I recently encountered an ad on craigslist for someone wanting an un-draped massage. This is the ad in it's entirety:
Is there a massage provider in the Chattanooga area that does not require the use of a drape? Note that I am NOT looking for sexual services. I get much more enjoyment out of the massage without the therapist having to worry about a drape. Both I and the therapist are professionals, so I don't understand the requirement of a drape between two professional adults.
I have researched the use of the drape, and my reading of the TN regulations is that TN does not require a drape.
(Part 3- Draping) simply says the therapist must explain expected draping techniques and provide clean drapes. "Expected draping" does not mean draping is required (if this was the case, the regulations would say so). It simply means each therapist can set his/her own requirements. The web site of Full Throttle Massage says the regulations also require "At no time will genitalia, and in the case of female clients the breasts, be exposed during the massage." However, I do not see anywhere in the TN regs that states this.
I would like any therapist that does not require the drape to please respond back. Gender is unimportant. And again, please note that this is NOT a solicitation for sexual services. "
In response to the person wanting an un-draped massage.
Tennessee Massage Licensure Board
Rule 0870-1-.02
Section 3 Draping
(a) Each massage establishment shall maintain a sufficient supply of clean drapes, for
the purpose of draping each client while the client is being massaged. As used herein
“drapes” means towels, gowns, or sheets.
(b) Before proceeding with a massage to the client, each massage therapist shall have
explained to the client expected draping techniques and provide the client a clean
drape large enough for the purpose of draping the buttocks and genitalia and in the
case of a female client the breasts.
Sub-section (a) states: an establishment
shall maintain a supply of clean drapes
for the purpose of draping each client while the client is being massaged.
Sub-section (b) states the drape
shall be large enough for the purpose of draping
the buttocks, genitalia, and in the case of female clients, the breasts. The operative word in
this regulation is
shall, as defined in Webster’s dictionary:
shall v. 1. (first person) expressing the future: am or are going to or sure to. 2. (second and third person)
must.
So, according to the rule we MUST supply a clean drape for the purpose of draping each client while the client is being massaged.
At
Full Throttle Massage, Inc. we site that we abide by the policies set forth in
the Rules of Tennessee Massage Licensure Board.
Following this citation we explain our office policies regarding draping policies, which states in Draping Policy #4 “At no time will
genitalia, and in the case of female clients the breasts, be exposed during the massage.
We want our clients to feel confident in the fact that their modesty will be protected at all times. See our
Massage Draping Photos for a photographic depiction of proper darping proceedures.
My personal response to the person who wrote “massage wanted”:
I respect your wish to have an un-draped massage. All Tennessee Licensed Massage Therapists (LMT’s) are required to provide draping, as explained earlier.
An LMT is a professional who has attended school and has to maintain continuing education in order to practice massage. We take great pride in our
profession and have invested a great deal of time and effort to become massage therapists. You may be able to find an unlicensed massage therapist to
perform the massage you desire but please keep in mind these factors:
An unlicensed therapist is not a professional
An unlicensed therapist is breaking the law in TN by providing massage (for money)
An unlicensed therapist may not be aware of a contraindication to massage you may have
An unlicensed therapist providing massage to a person who is contraindicated to massage can cause serious injury or death to that person
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Brownell, LMT