Pamper Evening treatments

[Joe S]

Hello, I am hoping someone will be able to give me some advice. I have been asked to do a ladies pamper evening and choose whether to do reflexology or massage. The slots are 20 minutes which isn't long enough to do anything much really. I plan to enlist a helper to sort out short consultation prior to their time slot but would like opinions as to which is the most practical treatment in that time, and how you would do it. I suppose if its reflexology it would be a very very basic quick whizz over each foot and some relaxing massage at the end, although these events tend to be a bit noisy, with friends hanging about watching and talking etc!! If its massage, then I suppose its got to be a longer foot massage or a brief back massage. I was trying to work out with getting undressed etc and towels etc, which is the best to opt for. Thanks, Love Melanie x

 

[Bonzo The Wonder Pig]

Opt for reflexology - allow 20 minutes maximum, which isn't actually 20 minutes treatment. That time may have to include shoes on/off etc. Plus, don't make the consultation too involved - just have a laminated sheet to hand which lists conditions that you should not treat, and ask if they have any of these - if they don't then treat. Make sure they give you their name and address so that you can send them leaflets (state 'this information may be used to notify you of special offers' on the sheet). I have'nt been to a pamper event in recent years where anyone had time to remove clothing for a 'body' massage - they barely have time to get their socks off! It really is just a taster, use lovely smelling balms if possible, & don't bother about treatments per se - make sure they go away with multiple leaflets - try and include a 'special offer' as a hook to get them in for a proper treatment.

 

[babysnoopyfan]

Hi Melsy

Have you thought about doing hand reflexology instead of foot reflexology ? I do hand reflex for taster treatments because it is so much more convenient and simpler in an environment full of noise and people.

Most people don't know that you can do reflexology on hands so this gets their interest and people who would never get their feet out in front of other people are happy to have a go.

good luck with the party - and remember to take a break you can find that you have been working back to back with people for 4 hours without a breather !

love lou xxx

 

[Mum knows best]

Thank you for answering me and for the help given. I am not confident with hand reflexology but I could study more as I have 2 months!! I will go with reflexology I think as its easier than all the undressing etc for massage and all the towels I would have to bring. Do you think it is ok to just use one hand towel per person as the treatments are so short? (I usually wrap both the feet for an hour treatment) I like the laminated sheet for contraindications - genius idea and less box ticking. any more ideas are very welcome including how not to get exhausted as its 3 hours long with back to back 20 min appointments!!
They always run late from my experience at going to them as a client.
Anyway thank you for your help
Love Melanie x

 

[Ner]

Invest in a roll of 'couch roll' and use this to put under their feet. You won't have time to worry about wrapping - they won't notice and it will be all over so quickly they won't have the opportunity to get cold! Simply reinforce when you are doing a few simple relaxation sequences, that a proper treatment is a lot more relaxing than this, and that the treatment and 'ambiance' are a lot LOT better in your clinic or their home (if you are mobile)!

When I have done pamper evenings, I have done a sheet with time slots - at the bottom of the page, I do 'tear offs' so that a person can sign up for a slot, then tear off the slot they have opted for, to take with them whilst they look around - that way, I can take out a couple slots (usually putting in something like Mrs E on a couple of slots - tearing off the slips at the bottom) in the knowledge that those are both for ME to recover, go for a pee, whatever!

 

[sushi ninja]

Jabba, I love the Mrs E idea!! I am doing my first Health Fair in a few weeks and have started thinking about all these things so this is great...
x

 

[lostinlove1919]

Hi Melsy, What kind of venue is it, a private house? I would definitely do reflexology and I think you are much better off doing feet to give people an idea of what it is really like. Am surprised at Lou's saying people won't get their feet out in front of others - do you think this will be a problem?

Good luck!
J x

 

[Patty]

Thanks everyone! i am so glad I found this forum!! You are so kind and helpful.
Its at a school, so lots of people milling around. Yes, people ARE funny about their feet. I have come to the conclusion there are very few people who aren't self conscious about their bodies. I have never done a treatment - reflexology or massage - where they haven't started the first one by apologising about feet or fat!! Its so sad, but I am probably the same! Actually, I went for a massage the other week and I don't mean this to be as awful as it may sound, but I was delighted when she opened the door and I discovered she was blind. My first thought was, that she wouldn't see the cellulite and horrible fat!! So we are all the same about body image. (She did a lovely massage btw!)
Anyway, I have filled in the forms and gone for reflexology and I am just hoping that I will get some new clients from it cos its gone horribly quiet since just before Christmas......
Love Melanie x

 

[rdefiurxiepigaevb]

Hi
I did one of these school Pamper evenings just before Christmas - it was the first one I have done and I learned a few bits and bobs from it that I am happy to pass on (equally it was useful to have some hints and tips before i started such as using couch roll under the clients' feet instead of changing towels etc)
The evening was only 7 to 930 which did not allow for too many people - I had five takers in all. They all enjoyed a massge followed by a mini treatment and found it relaxing. If they said for example, they had migraines, I spent a bit of time concentrating on the appropriate reflexes, so I tried to tailor even a brief treatment to their health issues. Not confident enough to offer hand reflex!
I sent them off with leaflets etc and offered a discounted treatment if they booked with me before the end of February.

The last client had, I am sorry to say, the most awful feet I have encountered. She was wearing TEDs (pressure stockings) which she said helped her with a lymph condition (as soon as I heard that I asked her to sign a disclaimer which she reluctantly did, saying she lived with her condition and knew how to manage it, but I wasnt happy to do anything otherwise). She had been on her feet all evening and they were, um, less than fragrant and hot and sweaty.
I used tea tree and antibacterial wipes before I started but Im afraid i really had to grit my teeth to do the treatment. She did not want me to stop after 20 mins even though everyone was packing up to go by this point, it was really quite awkward.......
Thank you for the chance to vent! It was otherwise a good evening but its worth knowing that when you have a room full of strangers you never know quite how they will present.
Sadly I havent had any enquiries since the event but trying not to be discouraged and have a pitch at a health fair next month, which hopefully will bear fruit.

Also you might like to donate a money off voucher to a raffle - mind you I have done this too but it hasnt been taken up ... yet.

Regards

Andrea

 

[tarfLialf]

Sounds like your last client had a form of lymphoedema - were the garments brown? Compression garments. Unlikely to be TEDS, unless she had a recent DVT in which case........

Did she have to remove them for you to treat her? I see lymphoedema patients all day - those coming to me straight from work generally have a shower when they get here, as they (the ones with lower limb lymphoedema) do get very sweaty feet!

 

[Yankeeluver]

Hijacking this thread....Jabba - I have a friend in Edinburgh who is looking for someone to help her with lymphodeama following mastecomy and lymph clearance 6 years ago. Could you PM me with contact details? Thanks

 

[?? abbie Kate ??]

Hi Jabba

Yes you are right - lymphoedema and pressure garment - definitely no DVT!! (writing too quickly and not engaging brain)

The lady was one of the organisers of the event and had been running around all night, she whipped off her socks and the pressure graments before one could say boo ...... I am sure she must have known her feet werent too pleasant, but still. Toenails were really rather grim I have to say. But ..... we have to expect the odd difficult one I guess to keep our minds concentrated!!

Andrea

 

[Balallar]

Hi Andrea,
Sorry to hear about your testing experience! Picking up on what Melsy said too, have often found that by a strange reversal, the people with the yukky feet are quite shameless about it (as in your experience with this lady by the sounds of it), whereas the ladies I've had with perfectly-pedicured, beauty-contest feet are the ones who - quite needlessly - start apologizing before they've even got their shoes off!

Have others found this?

Janet x

 

[zendsiggend]

Please can I ask another question about this pamper evening next week?
What do I do about hygiene etc such as washing my hands inbetween treatments? Its in a school hall and no where near toilets. Is an anitbacterial handgel sufficient? I can use a wonderful lemongrass antibacterial spray for their feet that a friend of mine gave me but with not washing inbetween treatments, does the hand gel do the job? Thanks. Love Melanie x

 

[Madness]

I've always used handgel and never had a problem - however, it may be a good idea to keep a box of baby wipes handy, as the gel can get a bit 'sticky' after a while. I used to take a stock of damp flannels when I first did taster evenings!