I’m not going to lie; the first time I experienced a chest massage I was pretty shocked.
Whilst holidaying in Morocco I booked a full body massage, that turned out to be the first actual full body massage I had ever had. During all my extensive massage training, I had never been taught, nor experienced, chest massage. So, it came as quite a surprise to me, during my relaxing massage in a beautiful spa in Marrakesh, when the therapist unceremoniously whipped back the towel covering my breasts and started massaging them. Perhaps being a therapist myself and having heard client’s mention similar situations in the past, I did feel slightly more comfortable than my friend in the next room, who screamed and terminated her treatment.
Since Morocco, I have experienced numerous massages in many countries and for the most part, chest / breast massage is included. Go to most countries in the world and chest massage is a perfectly normal and accepted part of a massage routine. However, here in the UK, it is still seen as a taboo and more importantly, it is not taught on any syllabus that I have come across.
So, what are we missing out on by avoiding breast / chest massage?
Consider where the breasts are in relation to human anatomy, especially lymphatics. Your lymphatic ducts are located in the upper chest and drain lymph back into the blood stream. The drainage of lymph back into the blood stream is essential for the maintenance of fluid balance throughout the body, immune function, circulating proteins throughout the body and removing waste products from between the tissues throughout the body. Without the lymphatic system, the body would not be able to effectively manage fluid levels, process nutrients or fight infection.
Breast / chest massage has been shown to seriously benefit overall health and well-being.
Massaging this area assists lymphatic drainage, improves circulation, reduces breast swelling and tenderness associated with hormonal changes, prevents congestion in the lymphatics, releases tension in the pectoral muscles (yes women have pecs too), reduces strain on the upper back muscles and can help women to become more comfortable and familiar with checking for changes in the breast tissue that may lead to early detection and treatment of breast conditions, including cancer.
And despite all of these benefits, breast / chest massage is still not taught or accepted as part of a full body massage in the UK.
I appreciate that there are always going to be clients who are not comfortable with this type of massage, however, when have you ever offered a massage treatment and not discussed during the consultation, exactly where you are planning to touch and what the client’s expectations are? I have plenty of clients who have a genuine fear of having their feet touched, or who cannot stand having their stomach massaged. I personally have an issue with having my palms massaged and will only ask for that if I really need it. But I expect all of this to be included in my training, so even if it is unlikely that it will be requested, I still know how to offer it.
I would never dream of, nor do I condone, massaging any area of a client’s body, without first getting their permission and I make it a rule to always run through what the client’s expectations are and what I plan to do in any massage. Informed consent is very important. However, the breasts and chest are extremely important areas of the body and should not be missed out of basic massage training.
I am not sure if age brings more wisdom or significantly fewer f***s to give, but as time passes, I have become less and less bothered by body concerns. Long gone are the days when I would sweat with embarrassment because I had forgotten to shave my legs before a massage, or cringe with fear at the thought of someone not only seeing but touching my decidedly untoned stomach. It has been years since I felt any worry, reluctance or shame at being asked to strip naked for a massage, at the therapist not leaving the room for me to change or indeed, having my breasts massaged in a full body routine.
I am not sure if that is completely age related or if that is an unwavering understanding that there is no correlation between massage and anything remotely seedy.