The dos and don’ts of getting a massage, according to massage therapists

You lie on the massage table to relieve stress, clear a doubt or simply take care of yourself.

As a customer, several things may come to mind: You should remove All of your clothes? Is it a bad habit to fall asleep during a treatment? How about engaging in a conversation with your therapist?

Your expert massage therapist anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, he has other thoughts, like making sure you have a pleasant experience (and it has nothing to do with your unshaven legs).

To see what goes through the mind of a massage therapist, we interviewed a few of them about what they wish their clients knew before they lay down to relax.

“Usually there’s some kind of medical intake before every massage, whether it’s a form you fill out [or] verbally with your therapist. We don’t do it for fun. If there are medical conditions such as previous surgery, medications such as blood thinners, or other medical problems you have, this may change the way we perform certain massage movements or even determine whether it is safe to we do a massage first. row .

Many people can avoid saying [us] this medical information because they think they might not get the massage they want if they tell the therapist, or they’re just nervous that the therapist is judging them. However, it’s important to know what’s going on so we don’t cause injury, harm or potentially make a condition worse.” — Karen Stonea prenatal, infant and fertility massage therapist in Pennsylvania

“These adhesions form over time due to poor posture. However, if you look at massage as preventative, it gives you a chance to heal your aches and pains. Before I’m becoming unbearable”. — Chasity Wilson, massage therapist based in Savannah, Georgia

“The purpose of a massage is to give you the opportunity to let go of all stress and tension so that your body can switch from the ‘fight or flight’ division of the nervous system to the ‘rest and digest’ division. Squeezing your hand or arm during a session or trying to keep control of how we move your body is counterproductive. Try not to contribute. Your only job is to breathe. — Wilson

“Wind shock can be embarrassing, but it’s important to realize that it’s very common during massage sessions. It makes sense: the therapist targets the lower back and buttocks, and that can let some gas pass. Don’t be ashamed! It’s extremely common and nothing to be ashamed of.” — Jean Campbellmassage therapist and life coach

“Many massages start at a certain time and last a certain amount of time. This is done so that we can give each client our full attention and the proper care they need in the best possible conditions. So if you have a 60 minute massage scheduled at 1 and you come in at 1:25, you probably won’t be able to get a 60 minute full body massage because there is probably someone else scheduled at the end of the 60 minutes. . Don’t get mad at the therapist for cutting your appointment short and still charging you for the full time slot you were booked for.

Yes, we understand that emergencies come up and every therapist is different in how they handle things like cancellations and delays, but we want our clients to understand that if we don’t stick to our schedule, it’s going to make a big mess in a lot of ways. We respect our customers’ needs and time and only ask that they respect ours.” — drug addict

“Very often I see clients who are so used to running on adrenaline that they are surprised (and even embarrassed) by how easily they fall asleep in the crib. wWhen they are finally given the opportunity to quiet their minds and allow themselves to enter their bodies in a safe and nurturing environment, they are able to break out of the system’s frantic “fight or flight” state sympathetic nervous and to slip into a refreshing “rest”. and digest”. ‘ the state of the parasympathetic nervous system. This is perfectly normal and a compliment to the therapist. As for snoring, it’s normal to experience some congestion while in the face cradle, which can make you more prone to snoring.” — Kaitlin Fradya Philadelphia massage therapist and physical therapist assistant

“There’s no need to apologize for not shaving before a date. Indeed, avoiding shaving before a session decreases any risk of infection through possible small tears or abrasions in the skin. — Frady

The only thing to note: Your therapist may need to use a little extra oil or lotion on areas with ingrown hairs to avoid uncomfortable rubbing or skin irritation.

“Even with over 20 years of experience as a massage therapist, I still can’t read my clients’ minds, so I emphasize the importance of vocalizing how you feel during the session. If something is wrong or the massage is getting too deep, please speak up and say something. Ninety-nine percent of therapists will appreciate feedback as it helps us tailor the session to ensure the best results. — Campbell

“We hear from many clients at our tables about terrible experiences they’ve had with previous services, from leaving irritated by an ‘overly chatty’ therapist to music the client didn’t like. Your therapist wants to provide you with effective care, so please let them know if anything bothers you. — Gina Tibbs, California masseuse

“So often we have customers who are confused about what they should keep or take. Some types of massage and bodywork are performed while clothed, so wearing loose sports clothing is a good idea. Other methods are easier to do with nothing on (just a towel or sheet). That said, if you’re more comfortable in your underwear or prefer to be fully clothed, the techniques can be modified.” — Tibbs

“Many clients expect their treatment to be the same as a previous experience with another therapist, but training and experience can be significantly different between therapists, and their approaches will vary depending on their environment.” Tibbs

“Unless you’ve been seeing a particular therapist for several sessions, your preferred pressure tolerance on both ends may be unknown. Remember, this is your session and you should feel comfortable with it. If the therapist doesn’t want to change your pressure, you need to find another therapist or try another modality.” — drug addict