10 Things to Know Before Booking Your Massage |
Posted: August 8, 2022 |
IntroductionSo you’re all ready to relax with a well-deserved session of massage therapy. The only thing is, you’re not exactly sure how things are supposed to happen. What should you ask for, and what about clothing and disrobing? Do you tip your therapist? Your massage session should be relaxing and soothing, not fraught with awkwardness and confusion. To help you feel more comfortable and get the most out of your massage, here are 10 essential etiquette tips to familiarise yourself with before your appointment. 1. Arrive on timeRespect the massage therapist’s schedule by arriving on time. You might need to arrive 15 minutes early to complete paperwork if you’re a new customer. In the case where you’re a regular, arriving 5 to 10 minutes before your appointment is a good idea so you can start on time having had a moment to unwind in the waiting room. Moreover, you should use the bathroom right before so you’re not needing to go during your massage. Check when making the appointment as to how early you should arrive. 2. Be hygienicTake a shower and wear a fresh change of clothing for your massage session. Consider your massage therapist, who’ll be placing their hands all over your body. Your feet, hands, nails, hair, and skin should be as clean as possible, so a good rule is to ask yourself whether you would want to touch you. 3. Avoid smoking and scentsSimilarly, avoid smoking and using artificial fragrances before your appointment. Smokers’ breath can expose toxins to your massage therapist and affect their health. Artificial fragrances, in the same way, can affect the air quality in the massage room and even affect the experience of the next customer. This applies to the lotions and creams you apply to your skin as well. 4. Turn off your phoneYour massage is about relaxation. Disruptions like noisy phones can compromise your experience and distract the therapist from doing their best work. Keep your phone turned off so you and your therapist aren’t interrupted by text notifications, calls, and alarms going off. 5. Reschedule if you have a coldReschedule your session if you have a cold or are otherwise sick. Don’t expose your massage therapist to your infection. Furthermore, you won’t be able to get the most out of your massage when you’re sick anyway. Whether it’s a runny nose, headache, or fever, if you have symptoms, cancel and reschedule for another time. 6. ClothingIn most cases, the massage therapist will ask you to disrobe to the level you feel comfortable with. This means you should keep your underwear on if you want to, or disrobe completely if that feels fine for you. They will cover you with a sheet for the session and uncover you only where you’re being worked on. However, keep in mind your underwear, especially your bra, might impact how effectively they can apply massage techniques to different areas of your body. Some clinics will offer disposable underwear to prevent clients from getting oil stains on their clothing. The therapist will leave the room for you to disrobe and get under the sheet before returning for the session. 7. TippingYou can tip your massage therapist for their great service if you want to. An appropriate tip could be anywhere between 15% to 20%. Keep in mind some medical or clinical settings may not accept tips for massages. If you have any doubts, call ahead and ask beforehand. 8. CommunicateIn all cases, feel free to speak freely during your massage session about what you like and don’t like. As a general rule, massage therapists are trained experts in techniques like soft tissue manipulation, deep tissue massage, and stretching. However, they can’t read your mind. If the massage therapist is applying too much pressure, let them know right away and be very direct. Discomfort and pain shouldn’t be part of your massage session. If you don’t speak up, your massage therapist won’t know how to adjust things to make your experience enjoyable, in addition to ensuring you get all the potential health benefits from your session. As for conversation, it’s fine to talk to your therapist. However, they will tend to stay quiet during the session and keep their responses short, as it’s about relaxation and the massage work. If you want to stay completely silent, that’s fine too. If you’re so relaxed you find yourself falling asleep, rest assured this is common and perfectly okay! 9. Use respectful terminologyAvoid terminology that could be offensive to your massage therapist. Some therapists don’t like the word masseuse as the latter may imply they provide sexual services. The massage table is a table, not a bed. Similarly, it’s a massage clinic, practice, or spa rather than a massage parlour. Again, massage parlour implies they provide sexual services. 10. Dealing with awkward momentsIn general, eating lightly one to two hours before your appointment is a good idea. However, if you need to pass gas, don’t hold it in. Massage therapists understand it’s a natural part of being relaxed. Likewise, getting an erection can be common for men if they’re relaxed and being touched. A professional massage therapist will be understanding and just ignore it. At the same time, avoid joking about sex and making inappropriate offers. ConclusionWhen it comes down to it, it’s your massage and you’re a paying customer. Getting to know the general rules and etiquette gives you an understanding of the context. It means you’ll be more confident and have a better chance to get what you’re looking for out of the massage. Arrive a little early and avoid smoking and wearing heavy artificial scents. Be respectful and communicative about what you want and don’t want. Assist the therapist in doing their best work, and you’ll be likely to end up with the enjoyable, relaxing massage session you’re looking for.
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