Traditionally in the type of bodywork I offer, breast and chest work is often used to soften the intercostal muscles and facilitate deeper breathing, and to open up energy blocks in the heart area. This can be done covered, or not. It will be offered only when a client has had a minimum of 4 sessions with me. Written signed consent from the client is required.
There are many therapeutic benefits to receiving massage around the chest wall and on the breast tissue, including, but not limited to: providing support for breathing, circulation (blood & lymph), posture, lactation, the immune and nervous systems. This work is also used to treat neck, rib or shoulder injuries, to mobilize scar tissue, and to prepare for and/or recover from surgery.
Including breasts in a massage is a big step for many people. And that is understandable, given our society. But once you have received chest/breast massage, you will feel the amazing benefits. Often, people say they feel ‘complete’, ‘more normal’, ‘more whole,’ once the breasts have been massaged and included as a natural part of the whole body, instead of being avoided and separated from the body. When the chest area is massaged with firm, but gentle massage strokes the breath flows more easily, and tightness in the chest releases, which calms the nervous system and decreases anxiety.
Your safety and comfort are the biggest priority during your massage sessions with me.
There is never any pressure to receive breast massage, but I always include a bit of work around the chest wall area to release tension in muscles that can restrict your breathing. You can choose to have the area covered or uncovered – at any time during the session.
Informed Consent for Therapeutic Massage of Chest and Breast
In order for me to give you the complete, holistic healing experience that this bodywork can do for you, the massage laws in WA state require that you give me written consent to give therapeutic massage on the chest and breast area (for all genders), and consent for whether or not you want to have your chest covered or uncovered during a massage session. You always have a choice. You can change your mind at any time.
The consent form will ask you to sign a document that gives you this information:
request the massage to be given through a drape at any time, for any reason
bring a witness with you to stay in the room with you while you receive massage
discontinue any part of the massage, or the entire massage session, at any time and for any reason, by using your voice and asking Brenda to stop or change the massage approach.
You can choose how you want to have your chest and breast area worked on:
A) Covered chest massage is done with breasts covered by the cloth. Focus is on muscle attachments at the sternum and on the ribs. Soft breast tissue is mostly, though not totally, avoided.
B) Partial chest/breast massage is done with chest and breast uncovered. Sternum, chest wall and breast tissue is massaged; nipples and areolas are avoided as much as possible.
C)
Full chest/breast massage is done with chest and breast
uncovered. This includes the full chest,
breast tissue, nipples and areolas, which are all included in broad flat
strokes, making everything feel like the natural part of the body that they
are, instead of separate entities that often get left out in a massage.
As human beings, we feel different every
day. Some days when you come for a massage, you will feel like you need nurturing
and closing in, while other days, you will feel like being opened up and
expanded. So, you can choose each time you come in, what will be best for you
on that day.
At each session you will be given this form to initial your permissions for
that session.
Remember, these
can be changed in the moment at any time during your massage session. Just say
so.
You are in charge.
I look forward to supporting you on your healing journey.
Please feel free to call me if you have any further questions regarding chest and breast massage.