Q&A

By Kristin Coverly and Mark Lees
[Ask the Experts]

“Do I have to take all my clothes off when I get a massage?”

Absolutely not! Clients often wonder—and worry—about this and it’s completely up to you what clothes you take off and leave on. Bodyworkers will often use the language “undress to your level of comfort” and we really mean it!
Here’s an important point of distinction, though: we can work through the sheet on any area of the body that you leave covered with clothing—like your glutes—but please communicate clearly if you’d like that area of the body avoided altogether. For example, one of my clients left her socks on because she didn’t want me to touch her feet at all, but another left her sports bra on and was open to me working on her back through the clothing. The choice is yours; just let us know what your preferences are so we can make it the best possible—and most comfortable—session for you!

Kristin Coverly, LMT, is a massage therapist and educator for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.

“What can I do to slow the signs of aging on my face?”

The most important step in preventing the appearance of aging skin is avoiding sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. If you are going to walk or run, apply a water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before you start, and try to plan those outdoor activities before 10:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m.
Believe it or not, most of our sun damage comes from day-to-day “ambient” exposure: walking the dog, getting the mail, talking to your neighbor, and even driving. So, even in winter, it is important to wear an SPF 15 or higher broad-spectrum sunscreen product every single day! The easiest way to do this is to find a sunscreen-containing moisturizer. Wear this every day and you will have the biggest aging factor covered!

Mark Lees, PhD, MS, CIDESCO, is a skin care educator, product developer, therapist,
and author.