Prioritizing client comfort as a massage therapist is a key component of a comprehensive session. Not only does their comfort directly affect their ability to relax and fully enjoy the experience, but it also impacts your ability to provide them with the best possible massage and outcome.
Everything from the massage table to the face pillow will play a role in client comfort, so investing in quality equipment that sets a positive tone for every session is a must. That’s why bolsters are such a valuable addition to your massage business.
Key Takeaways:
Bolsters can work wonders for your massage business, as they are versatile pieces of equipment that contribute to patient comfort and enhance the effectiveness of a massage.
How Bolsters Make Clients Comfortable
Positioning a client properly helps you access the areas that need attention while simultaneously making a client more comfortable. Massage bolsters help you achieve these positive results thanks to the variety of shapes, sizes, and materials available.
The Benefits of Massage Bolsters
Before spending your hard-earned money on new equipment, it’s important to do your research and determine whether your investment will pay off. With bolsters, the general consensus is that they are phenomenal tools to enhance client comfort and massage effectiveness, but the question remains–what are the specific benefits?
Proper Body Alignment
Manipulating a client’s body occurs frequently in a massage session. Whether you’re moving them from their back to their side or arranging limbs in a particular way to alleviate pressure, bolsters allow you to properly support their bodily alignment during each phase of the massage.
Not only is this crucial for their comfort, but it also helps you conveniently and safely work on the areas you need to massage. Bolsters of various shapes and sizes can be strategically placed to facilitate the massage, reduce spinal pressure, promote relaxation, increase blood flow, and more.
Special Massage Maneuvers
Depending on the massage techniques you implement in your sessions and the people who frequent you as clients, bolsters can be used to facilitate specialized techniques that would otherwise be difficult to achieve comfortably and safely.
For example, prenatal massages require support for the belly while focusing on reducing lower back tension. Similarly, deep tissue massage demands specialized support that allows you to assert high levels of pressure on specific areas without over-exerting or potentially hurting yourself. Bolsters are integral in both of these examples.
The Different Types of Massage Bolsters
Bolsters come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, providing you with the opportunity to choose the models that best suit your preferences and clientele. While there are practically unlimited options, there are a handful of common bolster types you should consider when adding to your collection of massage equipment.
Full-Round Bolsters
Cylindrical in shape, full-round bolsters are among the most versatile bolster options. They can be used in many ways, providing support for everything from the neck and back to the legs. Whether your client is on their back or their side, a full-round bolster can be used to comfortably position them as needed.
If you plan to buy only one bolster (or want to keep things simple as you get accustomed to using bolsters), a full-round bolster is right for you.
Half-Round Bolsters
As the name suggests, this style of bolster takes the cylindrical shape of the full-round option and replaces one half with a flat face. This reduces the height of the bolster and helps it stay securely in place throughout the massage.
Half-round bolsters are great for elevating and supporting the ankles, knees, and lower back. They are predominantly used in face-up massage positions and are extremely versatile in reclined and seated positions.
Speciality Bolster Shapes
While full-round and half-round (as well as the hybrid three-quarter round) bolsters tend to be the most popular and most versatile, there are many specialty shapes that can be used effectively in specific scenarios. A few examples include:
Each of these specialty bolsters can be used to facilitate specific types of massages, improve comfort for particular clients, and otherwise enhance the massage experience for everyone involved.