Do you have to be naked for a massage?

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I've never had one before, but I can't cope with my stiffness/aching any more! I want to book a sports massage with a physiotherapist, but in the pictures on their websites the models are always naked! The thing is, models are models, and therefore perfect. My body is, well, fairly repellent! I'm embarrassed at the thought of having the therapist see it, even one bit at a time discretely moving towels aside, and I'd feel pretty vulnerable too! What are your experiences?

I’ve never been naked. I usually wear a sports bra / crop top and big ish plain pants and just keep them on.

I have always kept my knickers on, but that is all. You can't get massaged properly otherwise

You can get massages through clothes, but not all massages. You usually keep knickers on. A masseur will have seen all sorts of body types and won't be repelled. However, if the idea is anathema to you, taking your clothes off could make you tense, so the massage would be less effective anyway.

Find somewhere with good recommendations then phone them to ask what's required, and talk through your concerns.

Usually, I've been shown into the room, left to undress then get comfortable on the bed with a towel over me, then the massage therapist comes back in and works on each limb or shoulders or back.

Sports massages can be focussed on one body part, e.g. legs- and it would be fine to keep your top on for that.

Where I go they give you paper knickers, but I have also had neck and shoulders done over clothes.

A proper sport physio will do sports massage over sports kit. I've worn a sports bra and lycra shorts and been fine. But they shouldn't just lie you down and start massaging, they should ask about specific problems and suggest exercises to improve things. They might not even do any massage.

If you are just looking for an overall thereputic massage then you are fine to keep your pants on, or they might give you disposable ones. They really are very discreet about moving towels and turning you over, and they really won't find you repellent, they will have seen all sorts of bodies!

Spa massage I usually keep bikini bottoms on and find the therapists very respectful to cover with towels.

Sports massage a little different and depends what you need looking at! When I've had work done on my shoulders and back they have been fine with me keeping sports bra on and ask my permission if they need to move a strap or slip it down. Also had work done on my legs and worn lose, split leg sports shorts, top kept on and they often tuck towels round the shorts if a male therapist to ensure everyone is comfortable/respected.

Sports massage on my legs, I just wear shorts. In my back and shoulders I had to take my bra off, but kept the lower half on. She stepped out of the room while I got undressed.
for a spa massage, you usually keep your knickers on or they give you paper ones and they do some clever folding and lifting towels whilst your turn over to protect your modesty.

My body is, well, fairly repellent! I'm embarrassed at the thought of having the therapist see it, even one bit at a time discretely moving towels aside, and I'd feel pretty vulnerable too

Whilst Im sure this isn’t even slightly true, they are professionals and have seen all sorts and you’re no worse than anyone else. Try and find a female physio at first if you feel uncomfortable.

Really don’t worry about your body - masseurs will have seen and massaged all sorts - if they only had models for customers they would quickly go bust! They are not going to judge as long as you are clean.

If you are really worried then a Thai massage is traditionally done fully clothed (wear loose or stretchy clothing) and is pretty effective especially for stretching out stiffness.

However if you want a sports or deep tissue massage that gets deep into the knots then it is definitely better pants only. You could wear a crop top if you prefer but that would make it a bit harder to get to certain spots especially tense shoulder muscles.

They always cover any bits not being worked on with a towel. Boobs are always covered by a towel or by being face down.

I have a sports massage regularly, and always strip down to my knickers. She works on the muscles at the top of my glutes, and my periformis, and needs to have a good go at them!

I have seen pics of sports massages where the person is wearing their shorts. Which would be fine for lower legs, and possibly most of the quad/hamstring, but for anything lower back/glute related I think they'd get in the way. A sports massage is DEEP - I'd find that odd to be done through layers of clothes - how can the therapist get a nice smooth action into a focussed spot when there's layers of fabric in the way?

Which part(s) of your body are you hoping for them to work on? A sports massage isn't like a Swedish massage or full-body massage at a beauty salon. They focus on specific areas and work them hard. I go for an hour, and in that time I usually get my calves, glutes and shoulders done (or maybe calves, back and IT band, or another combination of niggly areas!). Most of it is done with me face down, so I don't have to turn over mid-way, but if I do, she holds the towel up such a way that I can turn.

If it's general stiffness/aching that you're suffering with, you might be better with a normal massage, rather than a sports one. They can still massage deep, but a sports massage is a much more focused/specific treatment.

Having said all that - your body is not repellant to a therapist. Far from it. There is NOTHING they won't have seen before, and they want you to be at ease/comfortable.
Can you get a recommendation from somewhere for a good place to go? Knowing something about the therapist might put you at ease.

A large part of training to give massages is towel technique which is basically ensuring that only necessary parts of you are uncovered and you are not exposed if turning over. I didn't realise how complicated it was until my friend was training and I helped her practice her towel technique.

I've never been naked for a massage. Knickers on is absolutely the standard, and if you want to keep your bra on they will respect that (but lower the straps so they can get to your shoulders properly).

They really don't just see "perfect" bodies.They don't even really see your body, just a collection of muscles.

What kind of massage websites are you looking at where people are naked?
I have had massages all over the world and the person doing them is usually very very good at keeping most bits covered with a towel.
Only place I was a bit uncomfortable was once in Turkey where I felt like asking the (female) masseuse if she could do my smear test while she was down there as she was so close!

My mum used to be a masseuse, and she preferred softer, overweight people to muscular ones. And interesting body types. They aren't seeing you the way you see yourself.

In any case, you can absolutely ask them in advance what you'd need to wear and say you are uncomfortable being naked. They will 100% have been asked many times before. If they're arsey about it then they aren't a good match for you anyway, but that's vanishingly unlikely.

You are absolutely not repellent and your masseuse will not assess your appearance. They will be focused on doing a good job for a paying customer and helping you achieve the outcome you want.

I've not had many massages in my time but had a couple of hammam style massages in Morocco/Tunisia. Those were the relaxing style with scented oil (a bit airy fairy for me) and both times was given paper thong style knickers which stayed on. Wore a robe before going into the massage room, then nothing on top half.

Had a Turkish Bath type massage in Turkey. Quite an experience. Five of us in a shared bathhouse room. Two masseuses, both male. They washed/shampooed everyone's hair first which I wasn't expecting! Then we laid on hot slabs and were massaged in turn. We all wore swimwear none if which was moved/removed. There wasn't any towel coverage as it was a wetroom and we were given towels at the exit. The massage was not relaxing but worked on loosening stiff joints and muscles. My husband had hasd a frozen shoulder for about six months and the massage fixed it!

Finally had a deep massage in Thailand, similar in style to the one in Turkey though on a sort of open beach veranda. Kept bikini on and pretty sure top or bottom half was covered with towel when not being worked on. She did undo my bikini top when doing my back and then did it up again after while I was still lying down.

I reckon for the sort of massage you are having you could wear pants and a sports bra or crop top without them being too much in the way and you would probably have a towel over parts of you some of the time and it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that is what you would prefer for comfort. Or if it would help give them a call in advance and ask what to expect and make sure they can accommodate something you are comfortable with.