Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.
Caution: After you get your first massage, you may be addicted for life.
So you’ve never gotten a massage.
Well, there has to be a first time for everything! Many clients come to me for their first massage, not exactly sure what to expect. They have an idea of what a professional massage should be like based upon some combination of what their friends tell them and what they see in the movies.
Trust your friends more than you trust the silver screen. I’ve got to say that movies provide an interesting depiction of massage therapy. While some representations are accurate, others are wildly different from the real experience. For example, most of my clients don’t look like supermodels. Secondly, not every client chooses to dress down to nothing. Finally—and most importantly—my massages are always purely platonic.
The truth is: the massage experience is different for everybody, but you should never feel uncomfortable when you are on the table. Every good massage therapist should know that and make sure that you feel at ease throughout the whole experience. However, I have to add that most massage therapists aren’t mind readers; you need to be able to feel comfortable asking questions and voicing your concerns whenever they come up.
Just to ease your mind a little in advance, I’ll lay out some common questions/concerns about a first massage and briefly respond to each.
1. I have a medical condition. Is it OK for me to get a massage? Many people with medical conditions find relief from their symptoms when they receive massage regularly. However, certain conditions are contraindicated. Some conditions, like rashes, may only be contraindicated locally (or directly on the site of the condition,) while others are more serious. Talk to your doctor before you get a massage. Once your doctor gives you the thumbs up, make sure your massage therapist knows about your condition.
2. When should I show up for my first massage? Most therapists prefer that regular clients show up at least 10 minutes early, but you should show up at least 20 minutes early for your first massage. You will need to fill out an intake form and have plenty of time to use the restroom, etc. Not all clients are aware that their massage time usually starts when they are left alone in the room to get on the table. If you show up early and are on the table by your slated start time, you generally will get a longer massage.
3. Do I have to take off all of my clothes? (Even my underwear?) You don’t have to take off all your clothes if you feel uncomfortable removing all of your clothes. In fact, some massage modalities don’t require you to take off any clothes. However, if you are experiencing low back or hip pain and you are going to receive anything like a Swedish or Deep Tissue massage, your therapist will be able to access more muscles if you remove all of your clothes. Know that even if you are fully unclothed, your therapist will only remove the sheet from one small area at a time as he or she works on it.
4. How often should I talk during the massage? Some massage clients find that they are able to unwind more if they get to know their therapist a little bit in advance. Others find talking completely unnecessary. Massage therapists are used to having talkers and non-talkers. However, your therapist should check in with you periodically to make sure you are comfortable and to inform you if/when you need to change your position on the table.
5. Is massage painful? It shouldn’t be painful for you. Your therapist will work to your pressure tolerance and ask you how you feel: don’t lie if you’re not enjoying the massage. The only person you’re hurting is yourself. If you’ve decided to get a massage in order to relieve some pain, you may experience some discomfort when your therapist does condition-specific work. Even then, your therapist should check in with you to make sure he or she is working within your threshold.
6. What happens if I accidentally get aroused? Sometimes things like that happen even when you don’t have sexual thoughts running through your head. All good therapists should know that and not think anything of it. However, if you begin to act based on any of those sensations (e.g. you touch your therapist or make insinuating comments,) your massage therapist reserves the right to—and very well should—end the massage right there and refuse to give you massages in the future.
7. What if I feel so relaxed that I end up falling asleep? Great! I encourage my clients to fall asleep. I especially find that clients who don’t get much sleep at home are able to fall quickly asleep during a massage. Most sleeping clients’ bodies are so relaxed that I am able to make more progress than I would be able to if they were tensing their muscles the whole time. Also, don’t worry about snoring. Therapists hear that all the time.
8. What should I do after my massage? Stay relaxed! Take deep breaths and be mindful of your body for the rest of the day. After the post-massage sleepy, trance-like state wears off, you should feel well-rested and maybe even have a heightened sense of clarity for the rest of the day. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water. Water is a great natural way to flush toxins (natural metabolic byproducts that come to the surface during a massage) out of your system. I once didn’t hydrate properly after I got a massage and I didn’t feel so great a few hours later.
9. Should I leave a tip? Just as you would tip a hairdresser or server, leave your therapist gratuity if you think she deserves one. Since I work in a chiropractic office where not all clients realize they’re even allowed to tip, I’m very grateful for any tips I receive. Be aware that therapists who work at spas only earn a small fraction (~20-30%) of what the massage cost, and therapists who work for other therapists or chiropractors typically only receive about 40% to half of what the massage cost.
Do you have any other questions? Send me a note on my contact page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
