Chapter 3
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Training to be a masseur involves three basic stages. Firstly, you need to study your anatomy 101. Bone and muscle structure. Lymph system. And then what they call 'contra-indications': conditions that would prevent a safe or healthy massage.
Next is learning the technique. There are long gliding strokes (effleurage), kneading and rolling (petrissage) and pummelling or percussion moves (tapotement). It's all very structured and efficient. Each move prepares the body for the next, warming the skin, stretching and relaxing the muscles, then clearing knotted muscle tissue, increasing blood flow and draining the lymph system of toxins. Once you understand the process you start to respect the skill of the masseur, as well as recognising the process of relaxing and unwinding in safe, skilled hands.
And finally you must practice. Which of course, requires some bodies to work on.
I was the only male on the course. There were four of us. Two of the girls were in their early twenties, plus an older woman, Jenny, who was maybe late thirties? The tutor, Wendy, was a little older still. Quite brusque and matter-of-fact. Reminded me of an old teacher of mine. It was slightly surreal, sitting in a dimly-lit room chatting about shoulders, thighs and the importance of maintaining propriety with each client.
"So you would invite them to undress and lay on the couch," said Wendy firmly "And then leave the room for a few minutes while they get ready. Especially you, Rick!"
I blushed and they giggled. I felt like a schoolboy being reprimanded by the headmistress for peeking at a girl's knickers.
"So are you all ready for some proper massage practice?" She continued. We nodded enthusiastically.
"Good. We're going to start by working in pairs. Rick you can work with Jenny in the Jade Room. Sarah and Liz will be in Amethyst. Decide amongst yourselves who is going first."
I swallowed. So this is it then, I thought. Time to actually try massaging a real person.
Jenny was a little shy so I offered to be the first 'client'. She left the room while I stripped and lay face down on the couch, covering as much as possible with the blanket. I was slightly worried about getting aroused, since Jenny was an attractive woman, but we'd discussed the issue in some depth so I knew that erections in men were perfectly normal in such a relaxing setting. Masseurs are taught to 'cover & ignore'. Strict professionalism you know!
It was delightful. Jenny was a little hesitant. It was, after all, her first time. But she performed the moves with her tiny soft hands, silent throughout as instructed. Having never been professionally massaged, I began to understand how wonderful it feels. Then it was time to swap.
I re-entered the room a short while later. Jenny was face down on the couch, resting her head on her hands. Her hair was tied in a bun leaving her neck exposed. Moment of truth, I thought.
"I'll start with some effleurage to the back and shoulders," I said softly, warming a palmful of oil in my hands. I placed them on her back and gently glided up to her shoulder blades.
"Oh," she squeaked. "Wow."
Continuing to work her back in long strokes, my hands moved up to her shoulders and curled around her neck softly, pulling back and down the length of her spine. She was breathing steadily. I felt her legs move apart slightly under the blanket. I guess the magic hands are working then, I mused.
"That's...incredible," she moaned. I applied a little extra pressure into her shoulders, drawing my hands across to her arms, then around and onto her back again.
"Oh... Oh dear... Oh shit," she said, shifting uncomfortably. She had begun sweating.
"Are you alright?" I asked, although it was becoming clear that she wasn't. I lifted my hands off her body and stepped back.
Jenny twisted slightly, grabbed the sheet and sat up. She was flushed. She looked at me for a moment.
"Sorry," she stuttered. "I, er... got a little distracted." She blushed red and fanned herself. The sheet slipped slightly and her left boob popped into view. I turned away quickly.
There was a knock on the door which startled us both.
"Everything OK in there," called Wendy. Jenny dropped back on the couch, pulling up the sheet, just as Wendy walked in.
