Learning

Activity Sheet 10
in 00
TLE (Wellness Massage)
Third Quarter-Week 1
Prepare Client and Work Area for Wellness Massage
TLE_HEWM10WT-IIIa-3
 Relevant Laws, Workplace Policies and Procedures

LO 1. Prepare client and work area for wellness massage.

Objectives:

1. be familiar with the relevant laws, workplace policies and procedures

in massage.
2. discuss client preparation conducted according to the wellness
program; and
3. value the importance of being prepared both physical and
psychological aspect before the massage session.

Code: TLE-HEWM10WT-IIIa-3

RELEVANT LAWS, WORKPLACE POLICIES and PROCEDURES

Health and safety is about preventing any person from sustaining

injury, being harmed in any way, or becoming ill at work. It involves
following correct, safe procedures and taking every possible precaution to
protect everyone in the workplace. Health and safety laws and regulations
apply to everyone whether they are employers, managers, employees, self-
employed, full- or part-time, paid or unpaid workers. Health and safety
issues refer to hazards and risks in the workplace and how to eliminate
them.

Republic Act 8423

TRADITIONAL & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT OF 1997

An act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative

Health Care (PITAHC) to accelerate the development of traditional and
alternative health care in the Philippines, providing for a Traditional and
Alternative Health Care Development Fund and for other purposes.

Section 3b: To promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative,

preventive, and curative health care modalities that have been proven safe,
effective, cost-effective and consistent with government standards on
medical practice.

Section 3c: To develop and coordinate skills training courses for various
forms of traditional and alternative health care modalities.

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 Health and
Safety at Work
Act 1974
This is the main legislation covering health and safety in the
workplace; other safety regulations and codes of practice come under this
main Act. This Act states that employers/managers have a legal duty to
ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of
all persons at work, i.e. all employees and other persons on the premises,
such as contractors and clients.
The Health and Safety Executive provides information and
publications on all aspects of health and safety regulations, implementing
directives from the European Commission that used to be known as the six
packs. These cover a wide range of health, safety and welfare issues. Those
relevant to the therapist are dealt with in this text.
The Act of 1974 and the new regulations mean that employers must,
by law, provide a safe working environment for all members of the
workforce, including those with disabilities and other persons using their
premises.

The Therapist’s Role in Maintaining Health and Safety in their Place of

Work
The employer/manager is responsible for the management and control
of health, safety and welfare issues, which will ensure a safe environment
for all persons working in or attending the salon/clinic. However, all
therapists at work also have a duty under the Act.
Employees are required to:
 Take reasonable care to avoid harm to them or others by their
behavior or working practices cooperate with and help
employers/managers to meet the statutory requirements refrain from
misusing or interfering with anything provided to protect the health,
safety and welfare of all persons as required by the Act.
 To comply with these requirements you must:
 not put yourself or others at risk by your actions
 abide by salon rules and regulations
 know who is responsible for what in the salon and to whom you
should report problems
 always adopt good working practices and follow correct procedures
 Be alert to any hazard that may pose a risk to you or others and
promptly take the appropriate action to minimize or eliminate the risk.
 If you are unable to, or unsure of how to deal quickly with a hazard,
then you must report the situation to someone else immediately. Seek

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 advice from a supervisor or someone qualified to deal with the
situation.

 Be competent in selecting appropriate treatments and in

administering them correctly and safely to the clients
 Follow the correct technique for all treatments, understand the effects,
and be alert to contra-indications and contra-actions.
 Adopt high professional standards of dress and appearance.
 Maintain the highest standards of personal and salon hygiene.
 Report faulty equipment to the person responsible for dealing with
these issues
 Do not ignore any hazard or risk; make sure that corrective action is
taken.
 Keep a record of the client and report any problems that you have
identified and cured.
 Inform your supervisor and colleagues and be prepared to discuss
issues of health and safety with all other workers, as shared
knowledge makes for a safer working environment.

Pre-wellness
massage procedures
Let’s Begin

For many treatments, caring hands are all you need to get started. For
others, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels and massage oils, lotions or creams
help you make the most of your massage time. The goal of a massage is for
both giver and receiver to feel good, so while working, keep your body, mind
and soul relax.

Preparations before the actual massage

1. Preparation of client

a. Speak to the client in a polite and friendly manner.

b. Maintain client privacy at all times.

c. Take the client‘s outdoor clothes or show her/him where to hang

them.

d. Show the client the treatment area and shower room.

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 e. Ask the client to undress and give her/him a robe or towel to wear.

f. Ask the client to remove all jewelry and place it in a bag for
safekeeping.

g. Instruct the client how to use the shower.

h. Bring the client back to the treatment area.

i. Carry out a client consultation and discuss the treatment. As

previously explained, the first consultation will be the longest but a
short consultation should take place before every treatment.

j. Explain fully and ask if the client has any queries. Allow time for the
client to discuss problems and ask questions and answer these fully.

k. If the client has long hair, ask her/him to tie it up, or provide a
protective cover.

2.Psychological preparation of the therapist.

Preparing the mind enhances concentration and coordination and

contributes to expertise and effectiveness of the massage.

a. Develop a calm, tranquil but positive attitude. It is important to feel

secure, confident and relaxed yourself as this is transmitted to the client
both by your attitude and through your hands.

b. Develop coordination between mind and body. The hands and body must
move as a whole – think of your foot position, posture, arm/hand
positions, speed, pressure and rhythm. Remember that massage is a
skill that must be learned and requires constant practice to perform it
well. It is very similar to learning to play a musical instrument.

b. Develop sensory awareness, i.e. the ability to sense and visualize

structures through the hands. Through the sensory receptors in the
hands, you learn to identify bony points, degrees of tone or tension in
muscles, and variations found on different tissues and different clients.
This ability only comes through practice and the experience of treating a
variety of different types of clients, e.g. young, old, thin, obese, well-
toned, poorly toned, tense or relaxed.

c. Learn to synchronize speed, rhythm and depth so that these remain

consistent throughout the treatment. These will vary depending on the

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 effects required. Maximum effectiveness of the treatment will occur only
if these factors are coordinated.

Customized Amount of Pressure Applied

Manipulations should be selected to suit the client and personal

preference or expertise. There are, however, basic rules and guidelines.

Comfort: massage must always be comfortable. It must not hurt or

injure the client, even vigorous and stimulating techniques.

Direction: pressure must be applied in the direction of venous

drainage towards the heart and the direction of lymphatic drainage to the
nearest lymphatic nodes. (Do not pull back what you have pushed along as
this is counter productive.)

Order: begin with effleurage, follow with applicable petrissage

manipulations then percussion if suitable, and complete with effleurage.
Effleurage and stroking may be interspersed among any of the other
manipulations.

Continuity: massage should be continuous – the transition between

strokes should be barely perceptible. The hands should not be lifted off the
area once treatment has commenced until that area is completed. Move
smoothly from one stroke to another.

Speed: this must be selected according to the type of massage

required – slow for relaxing, moderate for a general massage, and faster for
a vigorous, stimulating massage.

Depth: this must be selected according to the type of massage, as

described – moderate depth for a relaxing and general massage, deeper for
a
vigorous massage. Depth must also be adjusted to suit the client and the
desired outcome of the treatment. For example, young, fit clients will take
greater depth than older clients; well-toned clients will take greater depth
than those with loose, flabby muscles or thin clients; obese clients or those
with specific areas of hard adipose tissue will require greater depth. Those
accustomed to massage generally prefer a deeper massage than new
nervous clients. (Always ask the client if manipulations are too deep or not
deep enough.)

Rhythm: this must be consistent regardless of the type of client. The

rhythm is selected at the beginning of the massage and maintained
throughout, e.g. slow rhythm for a relaxing massage, moderate for a
general, and a faster rhythm for a vigorous massage.

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 Stance: protect yourself from strain and injury by adopting the
correct posture.

There are two standing positions used in massage:

a) walk standing (i.e. with one foot in front of the other) is used when
massaging up and down the length of the body.

b) stride standing (i.e. with the feet apart) is used when working across
the body. Always keep the back straight and the shoulders relaxed.

c) Allow the knees to bend when necessary to apply body weight and to
reach all areas. Increased depth and pressure must come from body
weight transmitted through the arms, but not by pushing with the
arms. Use a slight swaying body movement to achieve this. Keep the
feet apart – this improves balance and provides stability, as it gives a
wider base.

Concentration: maintain your concentration throughout the

massage. Although massage movements become semi-automatic as
expertise develops, it is still important to concentrate fully on the task at
hand. Continuity and
rhythm will suffer if there is a lapse in concentration, and this is
transmitted
to the client.

Coverage: cover the whole area thoroughly. Do not neglect small areas
as this will result in uneven coverage.

Duration of Application of Pressure

The timing of a body massage is usually one hour but maybe longer. The
order of covering the body is usually:

➛right leg 7 minutes

➛left leg 7 minutes
➛left arm 5 minutes
➛right arm 5 minutes
➛décolleté 5 minutes (skin below neck, above breast)
➛abdomen 5 minutes
➛back of legs 6 minutes
➛back 20 minutes

3. Preparation of working area

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Ensure that the working area affords the clients total privacy to change and
receive treatment without being overlooked by others.

b. The area may be a curtained section in a large salon, an individual

walled cubicle or a small massage room.
c. The therapist should ensure there is enough space to walk around bed
and work from all sides, and that there is room for a trolley with
commodities, and a stool.
d. The area should be warm, well-ventilated and draught free.

e. It should be quiet, peaceful and free from distracting noise. Soft

relaxing music may be played, but check with the client – some clients
prefer to be quiet.
f. The lighting should be soft and diffuse, not directed above the client
and shining into her/his face.
g. The colour scheme should be pale but warming, using pastel rather
than harsh bold colours.
h. The area must be spotlessly clean and tidy.
i. Items required during the massage must be neatly arranged on the
trolley shelf and protected with clean paper tissue or a small sheet.
j. A plentiful supply of clean laundered towels and linen should be to
hand.
k. Extra pillows, small support pillows or rolled towels should also be on
the hand.
l. Shower and toilet facilities for the client‘s use should be accessible
and regularly cleaned.

4. Preparation of massage couch

a. Cover the entire surface with a toweling or cotton sheet – the fitted
types are best as they stay neat and tidy.
b. Next, cover this with a large bath towel or cotton sheet. This must be
removed and boil-washed after each client and a clean one re-applied.
Many salons and colleges use disposable paper sheets (bedroll) to save
on the laundry – these are quite acceptable, but they can tear and
crumple during the massage and may interfere with some movements.
c. Use one or two pillows for the head. Cover these with pillow slips and
then a towel.
d. Fold two large towels and place them at the foot of the bed. These will
be used to cover the client.
e. Place extra pillows, large and small, and a rolled towel on the trolley
for use if extra support is required during the massage.

5. Preparation of trolley or table

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The following items should be laid out on the top shelf of the trolley:

a) bottle of cologne – for cleaning the skin if the client has not taken a
shower
b) a bottle of surgical spirit – to clean the feet
c) a good quality oil, lotion or cream – used as a medium for the massage
d) lubricants like oil, lotion, powder and gel
e) a bowl containing tissues and balls of cotton wool

f) a bowl for placing the client‘s jewelry is sometimes used, but it is

much safer to ask the client to place jewelry in her/his bag and place
this under the couch.

ACTIVITY 1: BE ACQUAINTED

Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Republic Act 8423 is also known as_______.

a. Traditional & Alteration Medicine Act of 1997

b. Traditional & Alternative Medicine Act of 1987
c. Traditional & Alternative Medicine Act of 1997
d. Transition & Alternative Medicine Act of 1997

2. It is an act creating PITACH to accelerate the development of traditional/

alternative healthcare in the Philippines.

a. RA 8423 c. RA 8243
b. RA 4823 d. RA 8432

3. This act states that employees/managers have a legal duty to ensure

safety and welfare of all persons at work.

a. Act of 1974 c. Health & Safety at Work Act

b. Act of 8423 d. Both A & C

4. They are the one who is responsible for the management & control of
health and safety & welfare issues in the workplace or in the salon.

a. employees c. manager
b. employer d. both b and c

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 5.PITAHC is ________________.

a. Philippine Industrial of Traditional & Alternative Health Care

b. Philippine Institute of Traditional & Alteration Health Care
c. Philippine Institute of Traditional & Alternative Health Care
d. Philippine Institute of Transitional & Alternative Health Care

ACTIVITY 2: POSITIVE or NEGATIVE TEST

Directions: Read each statement carefully. Write the word POSITIVE if the
sentence states the correct idea and NEGATIVE if the sentence states
incorrect idea. Use a separate sheet for your answers.

1. The therapist should ensure there is enough space to walk around bed
and work from all sides, and that there is room for a trolley with
commodities, and a stool.
2. Disposable paper sheet is more acceptable to be used in covering
massage couch as this will serve time and money for laundering.
3. Massage room should be quiet, peaceful and free from distracting noise.
4. Massage manipulations should be selected to suit the client and
personal preference.
5. Preparing the mind enhances concentration and coordination and
contributes to expertise and effectiveness of the massage.

ACTIVITY 3: 3-2-1 CHART

Directions: Complete the chart on what is being asked. Write your answers
on a separate sheet of paper.

Give at least 3 basic

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1.
rules and guidelines in
2.
applying amount of
3.
pressure in massage
manipulations.

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 2 What are the two standing
positions in massage?
1.
2.

As a massage therapist
what are the benefits of

1
being prepared before the
massage session to your
1.
client? Write at least one
which do you think your
best answer.

ACTIVITY 4: CONCEPT MAPPING

Directions: Discuss briefly the pre- wellness massage procedures. Make the
diagram below as your guide in answering. Use separate sheet of paper for
your answers.

PRE-WELLNESS MASSAGE PROCEDURES

Preparation Psychological Preparation Preparation Preparation

of the client preparation of of working of massage of
the therapist area couch trolley/table

References
HOME ECONOMICS- WELLNESS MASSAGE LEARNER’S MATERIAL FOR
GRADE 10- Technology and Livelihood Education

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