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If you don't own a hydrocollator, purchase some flaxseed warming packs. You want to choose flaxseed rather than corn, herb, or rice packs, as flaxseeds contain 30–40 percent oil, which maintains warm temperatures longer and won't lose the ability to heat up over time. Heated flax also has a neutral aroma, unlike grains that often smell burned if overheated. Get a large rectangular pack, a neck ring, two small rectangular packs, and an eye pillow. Heat your flax packs for 3–4 minutes, shake them, and heat them for another minute before the session. Place one on the abdominal muscles, one around the neck, and one over each eye when clients are in the supine position (Image 1). When prone, clients enjoy the feeling of the packs on the back, around the neck, and on the feet. When you leave the treatment room after a session, take the packs with you, change the covers on them, and place them in the microwave to reheat before your next session. FULL STEAM AHEAD Have you ever taken an overseas flight? After several hours in the air, the flight attendant brings a hot, moist hand towel to every passenger, delivering a little moment of heaven in the air. In the same way, steamy and deliciously aromatic towels are easy enhancers to use during a relaxation massage. Apply hot (but not too hot) towels to the client's feet directly after a foot massage and to the hands directly after a hand massage. A steamy towel on the face after a facial massage feels fantastic (Image 2). To prepare steamy towels, pull off the tags on five 2 hand towels, then fold the towels in half the long way and roll them up like a newspaper. It is important that all the tags are removed, as they could scratch the client. You don't need an expensive hot towel cabinet to prepare the towels. Simply place them in a small soda cooler (9-quart size) and pour hot water over them so that they are moist, but not wet. They shouldn't be so hot that you can't handle them with your bare hands. Add three drops of rosemary essential oil to the cooler of hot towels. As you remove each towel, it will fill the 1 Flaxseed warming packs contain 30–40 percent oil, which helps them maintain warm temperatures longer. Photos courtesy of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Deliver a little moment of heaven by placing a steamy (but not too hot) aromatic towel on the client's face after a facial massage. 3 At the end of the foot massage, place exfoliation cream in your hands and scrub the client's foot, then apply hot towels and let set for 30 seconds. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 101