February is all about love! Valentine's Day, originally a pagan fertility ritual day called Lupercalia, dedicated to the agricultural god Faunus, was co-opted by the Catholic church circa 270 A.D., which then dedicated it to one Saint Valentine. Possibly these very smart pagans knew if one got pregnant in February, birth was due in November, and the whole winter could be spent nurturing the newborn and momma. Anyway, moving forward to the 20th century, Hallmark and other great marketeers, really gained retail ground when they promoted making certain your loved one knows they are loved by buying them all sorts of goodies in February (as well as October, Sweetest Day). Hence the couples massage was born. To ensure that the wonderful expectations for the couple are given, there are some gentle "rules" that should be followed, for the client as well as the therapists.
Rule #1- Make certain your spats are over with before you get to the spa.
Many couples come in armed and ready to ruin their Significant Others day to prove they are right, and until the SO agrees with them, they will continue to assert their viewpoint, even while on massage tables!
Rule #2- If your SO snores or makes yummie noises, and you have a serious aversion to that noise, get separate rooms!
I'm so grateful our spa has doors that we can close, and have had to use them many times due to the bothersome racket created by one or both of the clients!
Rule #3- Please do not micromanage your SO's massage!
Giving directions to your SO's therapists as to how they liked to be touched, what scented oils you must use on them, getting upset because the therapists aren't on the same body part/turning the client over at the same time, or popping your head up to make sure the therapist isn't doing something you don't want them to do to the other person borders on the creepy control issues better left in the privacy of your own home. Don't bring your issues to us, please!
Rule #4- Both of you be on time!
The massage cannot begin until both of you are on the table, so if your SO is the type to dawdle, light a fire under their tush. Your time WILL be cut, because we have a whole slew of clients waiting their turn on our tables, so you must vacate when time runs out.
Rule #5- You MAY NOT fool around before we start or after we leave!
You have the same small window of time to get into your robe and vacate the room as does everyone else! It is not permissible to start your after massage love-time in our treatment rooms. That is just icky, and against all Body Fluid Safety Protocols I know of, so keep it to yourselves.
Rule #6- for the therapists- Make certain you provide a united front.
If the other therapist is not one you'd prefer to work with, the room is tight, the clients (or therapist) are late- whatever reason there could be that would trip your mind/body up for the massage- get over it, be on one accord and present a happy, peace filled experience for your paying good money clients. Greet your clients together, enter the room together, leave together. Nice and easy.
Communication is key- an example of this is a couple on their honeymoon came down from the hotel late, it was the last massage on a very long day, and one of the therapists had to be up at 5:45 the next day to do it all over again. This therapist was not going to stay the extra 20 minutes. However, the other therapist decided he wanted to stay, and failed to communicate this with his partner. Needless to say, at the end of the massage, the tired therapist was done, and the other was still going. That made both of them look bad. If they had communicated beforehand, a compromise could have been reached, and all would have been well.
Rule #7- Talking- different rules for client versus therapists.
Clients can talk all they want, as long as it is in a quiet non-disruptive tone. They can talk to their therapist or each other. It's their dime. However, therapists- please SHUT UP! Ask them about the pressure ONCE, not every time you get to a new body part. Check the stones heat once, then remember the temp! If the client is talking to you, know that the other party is trying to relax, and gently assist your client into talking softer, so as not to disturb the other person. I don't know how many times the other therapist disturbs the peace for both clients, or one client is happily, mindlessly gabbing away while the other one under their breath is telling them to just shut up! Just do everyone the favor of saving your thoughts until the end, and then sharing them with the one who counts- you SO! And therapists- you should know better.
Rule #8- Do not get a couples massage with anyone whom you do not want to see you naked!
If you cannot undress fully with the other person in the room, then think twice about getting a couples massage! This hsould be obvious, however, obviously it's not...
Make couples massage the special event that it should be for everyone!
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