How do you set up your couch? In the winter do you use a heated underblanket and if so do you turn for a while before the client arrives and leave on throughout the treatment, do you think they are worth buying). I had at one time a heated wrap (nothing to do with holistic work, but for my own use and it was hopeless a hot water bottle was hotter than the heated wrap which literally got tepid).
My business is quite new and therefore I don't want to keep spending out for things unless they would be necessary/benefit to the client. My treatment room is in the garden, it has electricity, so I do have a heater in there (I am limited to 3 kw of power total as its running via the home and not under a seperate circuit), the heater is halogen (max 1.4 kw), but I am looking at possibly changing that to a convector heater, as a friend said they heat the room better. There is also light in there. I am not mobile, so any clients will be coming to me.
The treatments that I will be mainly offering is Reiki (couch), Indian Head Massage (chair), Thai foot massage (couch)
Any advice from anyone would be great, thanks
At the moment I have in there the therapists couch, a couple of chairs, a trolley and lamps.The treatment room is 10 x 8 ft, not massive but an okay size to work in.
I have a regular single electric blanket (from Argos, and can be used with client lying on it) on my couch, which is on an old terry cover to protect the fabric of the couch. Over the electric blanket I have a fleecey couch protector, and then on that the usual couch cover (which I change after every client). I have the electric blanket on to warm up the couch prior to the client arriving, but usually switch it off one they are in place. I also have a couple of fleece blankets resting on the top - I keep the flannel sheets on the radiator, ready to apply to the client when they have got onto the couch, putting the ready-warmed fleeces back on if they need it. After so many years practice, it takes seconds for me to get them in place, snug and warm, and the area to be treated revealed.
Atlanticpearl - I use a single electric blanket under my couch cover and I bought it at Argos for £14.99 and would recommend buying one, since buying it I have had so many comments on how lovely it is and relaxing.
I put it on about 30/40 mins before the client arrives so that it is up to temperature for their massage, and leave it on during the whole massage, I leave it on number 3 setting and nobody has complained that it's too hot, I tell them prior to the massage if they get too warm that I can turn it down, but so far no-one has asked.
Hope that helps.
😀
For your treatments I would not worry about a couch heater as your clients will not be undressing. As long as the room is not uncomfortably cold. Blankets are a better option, as they can be removed quickly if the client feels hot.