Welcome! I’m delighted you decided to get your first massage. It can be a wonderful experience because it gives you the opportunity to discover yourself in new and amazing ways.
Your body is full of magic, relaxation and vitality, joy and peace. Knowing how to receive a massage makes all these available to you starting with your very first professional massage.
Over the past 30 years, my clients have told me they have never had the kind of care I put into my massages, especially the First visit. I believe that’s because many other massage therapists, working for someone else, don’t have the luxury of time to give the highest level of care to their clients. The initial consultation I do has always been part of my format, when I had a team practice as well as when I’m operating solo. This gives us the opportunity to not leave a good massage to chance, for me to learn your physical history, and where you see your physical future – what you want to be doing with your body moving forward, so that we can design the best massage possible in this middle moment and you can feel relaxed not only during the massage but well after, as well.
Whether you end up booking with me or not, please familiarize yourself with what my clients tell me other massage therapists don’t tell them, but I think they wish they would. If they did, they could have avoided uncomfortable or even painful experiences with massage that they ended up paying their hard earned money for.
The first thing it’s important to know is Your Rights in receiving a massage.
- You have the right to stop the session at any time. It’s your body. Your time. Your money. If the therapist does not adjust pressure (lighter or deeper) to your satisfaction, especially after several requests, you may say, “I think I’m done now” and end the session without expectation of retaliation.
- You have the right to ask for your money back if you don’t get what you need in adjusting pressure, time spent on an area or any other part of your professional therapeutic massage experience, especially after several requests.
- You have the right to ask for only specific areas to be worked on in a professional massage, as well as areas to be avoided, instead of having a full body massage, and have those requests fulfilled.
- You have the right to request the therapist let you know what they’re going to do before they do it. Managing this expectation can make it easier for your body to relax and stress less.
- You have the right to request oil or lotion used or not used.
- You have the right to move your body in any way necessary to get more comfortable within the scope of a professional massage. It’s still your body. You don’t just have to lay down and take it. Well, if you’re getting a table massage you will be laying down… But if you’re uncomfortable adjust yourself until you are comfortable! Or ask for supports to help you be more comfortable.
- You have the right to receive bodywork in a way that works for you. You don’t have to lay down with your face in the cradle at all. Some face-down time makes some techniques easier to do, but skilled therapists can work around that with you either side-lying and supine (on your spine).
- You have the right to request adjustments to the environment; heat, light, sound (music), therapist’s talking…
- You have the right to trust yourself when your body says “that’s too much” or “that’s a little uncomfortable.” Please share this information with your therapist so they have the chance to adjust what they’re doing to really help you relax.
Does this leave you with questions or concerns? Please let me know so I can address them. You’re probably not the only one thinking those things. 🙂
