Honor Your Body Offers Couples Massage Workshops

By Lois Thomson

Most people would agree that communication is key when it comes to interaction with others, but Carrie Shaley believes that is especially true when it comes to couples massage. Carrie and her mother, Carol, founded Honor Your Body – an LGBTQIA+ small business – that has been open since 2015 in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

Honor Your Body is a massage therapy business, catering to both individuals and couples. With regard to the latter, Carrie said, "We basically teach couples very simple things, because a lot of people don't know where to start or what to do to create intimacy and the therapeutic touch within their partnership."

She explained what takes place during a session: Clients watch while Carrie works with someone on the massage table, usually her mother or brother. She does the face, scalp, sub-occipital release (a technique that helps for headaches or neck or shoulder tension), and hands. "I demonstrate and talk through everything, while demonstrating on my mom or my brother. Then the client can mimic what I'm doing (on his or her partner), and I try to give step-by-step instructions on what to do."

She said the clients are fully clothed, and she doesn't touch them during the sessions. "The interaction is between them, so I feel if I interject physically into their space, that might disrupt their connection.

"We talk a lot about communicating with your partner as to what feels good, what may not, how much pressure to use. I give little tips in this area that it might feel better to use more pressure, or less." For example, she said when she talks about massaging the scalp, she'll say medium to firm pressure is usually preferred, and slow movement, to really relax the scalp. "I will mention that this is one of those spots where communication is important – maybe they want more pressure or maybe they don't want as much."

She used her mother and brother as an illustration, saying that both have sinus issues, but when she works on her brother "I could lift his cheekbones off his face" because he wants more pressure. On the other hand, her mother prefers a more gentle touch. Carrie reiterated, "It's all very simple, but it's creating that communication and therapeutic touch within your partnership."

Carol Shaley makes all of the lotions used in the classes. When clients first come in they are able to pick the lotion they would like to use from among dozens of scents. The classes last between 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on how many couples participate, and are offered Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m., and Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Reservations may be made online.

At the end of the massage session, couples are given a gift basket to take home that contains the same materials used in the class – lotion, body butter, and foot scrub, along with a little heart soap and a massage candle. Also included is a sheet with instructions on everything that was gone over in the workshop – all perfect for a date night at home.

For more information, call (412) 212-0231 or visit www.honoryourbodywellness.com.