Naked or not naked?

[Nakedornotnaked]

Please settle an argument between DH and I about nakedness when having a professional massage...

YABU - Of course you should be completely naked when having a professional massage, the towel covers your bits. The massage therapist has seen it all before and doesn't need clothing getting in the way and it's not like they're gonna be massaging your bits anyway

YANBU - Of course you don't get completely naked, you keep your underwear on underneath the towel. The massage therapist does not want to accidentally touch your bare bum/genitals as they work their way up your legs

Others have said it makes them incredibly uncomfortable. Just because you’re ok with nudity doesn’t make it acceptable. Other people don’t have to put up and shut up just because it doesn’t impact you.

Calling my completely normal underwear "excessively large" and "exceptionally impractical" when it is just normal and comfortable certainly feels like body shaming to me.

You made it sound like I'm wearing Victorian bloomers! Just normal underwear.

So everyone in every U.K. sauna I’ve ver been in then? What a ridiculous thing to say. It’s not normal here for people to be naked in a sauna. And there’s seriously no need to remove simple cotton pants for a massage either.

You’ve literally imagined that your body shape was attacked. That didn’t happen. If you’re going to choose to pretend that your appearance is being insulted just because someone says your behaviour is wrong then that’s your choice.

That person has only confirmed their own opinion - which is the minority opinion on this thread. Others have said it makes them very uncomfortable when people do this so why are you not listening to their polite requests to stop behaving this way and putting them in uncomfortable situations in their workplace?

Other massage therapists who’ve commented have said it could be done easily through underwear or a towel if needed - but that’s only if you’re choosing to wear underwear that can’t expose the appropriate area.

Please do not accuse me of body shaming you again. It didn’t happen (and couldn’t happen because I haven’t even seen your body).

@cardibach then what are you supposed to do on a spa day (which is where I have massages) and you're wearing a full swimsuit? It's totally in the way, and rolled down to the hips would be very uncomfortable to lie on.

I wouldn't think anything of it if they give me paper undies to wear though, I'd happily comply (and have on the one occasion I was given them in the past), but one way or another, the swimsuit has to come off.

Odd then that so many people say they choose to keep them on and that every massage I’ve ever had they’ve suggested keeping them on… Are you 8n the uk? Different norms in different countries.

Normal underwear wouldn’t need removing for a massage. You made it sound like Victorian bloomers when you said you couldn’t have your glutes massaged with them on! You said it, not me. Given that the vast majority of women and therapists who have commented have their underwear on, your underwear must be exceptionally large to cover so much that a massage can’t happen.

And you know full well that “large” means the area covered, not the size of the body being covered.

@Whydidimarrythis the comment was specifically about the clothing that I wear because it fits and is comfortable for my body shape- and you called them those things, no imagination on my part.

I like how you've suddenly added in about the towel though- every massage I've ever had has always involved coverage with at least a towel and often blankets as well, you're just naked underneath it! They usually uncover one body part at a time, then cover it to move on to the next in my experience. Do people who are horrified at those of us who are naked really imagine we're not covered by towels? We're always covered up.

What are they made of that the massage therapist couldn’t roll them out of the way for glutes?

Exactly like you just said. I said that comment about your CLOTHING not your BODY. I “shamed” you for choosing to wear clothes that mean someone else is put in an awkward and uncomfortable position, I didn’t “shame” your body. If you don’t want to dress appropriately then don’t go - you don’t expose yourself to people just because you’d be uncomfortable in your clothing.

I shower off pool water and put on a pair of pants for a massage - wouldn’t want to be covered in a soggy, chloriney costume before or after. And you’re not going in the pool soon after are you? It would wash all the oils away. It’s what I’ve been asked to do on spa days too.

I don't think a massage therapist and doc are in any way comparable.

The former requires no more than a 6 month course/level 3 NVQ (A level equivalent) and I dont think that is even mandatory.

@cardibach yes, but just at the poolside showers as you do going between rooms, I've never gone back to the changing rooms for a proper shower and change before, never been asked to and never seen anyone I'm with do it either- we're usually in groups of couples or friends. It's also never been instructed on arrival for the day or commented on by the masseuse when I arrive in my swimsuit. If they have specific rules, they should say.

I have however had instructions on footwear, jewellery etc.

I have had several sports massages where my glutes and hips were the area of focus, and the therapist politely recommended that I remove my underwear because of the area targeted, IF I WAS COMFORTABLE DOING SO. They said it made it less awkward for them and less chance of oil staining clothing but I could keep them on if I was in any way uncomfortable.

I currently see a therapist who actually manipulates and massages the area through my sports leggings, but she’s more physio style and prefers movement therapy and pressure point/resistance to traditional massage.

I think pants on or off is normal both ways, depending on the comfort level of the therapist and the client. It’s about communication. There is no wrong answer.

Massage therapist here. We always expect you to keep your pants on

Keep knickers on bra off

Who is 'we'?

🤣

I don’t see why anyone would take off their undercrackers to be fair. You aren’t massaging ones fanjo or cock. Unless of course it’s a knocking shop.. as a PP pointed out 😁

I have clients that don't wear pants. I don't expect them to get some just so that can wear them during their massage - and I'm certainly not asking anyone to wear those ridiculous paper pants.

Also, having both given and received naked massage (covered with a towel, of course, while on a training course) I can say that, from both sides, the flow of the massage is improved when there's no adjusting of underwear going on. I can fit understand why some people would choose that.

Knickers on.

I always keep my pants on but that's personal preference I suppose.

My DP is a sports massage therapist. He says 100% pants on and actually he says that as many clothes as possible can be left on. They are taught with clothes on so can do it through clothes.

It's entirely possible to do massage fully clothed, of course it is. Sports massage is often done at sports events with little or no privacy, so it's important to have those skills.

I don't think that's the type of massage op is going for, though.

As much as I'm pleased to hear I can keep my pants on should I wish to, and it's not mandatory for me to be naked, I can't imagine having a fully clothed massage either. I can understand that if you're on the playing field and need an urgent painful muscle massaging to continue with a game, but I'm considering a relaxing one to ease some tense & knotted muscles that are adding to some existing back & neck problems.

Another question. I have a few sensory issues and I'm not fond of my skin being very greasy, or feeling greasy hands on my skin (sounds v.silly, but if hands or skin are oily I can feel the ridges of peoples fingerprints and it really goes through me!). Will a massage therapist do a 'dry' massage, or at least one with minimal oil? Or is the oil just as beneficial to the therapists hands?