Maybe you’ve received over a thousand massages in your lifetime; maybe you’re currently looking into getting your first. Whichever of these two categories you fit into, or even if you’re somewhere in the middle, these five tips are worth knowing.
Eat Light
It’s best to not have a huge breakfast or an immense lunch right before your massage therapy session. You want to be able to completely relax and enjoy your massage and a full tummy might get in the way.
Choose Your Level of Undress
It’s okay if you feel uncomfortable getting completely undressed. Your therapist is a professional and learned in massage therapy school that when a client leaves an item, or items, of clothing on, that they are establishing a boundary that is to be respected. So when the therapist tells you that they’ll leave the room for a few minutes so you can get undressed and on the table, they mean that you should undress to your comfort level, not that you have to completely strip. If you choose to though, that is also up to you.
Pain Does Not Equal Gain
A massage isn’t equivalent to a weightlifting session. If you rather your therapist ease up on the pressure—or increase the pressure—just let them know. It is your session and your therapist wants to make sure it’s a good one.
Communication
We already said that you should tell your massage therapist about what level of undress you feel comfortable with and about the amount of pressure you prefer, but we can’t stress the importance of communication enough. Massage therapists are trained to read the body, not the mind, and massage is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Massage therapists know that each client is different, so make sure to communicate your individual needs, what your desired outcome is, if you have any health issues or are on any special medication, and so on.
Enjoy the Afterglow
This may seem like a no-brainer, but let yourself enjoy the way you are feeling after the massage, when your body is in a state of peaceful relaxation. Don’t take on any arduous tasks such as cleaning out your rain gutters or replacing a broken fence post for several hours after your massage…in fact, wait until the next day. Bask in the moment.