Myth: You can’t get a massage if you weigh too little, or too much.
There are so many variations of this misconception. And the myths sound like they were made up by the MeanGirls.
- “Skinny people don’t have enough “meat on their bones” to get a massage, they’ll just bruise.”
- “Overweight people can’t get a real massage because there’s too much tissue between their skin and their muscles.”
- “People without perfect bodies shouldn’t show their skin to anyone.” Umm, Nobody has a perfect body…
- And so on. Yada, Yada.
Big people like massage. Small people like massage. In-between people like massage. And we massage therapists love providing massage to all kinds of people. It’s a perfect combination!
Are there different techniques better suited to bodies with specific needs? Of course. Is weight or size a prohibitive factor? Nope. Not by a long shot. The folks who make these kinds of comments and judgments, are either misinformed or just being mean.
I don’t judge my clients’ weight, or whether or not you are working on losing or gaining pounds. My table is called an Earthlite Ellora, and it is sturdy enough for the vast majority of people. (It’s rated for 600 lbs.) And it has an electric lift, by the way… which means that the table height adjusts. It’s a nice feature, because it makes the table easily accessible for any client! You can enjoy a massage here.
If you have concerns or feel apprehensive, please feel welcome to ask. Read more about what to expect from your massage session, here. And you can also read this guest blog post written by my massage colleague Barry.
So this myth is definitely history. I’m not critical of my clients’ weight… I just care about helping you feel better.
P.S. And make sure to check out this new episode of Massage Myth-Busters! (I love challenging rumors and myths, and encouraging everyone to try massage therapy. That’s a way to share kindness.)