Getting a soothing, full body massage is supposed to be a relaxing experience, but if you you’ve never enjoyed massage therapy before, the session can be rather confusing and stressful at first. Knowing what to expect can make all the difference.

Ready, Set...

Book your massage in advance if you can. This is a courtesy to the therapist, allowing them to schedule other appointments more efficiently.
Once your appointment is booked, by all means show up for it – please don’t cancel at the last minute or, worse, fail to show up with out explanation (“no show). This is a matter of good manners and is a huge inconvenience to the therapist. Massage therapists are trying to make a living, and cancellations or no-shows are money out of their pockets. 


Allow yourself plenty of time to arrive a few minutes early to your session, especially if you are a new client as you will need to fill out an information form to list health concerns, contact information and legal disclaimers.


Good to Meet you, if you’ll accompany me back to the massage room we can get started.

 
*Drink plenty of water on the day of your massage. Supple, well hydrated muscles and tissue relax more readily and thoroughly

*Please make sure you are reasonably clean – it isn’t unusually necessary to shower immediately before a massage unless you have been exercising or working outside, but it would be very impolite to show up sweaty or dirty

*That said, leave the nice clothing at home, there is no need for cosmetics, and don’t worry about styling your hair (it will probably get mussed in the process of a full body massage anyway).

*If you normally moisturize your skin, skip that step today. Moisturizer may interfere with the massage lotion, and most massage lotions or oils will do a wonderful job of moisturizing your skin.

*You are going to be relaxing for the next hour or two, so you may want to pay a visit to the bathroom before starting your session. Having to dress, go to the bathroom, undress and re-start the session will kill the mood and take away prescious time when you could be enjoying your massage.

*Turn off the cell phone if you possibly can. This is a time for you to relax and enjoy therapeutic work. If you can put the world away for an hour or more, I strongly suggest you do so.


After you are alone in the massage room, you'll want to undress after the therapist leaves and get onto the massage table (remember: it is a table, please don't refer to it as a "bed"). We say "undress to your level of comfort." Most clients strip to the skin, but a few leave underwear on (particularly if they do not know the therapist). A few women may leave their bras on, but it is an uncommon practice (and makes for a bit of difficulty in massaging back muscles).

Some varieties of massage that are done such as, sports, have the client dressed in loose-fitting clothing (such as shorts, sports bra or tank top). Your therapist can advise you as to whether this is appropriate.

Every therapist has her or his favorite routine—some begin by working on the head, some begin on the feet (I personally start by working on the back and finish with the head). I have my clients start out face down unless I have stated otherwise.

The therapist will always leave the room to give you privacy. Undress and get on the table, under the sheets and/or blankets. Fit your face into the padded face cradle unless it makes you uncomfortable, (if that's the case I can give you a pillow). (Never use the face cradle for any support other than your head, it can break other wise) The therapist will return and you can begin your session.

There is no substitute for communication - even the most experienced massage therapist cannot tell exactly what feels best for you, and every client is different—it is up to you to tell them what feels best. While your therapist works, your feedback will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to ask questions or request different sorts of techniques as the therapist works. Some clients will prefer to chat during their massage session; others would prefer to be absolutely silent. Some therapists would prefer clients of one type or the other. If you don't feel like talking during your massage, feel free to tell your therapist—you are the one paying for the session, your therapist should adapt to your needs.

A word on discomfort or pain: There are a lot of misconceptions about firm pressure massage work; many people fear that it is very painful. In fact, only the most intensive deep tissue or trigger point work will cause pain under ordinary circumstances. If something hurts a little bit, let your therapist know whether it feels like a 'good' or therapeutic-seeming discomfort or a really sharp pain—the therapist can discuss the difference with you and help you figure out exactly what your tolerances are, but massage does not have to be uncomfortable to be therapeutic.


You will typically be covered with a sheet, towel and/or a blanket—only the area which is currently being worked on will be undraped, the sheet or blanket will be securely tucked in around limbs or torso. This is known as draping, it is done to ensure your comfort and privacy. Massage therapists are not, as a general rule, trained physicians, chiropractors, or psychological therapists—they can not treat or diagnose any medical or psychiatric condition.


Let's talk for a second about "bad touches." The gluteal (rear end, kiester, booty) area is a sort of exception in many cases. In most cases it is legal to perform gluteal massage, but the therapist will almost always ask first (we tend to be somewhat euphemistic, in a strong effort not to sound sexual, preferring mild terms like "lower back and hip area" to more customary, but less professional, terms such as "butt" or "ass"). I personally do quite a bit of gluteal work as there are several major muscles that run though that area and they are important to the functioning of the lower back and legs, but once again a therapist should always ask first. A Professional Massage Therapist will NEVER EVER touch your genitals. 


In the state of Texas breast massage must be consented by the client before preformed and only when the therapist has had training in such type of massage. Breast Massage therapy has been proven to assist in promoting healthy breast tissue, reduce fibroids and cysts, relieve the pain and discomfort associated with PMS or from compression from bras, relieving the pain and tension from stress in the muscles of the chest wall, assist in healthy tissue regeneration and scar reduction following surgery, and as a logical proactive step against cancer and other diseases. Breasts Massage might be more than a relaxing, pleasurable experience, it may also be very good for your health. I do offer this type of massage as I have had training in it but it is stricly up to the client.


At the end of your massage, the therapist will leave the room and it will be time for you to face the world once again. Get up slowly from the table, massage therapy can make a person feel light-headed or giddy, this feeling is normal. Do not hurry, take your time, and if you feel you need a moment after you are dressed feel free to take it. I schedule all my appointments so that there is a buffer between them. If there is a reason, such as a client running late, that I need a client to leave the room sooner that I allot you are more than welcome to sit in the reception room for as long as you need and drink some calming tea to ground you.

Most massage therapists accept gratuities, even depend on them. You should determine if tipping is appropriate before you pay. (Tipping is always appricated in my business but not manditory) Massage therapy is not a terribly lucrative profession, and most therapists rely on gratuities to make ends meet. Typical tip is 10-25% of the price of the service.

After you session prebooking your next massage is not only helpful to your therapist but allows you to get in for your next massage at the time that is most optimal to you.


Most therapists will tell you to drink plenty of water for the next day or two after your massage session. This is a point that is hard to overstate; an extraordinary amount of water is not necessary, just 50-75 ounces (1.5-2.25 liters) or so (soda, coffee, tea, beer—these don't count). The common line about this is that the water flushes toxins out of your system. This clears out metabolic wastes from the spaces around and between the muscles. You want that stuff out of there, so water is a good way to get rid of it. It is also important to be well-hydrated after a massage, and this may be the key to why extra water is so crucial.

I have experimented with this (using myself as a guinea pig, of course) and I must say that drinking enough water seems to be quite important. This goes double if you are getting a lot of deep muscle work. The times I have not had enough water, I felt lethargic and achy the next day ("flu-ish" is the common way for the body to express the fact that you did not hydrate enough after your session). A single half liter bottle of water, sipped during the evening, can make all the difference!

Additionally, stretching and heat (separately or together) can help loosen up muscles, improve circulation, and make the results of your massage experience even more dramatic. A warm bath with a couple of cups of Epson Salts will help detoxify the body and keep your muscles feeling as comfortable as they did immediately after your massage.


When people ask "How much massage should I get?" the canonical answer is "one hour per month," but, in truth, that can vary widely. If you are very active, or just very sore, you may require massage as often as is feasible—some clients get one massage per week, particularly clients with chronic discomfort, insomnia, ADHD, or injury rehabilitation. Unfortunately, this can get pretty pricey. Discuss options with your therapist will develop a regimen for yourself.

I personally get a massage twice a month, more often if I can afford the money and (especially) the time to do so. I also take an Epsom salt or mineral bath every week. I find this is less of a luxury and more of a necessity since as a Massage Therapist I am active using my muscles all day long.

After your full body session, your muscles will feel suppler, you will be relaxed and your mood will probably be wonderful. On the other hand, your hair will probably be mussed, your face may have lines from the face cradle cover and you will likely look as if you just woke up. You will feel terrific, but you will likely need some grooming.