de-stressing methods,

and it seems like aromatherapy would be ideal for this purpose and I would

like to try it out some time.

 

This might sound somewhat silly but what is appropriate for a male to wear

during an aromatherapy session? I am referring to strictly non-sexual

therapy here. It is appropriate to wear shorts, or scants [these are ordinary

men's

underpants] or do you simply cover yourself with a towel?

 

Your reply to this somewhat embarrassing question would be much appreciated.

I would rather ask this here than make a fool of myself at the salon.

 

 

Here is my reply:

 

No question is silly; I'm glad you asked. If you want to enjoy an aromatherapy

(or

any other de-stressing) treatment, then the last thing you want to be worrying

about

is what you should be wearing and whether you will be 'exposed'.

 

It is preferable to wear scants. At all times you are covered with a towel over

the

parts of your body that are not being massaged, so it is possible to wear

nothing,

although I always ask my clients (male and female) to leave their underpants on.

Longer underpants or shorts tend to get in the way because aromatherapy massage

does

cover the outer thighs. During the back massage, your underpants will be pulled

down slightly to mid-hip level to enable the therapist to work the hip area;

but

you'll still be covered with the towel over your underpants. This draping of

the towels is not only to make you feel comfortable, but also because essential

oils are extremely volatile; covering you up (even in warm weather like this!)

makes the oils penetrate the skin rather than evaporate into the air.

 

You refer to 'strictly non-sexual therapy'. I would just like to say that,

despite somewhat lewd adverts in the daily newspapers which use the term, real,

or

therapeutic, aromatherapy is always non-sexual. You might have heard that

aromatherapy, along with massage therapy and reflexology, has just recently been

accepted by government as a registered profession. President Mbeki signed Act

66 in November. This means that aromatherapy can now be available on medical

aid, and gives us therapists the right to some dignity and more importantly,

gives

the public the assurance that their therapist is well-trained and well-equipped

to

deal with whatever problems the client presents, even if this means referring

him or

her to another health professional where necessary (ie to know our limitations).

All human beings need to be touched; without it we wither and die much more

quickly. Aromatherapy offers, amongst other things, an opportunity to be

touched in

a comfortable, non-sexual way.

 

I hope you try a treatment sometime soon. If you would like to know of a

therapist

in your area, please do ask.

 

Fragrant greetings

Helen in Cape Town