A massage offers a remarkable pathway to enhancing your overall well-being. Whether you're a seasoned massage enthusiast or a curious first-timer, understanding the nuances of massage therapy can significantly improve your experience. This article delves into the secrets of massage therapists, offering insights into how to choose the right therapist, prepare for your session, and maximize the benefits of this therapeutic practice.
Preparing for Your Massage
Scheduling and Timing
When booking a massage, consider the timing of your appointment. Many clients prefer evening slots to relax before bed. However, an early-day massage can be incredibly beneficial. Massage is a physically demanding job, and therapists may experience fatigue later in the day. While therapists are trained to manage their energy levels to ensure a high-quality experience for all clients, scheduling a massage in the morning can provide a refreshed and positive start to your day.
Hygiene and Comfort
Be considerate and practice good hygiene before your massage as well. Although you may be planning to shower after the massage, the way you smell doesn’t go unnoticed. But don’t worry if you haven’t shaved your legs-massage therapists aren’t looking at your stubble, and it doesn’t affect their treatment plan.
Clothing Options
One common question is whether to leave your underwear on or off during a massage. The most important thing is for clients to feel at ease. While some clients feel more comfortable remaining partially clothed, removing your underwear can allow the therapist to work more effectively on areas like the hips, lower back, and glutes. If you’re okay with it, ditch the underwear. I promise your therapist will not mind. Rest assured, your privacy will be respected, and any private parts of your body will be fully covered at all times.
Open Communication
Feedback makes your massage better. Everybody (and every body) experiences touch and pressure differently. Pressure that feels gentle to one client may feel unpleasant to another. Communication is key to a successful massage. If anything feels uncomfortable, please speak up-for two reasons. First, we don’t want to hurt you! Second, pain is a diagnostic tool. It can tell us what muscles to target so we can help you feel better. Inform your therapist about your preferences, any areas of discomfort, and the pressure level that feels right for you. If something feels especially good, let us know that too. I always take note if a client loves work in the shoulders, say, or really appreciates deep pressure to the feet. This feedback allows the therapist to tailor the massage to your specific needs and ensure a beneficial experience.
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Choosing the Right Massage Therapist
Specialization and Techniques
There are over 200 different massage techniques and types, all treating different needs and providing various benefits. Therapists often specialize in just one, or some of these, and won’t always know if their massage style is really the one best suited for your body. The first step in choosing a massage therapist is to consider your goals. Are you seeking pain management, stress relief, or treatment for a specific injury? Different massage techniques cater to different needs. Some of the most popular massage therapies include:
- Clinical Massage: Also known as medical massage or therapeutic massage, this type of massage therapy is focused on physical healing and management. The massage therapist stresses function and recovery of muscles, with measureable results. This is the best type of massage for those suffering from pain or injury. A clinical massage therapist may use many different techniques to get these results including: deep tissue massage, trigger point massage, rolfing, myofascial release, structural integration, neuromuscular therapy, active release techniques and perhaps thai massage techniques, among others.
- Sports Massage: This type of massage is very similar to clinical massage but sometimes gets categorized separately. Sports massage may include the same techniques listed above under clinical massage but with a specific focus on sports performance. These techniques and the overall intention are well suited to athletes and anyone leading very active lifestyles, such as dancers and marathon runners.
- Swedish Massage: This is the most common type of massage available, and is what most people think of when they imagine massage. The massage is often offered in a spa as a luxury treatment and often is accompanied by aromatherapy as well. While certainly therapeutic and emotionally calming, this massage technique is not intended to resolve muscle tension and pain.
- Energey Techniques: There so many powerful hands-on treatment modalities that rely on a gentle, more energetic touch. These include Reiki, Polarity, Craniosacral, Reflexology and Qi Gong, to name a few. These techniques can provide a holistic healing experience that helps one find balance throughout the body in a way that creates physical, mental and spiritual harmony.
- Hot Stone Massage: As the name implies, your body is weighed down with hot stones that the masseuse also uses to massage your body with. The heat produced by this technique is relaxing to the muscles and good for minor tension.
- Shiatsu: This is an ancient technique from Japan that combines gentle stretching and tension on pressure points to improve the balance of energy in one’s body. There is no clinical evidence that this technique provides healing, but many people report stress relief from it. It can be performed with deep pressure for physical relief or light touch for energetic purposes.
- Thai Massage: A more rigorously relaxing massage in which the massage therapist works your entire body moving it into yoga like stretches and loosening joints. The masseuse might even use their feet (walking on you) to achieve this. The massage is sometimes referred to as “Yoga for the lazy”.
Licensing and Credentials
Again, most states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, regulate the massage therapy profession through licensing requirements. So when choosing your massage therapist, especially if it is for clinical, medical purposes, check to see if the therapist you are considering has a valid license. In addition, there are many certifications and specializations within the profession. These include a very wide range of therapies, such as medical massage which is a broad term that is often referred to as therapeutic massage, clinical massage and sports massage. It also includes relaxation techniques like Swedish massage often offered in spas and wellness centers as well as healing, energetic therapies such as reiki, craniosacral and polarity.
Recommendations and Reviews
Whether it’s a direct referral from your Medical Doctor, Physical Therapist, Chiropractor or from a work colleague, family member or friend, word of mouth is often the surefire way to choose your massage therapist. In addition, professional web sites often post provider listings to help you find a massage therapist near you. Business search web sites such as Yelp have business profiles that feature client reviews, social media pages often show reviews and a therapist may have his or her own web site with client testimonials. Client testimonials can provide valuable insights into the therapist's skills, professionalism, and client satisfaction.
Personal Experience
It doesn’t matter how many licenses, certifications, years of experience and positive reviews a therapist might have. After your first session, you need to decide if that massage therapist is the right one for you. Trust your instincts and choose a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and confident.
What Massage Therapists Notice About Your Body
Asymmetry
No one’s face is symmetrical. I’d love to clamber onto the shoulders of Michelangelo’s David to see what he looks like from the angle I enjoy from the head of my massage table. From that vantage point, we’re all Picassos, our eyes and nostrils more chaotically placed than you might imagine. Massage therapists are trained to observe and address these imbalances to promote overall well-being.
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Effects of Gravity
Nothing is immune to gravity. Breasts fall, bellies lose their elasticity, and those of us lucky enough to survive our first three or four decades have more dewlaps than an iguana. These natural changes are a normal part of aging, and massage therapists understand and respect the body's journey through time.
Touch and Texture
Sight is not the only sense that matters. The softest, most wonderful-feeling flesh I ever touched belonged to an 80-year-old competitive swimmer…who finished last in every race he entered. He seemed happy enough, hopping onto the table for a complimentary sports massage after every heat. He took care of himself, and it showed…in a nonvisual way. The softest, most wonderful-feeling flesh I ever touched belonged to an 80-year-old competitive swimmer…who finished last in every race he entered. The softest, most wonderful-feeling flesh I ever touched belonged to an 80-year-old competitive swimmer…who finished last in every race he entered. A massage therapist's hands can detect subtle differences in tissue texture, temperature, and tension, providing valuable information about your body's condition.
Scars and Experience
Scars are badges of experience. This includes the stupid ones, like that circular exhaust pipe burn on your calf, a souvenir of an aborted day trip in Bali, when dressed in shorts and flip-flops you rented a scooter you didn’t know how to operate and took it for a spin. Each scar tells a story, and massage therapists appreciate the unique history of your body.
Posture and Breathing
A deep breath is truly beautifying. Ditto good posture. Not everyone is capable of this. Working with a first-time client, I sometimes think, “Oh, you poor thing, I bet you played college football” or “I bet your job required you to stand in high heels eight hours a day for some twenty-odd years. Posture and breathing patterns can reveal a lot about your lifestyle and habits. Massage therapists can help improve posture and breathing through targeted techniques and guidance.
Body's Honesty
Your brain is a much better liar than your body. We tell each other-and ourselves-all sorts of whoppers in our desire to save face, minimize our true feelings, or shirk responsibility. Your body craves affection. Past experience, the difficulty of daily interactions, and suspected ulterior motives can convince us that others are best kept at arm’s length, but simple, compassionate touch is a gift your body will gladly receive. Massage therapists are trained to recognize these signals and provide appropriate care and support.
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Debunking Myths and Misconceptions
Masseuse vs. Massage Therapist
“I think that all massage therapists cringe at the term masseuse,” Stevie Duren, a certified massage therapist at Bliss Bodywork in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, tells mental_floss. Although some people use the terms masseuse and massage therapist interchangeably, Duren says that masseuse has a sexual innuendo and implies a lack of education. One common misconception is the use of the term "masseuse." Massage therapists are highly trained professionals who undergo extensive education and certification. The term "masseuse" can carry a sexual connotation and is generally not used by reputable practitioners.
Licensing and Regulation
The vast majority of "underground" and inexpensive massage places don’t have a license to practice massage in New York and have not received any sort of clinical training at all. Be cautious of unlicensed practitioners, as they may lack the necessary training and expertise to provide safe and effective massage therapy. Always verify that your massage therapist is licensed and in good standing with the relevant regulatory board.
Benefits Beyond Relaxation
While massage is often associated with relaxation and stress relief, its benefits extend far beyond that. Massage therapy can be an effective treatment for pain management, injury rehabilitation, and various other health conditions.
Maximizing the Benefits of Massage
Relaxation and Emotional Release
You may have strong feelings on the massage table. Relaxation is the only feeling many people have during a massage, but other emotions, from sadness to fear, emerge, especially during deep tissue work. Allow yourself to fully relax and release any pent-up emotions during your massage. Massage can be a powerful tool for emotional healing and well-being.
Staying Present
Good massage therapists are in tune with your body. Judith Levinrad Norman, who teaches massage therapy at New York City’s Swedish Institute, tells Oprah Magazine that good massage requires really tuning in. Comparing massage to meditation, she explains that she clears her mind, focuses on being present, and connects to her client’s body. No matter what area of the body she works on, Norman tries to encourage her clients to let go and loosen up. “After you've worked on a lot of bodies, you see with your hands. You don't see with your eyes anymore. I don't need to look-my hands know,” she says. Embrace the present moment and focus on the sensations in your body during your massage. This will help you relax more deeply and experience the full benefits of the therapy.
Regular Massages
Massage therapists get massages, too. Because their work is physical, massage therapists definitely get massages, too. Massage therapist Julie Azzopardi admits that she trades massages with her colleagues at the spa where she works and tries to get a massage once a week or once every other week. Duren says she gets massages because she has to. “The work that I do is intense and strenuous and I have to keep myself in good repair to offer the kind of work I do to my clients,” she says. Incorporating regular massage into your self-care routine can provide long-term benefits for your physical and mental health.
The Massage Therapist's Perspective
The Dream of Helping Others
We want to save the world. For many massage therapists, the dream that enticed them to enroll in massage school was a vision of being able to help others with the gift of massage. The difficulty is being able to give massage to those who need it but cannot afford it while keeping our own bills paid. Many massage therapists are driven by a genuine desire to help others. They find fulfillment in providing relief, promoting healing, and improving their clients' quality of life.
The Importance of Tips
We work for tips. Too many massage therapists are paid a wage that does not cover their monthly bills. We use our tips to put food on the table and pay for our own sorely needed massages. Unless they own their own business, they only earn a percentage of the price you pay. So whether they work as an independent contractor in a spa or for an hourly wage in a medical clinic, most massage therapists rely on tips to make ends meet. If you’re satisfied with the quality of your massage, tip your therapist 18 to 20 percent. Tipping is an important way to show appreciation for your massage therapist's services. A standard tip is typically 18-20% of the total cost of the massage.
The Reality of Burnout
The burnout rate is high. Three to five years after graduation, the burnout rate for massage therapists has been estimated at between 50 and 88 percent. Because they work on their feet, using their hands, arms, and elbows to massage, therapists can get carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and trigger finger. Even if massage therapists take breaks between massages, repetitive stress injuries can make their jobs painful, contributing to a large number of therapists who leave the field each year. The physical demands of massage therapy can lead to burnout and repetitive stress injuries. Massage therapists must prioritize self-care to maintain their own health and well-being.
The Joy of Positive Energy
Yes, we have favorite clients. There are more than a few client names that bring a smile to my face when I see them on my schedule. Surprisingly, they are not all just big tippers. Massage therapists have to work in other people’s energy for a living. Getting to spend an hour helping someone with positive energy is a potent way to prevent burnout. Positive energy and a collaborative relationship between the therapist and client can enhance the overall massage experience.