When should I get a massage?
Any time is a good time to get a massage. You don't need to wait until
you're stressed or injured. Too often we see clients who wait until they
reach this state to see us. Massage works wonders as preventive care for
a person's body and mind. Instead of waiting until your back hurts from
overwork or stress, or the headaches that start at the back of your skull
begin to pound, or the stress of every day life makes you want to pop
your cork, get a massage before these things happen. A regular massage
is a wonderful way to cope with stress, both physical and emotional,
and to keep it from causing discomfort or harm to your body.
If you've found yourself dealing with a nagging minor injury, sore muscles,
or are completely stressed out, find a massage therapist and see what s/he can do for you. First, check out the next question in the FAQ.
When should I not get a massage?
There are several contraindications for receiving a massage. If you have
any of the following conditions, you should not get a massage:
The guidelines here are pretty straightforward. You don't want the
massage to make an underlying medical condition worse, and you don't
want to pass anything contagious to the massage therapist. If you're
unsure about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from getting a
massage, contact your therapist before your appointment. If you
have a chronic medical condition, check with your doctor before proceeding
on a course of massage therapy.
For some illnesses, other bodywork modalities may work
well. If you're suffering from fibromyalgia, lupus, and other conditions,
try to find a bodyworker who has some experience with these, since they
should know what works best under certain conditions.
At your initial visit,
you will most likely be asked to fill out a client intake form. Some
of these are simple, some run for a couple pages. Not only does it
provide the massage therapist with your name, address, and phone number,
it should also have a place to list any
underlying medical conditions. The therapist should be aware of
any of these. Even if you have an allergy to something in the oil
the therapist uses, you should list this. You should be asked at
any subsequent visits about any new medical or physical conditions.
If you're not asked, volunteer that information if there is anything
the therapist should know.
What types of massage are there?
There is a wide array of bodywork modalities. The most common, and
probably the best known, is Swedish massage. If you see a movie
or television show with someone getting a massage, this is usually
what they show. The client is undressed, draped with a
towel or sheet, oil or lotion is placed on the skin, and the muscles are
kneaded, rubbed, vibrated, or tapped. Most of this FAQ will
concern itself with Swedish massage.
Esalen massage is similar to Swedish, except that usually involves
long, lengthening strokes, stretching, and rocking. Both Swedish
and Esalen massage primary body focus is with the muscles.
There are many types of Oriental bodywork, Shiatsu and acupressure
are the most common. These are often done with the client clothed,
and concentrate on applying pressure to different points of the
body. The primary body focus of these are energy meridians, and
bringing them back into balance. Practitioners of these arts
believe that an imbalance in these meridians affect the inner
organs of the body and causes illness. Some bodyworkers may
combine one of these therapies with a Swedish massage.
There are a host of other types of bodywork: cranialsacral,
myofacial release, postural or structural therapy (Rolfing,
Hellerwork, and others), Reiki,
and many, many more. They all have one goal in mind, to bring
the body's systems back into balance. The accumulation of
stress, misuse and overuse of the muscular-skeleton system,
illness, poor posture, and just the normal routines of daily
life bring the body out of balance, and some degree of
suffering ensues. All bodyworkers try to bring the client
back towards the state of natural equilibrium in their bodies. Note
that this doesn't usually happen in one session.
What is a Dry Floatation massage?
A Dry Floatation Tank is a
specially designed chamber for use with VibroAcoustic Therapy, where
sound is applied to the entire body through a dense liquid medium.
The Dry Floataton Tank is designed to isolate the client from external sensory input, such that the relaxing effects of the sound source are enhanced.
The Dry Floatation Tank supports the client's body, face up above a pool of specially formulated
salt solution. This device is different from a traditional sensory deprivation tank in that
the client's body is never exposed to direct contact with the salt solution. Since the client never touches the solution, there is no need for a shower before or after a session, no need for pumps or sterilization for the fluid.
The client is floated in a near weightless environment, and separated from the supporting solution by a patented technical fabric which prevents the salt solution from touching the body, while wicking away any body moisture from the client, allowing the client to remain dry even if sweating. Appropriate sound sources can include: ocean wave soundtracks, meditative music, and even soundtracks designed for brainwave and heart rate entrainment. Some clients really enjoy listening to Pink Floyd while watching the performance on the large screen. Tank sessions are sometimes coupled to other therapies, where the client could enjoy a Full Body Swedish Massage for an hour, then moves to the Tank for another hour of emersion relaxation.
What is VibroAcoustic Therapy?
The use of VibroAcoustic Technology provides semidirect coupling between the client and a
sound transducer. The client is vibrated by the applied mechanical energy to provide general relaxation. According to CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "a recent National Institutes of Health study of 267 hospitalized cancer patients using vibroacoustic music therapy found that those patients experienced between 49 and 61 percent reduction in pain. It seems music has transcended time to remain a potent healer."
What is not included in a therapeutic massage?
Sex. Let's get it right there out in the open. We all know that
there are tons of places that call themselves massage parlors, and
probably the last thing you'll get there is a real massage. It
is pretty obvious from the ads these places have, and the way they
present their businesses, that they are offering sex. They are not
to be confused with therapeutic massage. These massage parlors may
have licenses, they have have taken the minimum hours of training to
become a professional therapist to get that license, but massage is
not what they're selling. That's not the place to go complaining
about tight hamstrings.
Where do I find a massage therapist?
The best place to find a massage therapist is a referral from someone
else. People who are happy with their massage therapist are usually
eager to recommend them to you. Ask your friends and family,
and see who they recommend.
If nobody you know receives massage, or you're too embarrassed to
ask, there are a variety of sources. The phone book is a good place
to start. Some newspapers carry ads for massage, use the ones in the
health section, not the ones in the entertainment section. There are
a host of web sites for massage therapist listings, although there's
always a question of how up-to-date those listings are. The ABMP
(Association of Body Workers and Massage Professionals) will provide a listing of
therapists in your area, but they may restrict that list to therapists
who are members of their organization.
When you have decided on which therapist to try, give them a call.
Be aware that therapists who have their own studio, or
work from home, will not have a receptionist answering the phone. That's
normal. If they're not there, or they're with a client, they'll let
the answering machine pick up. Don't hang up because they're not answering
immediately. Leave a message, and they should call back within a few
hours most of the time, or within a day almost all the time. Ask them
about their rates, the type of massage they offer, the length of the
massage, what type of hours or days they usually work, and explain
the reason you want a massage. Just saying that you want to
treat yourself is a perfectly good reason. If it's because of soreness
or an injury, explain that too. Believe me, they'll be doing their
best to make you feel at ease already, and want you to come see
them.
The massage therapist will describe the type of massage they do. There
are therapists who practice what's often referred to as "medical massage."
They prefer to work with clients recovering from an injury or trying to
live with an underlying medical condition. They work closely with their
clients' doctors. Some, but not all, aren't interested in doing a
general stress-relief massage. If this is the case, you're better off
with someone who does, who centers their practice around using massage
as preventive care and relieving stress. Find a therapist who is more
inclined to provide the kind of massage you want.
There are massage therapists with restrictions on accepting new clients. In some
cases this is because they're booked solid with regular clients, and can
only take a few new clients. It is not uncommon for a female massage
therapist to take only female clients, or they will only take a new
male client only upon a referral from an existing client. This is because
they've been harassed too many times from men seeking sexual relief
instead of a massage from them. They don't want to deal with this
harassment anymore, or put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.
Does the gender of the massage therapist make a
difference?
The short answer is no. There is a perception that male therapists
can give a deeper massage, and in many cases this is true. I've had
massages from petite women, however, that have been deeper than massages I've
received from some men. In general, nothing about a therapist's
gender will give you a clue about the style or quality of the
massage they give.
In reality, many people are nervous about receiving a massage from
one gender or the other. Some women prefer a massage from a woman,
and some men prefer a massage from a woman. Some people are more
comfortable receiving a massage from a person of the same gender,
some from a person of the opposite gender. While no professional
wants their services refused based upon their gender, they also
realize that if you're too nervous about who is giving you the
massage, then you won't be able to relax and enjoy it.
What if I'm overweight or embarrassed about my
body?
You wouldn't believe how many times people say they'd get a
massage if they lost weight first or didn't have that cellulite on the
back of their thighs. Don't let this stop you. You're denying yourself
quite a pleasurable experience.
Massage therapists have seen bodies in every imaginable
shape and size, from young to old, and they're not there trying to judge
your physique or ogle your body. They're professionals who have found
massage to be a wonderful gift to give to men and women alike,
regardless of age and weight, and
are proud of what they can offer to people in need of help or just
wanting to luxuriate in the sense of touch.
How much will a massage cost me?
This will vary widely depending on where you live and what type of
place provides the massage. In rural areas, you could get a massage
as low as $50. I've heard of places in large cities or at resorts that
charge $200 or more. Most likely your cost will fall somewhere in the
middle of that range. Spas and resorts typically charge the most.
Expect to pay more than average on cruise ships or at expensive hotels.
Many therapists offer different prices for different lengths of massage.
A chair massage could be $1 per minute with a minimum of $10. You
can get half-hour massages in some places.
Some therapists also offer a sliding scale for those unable to afford
the regular fee. It can't hurt to ask about it. Some will barter for other
services. Many therapists offer discounts for a client's first
visit, so be sure to ask if one is available. New massage therapists
often offer a discounted rate at first so they can start building a
clientele.
What does a massage therapist's license or certification
mean?
A license means that a massage therapist has met the requirements
and paid the fee to legally practice massage in that area. In some
places the massage is regulated by the state, others are regulated by
the town or municipality. Many places have no licensing requirements.
To get a license, a massage therapist will usually have to have
a minimum hours of training at an accredited or accepted school
or training center. This varies widely, from 100 hours in some
places to over 1000 hours in others.
Certification means that the therapist has successfully passed
a specific course or test and been granted a certificate to bear out
that fact. This may range from courses in pregnancy and neo-natal
massage, to different modalities like Rolfing or Hellerwork.
There is also a written national certification test for massage
therapists, but here's the rub. Many states do not recognize the national certification.
Ask a group of massage therapists about licensing and certification,
and you'll get a neverending argument among them. Some are insistent
that licensing and certification are a necessary protection for the
public to ensure that every massage therapist has the correct
training in massage methods, ethics, contraindications of massage,
and understands all the local laws pertaining to massage in their
area. Others are just as vociferous that licensing and certification
are tools of those who would attempt to control the industry so
that they can maximize their profit from it, driving up the prices
for everyone, driving therapists out of business, and providing
no real protection for consumers. Learning facts and passing a
written test says nothing about a massage therapist's palpitation
skills, interpersonal skills, personal ethics, or anything else
that can't be measured on a written test. Some states that license
do insist on an actual evaluation massage before granting that
license.
If a jurisdiction requires licensing, it also means that a set
of laws governing massage exist. Some places still can't get out
of the mindset that massage always equals sex. Massage therapists
in these areas must have fingerprints and blood tests taken, and
might be restricted to doing business in areas zoned for adult
entertainment. Other places have laws that control nudity,
draping, and even force the consumer to use a same-sex massage
therapist. In most cases, these aren't laws that were drawn
to protect the consumer, but are anti-sex laws used in an attempt
to restrict massage parlors that are really offering sexual
services. The number of hours of education required to obtain a
license often is also used to make it difficult for sex workers to
get a massage license, not to ensure that the therapist is properly
educated.
So I'll leave it to each person to draw their own conclusion
as to what a license or certification means about any massage
therapist. The bottom line is that a good recommendation from
a therapist's clients actually says more than any piece of paper can.
What happens during a massage?
When you first arrive at the massage therapist's studio or office,
you'll be asked to fill out a client intake form. This
will give the therapist the personal information about you that will
guide them to give you the style of massage most appropriate for
you. Don't hesitate to ask questions about anything which you're unsure,
or any concerns you might have. If you're expecting something
in particular from the massage, make sure this is told to the
therapist. For example, if you've been having a lot of tightness
in your right shoulder, and you'd like some extra attention given
to it, tell the therapist. If you prefer a lighter or deeper
massage, make that preference known. The massage therapist will
discover your tight and sore areas during the massage, and will
prioritize the time spent on these areas, and may do less work
on areas that don't need as much attention. Letting the therapist
know ahead of time about these problem areas, lets them prepare
to spend some extra time there.
Once you've finished with the intake, the massage therapist will
give you some privacy to get undressed and get on the massage
table. A drape, either a sheet or towel, should be provided.
The therapist should have advised you to start the massage lying on your
stomach or on your back. If you're to start on your stomach,
there will be a cushioned doughnut-shaped device at one
end of the table. This is a face rest, and you should place
your face in there. This allows you to be face down, and
keep your shoulder and neck muscles relaxed. If you lay your
head on the table and turn it to one side, the muscles in
your neck and shoulders won't be in their relaxed state and
won't be able to receive the best benefits of the massage.
There may also be a pillow or bolster on the table. A bolster
is a padded, cylindrical device. These are to be used for
your ankles and knees. If you're lying face down, the pillow
or bolster goes under your ankles, so you're not hyperextending
your feet while lying that way for an extended period of time.
If you're lying on your back, it goes under the knees to
prevent any hyperextension of your knee joint.
Once you're undressed and under the drape, the therapist will
come back into the room. For the most part, your work is done,
and all you have to do is relax and enjoy. The therapist will
undrape the section of the body that they will work on first,
and apply oil or lotion to the skin. They will use a variety of strokes,
some rubbing, kneading, vibration, percussion, whatever they
think will work best for your muscles. Stretching, rocking, or
pressure point work may all be added. If the therapist gives
you directions for slow exhales, just follow along. If they
stretch or rotate any joint, don't try to help. Just stay
as relaxed and limp as you can and let the therapist move that part of
your body.
Every therapist has their own style of massage, strokes they
like to use on different parts of the body, and prefer to work on different
areas of the body in a particular order. One therapist may
start you on your stomach and begin the massage with your
back. Another may start you on your back and begin with
your feet. So for a first visit with any massage therapist,
don't be alarmed if their style and direction is different
from another therapist you've seen.
When the therapist finishes with one area of the body, they will
put the drape back over that part, and undrape the next
section to be massaged. At some point, you may be asked to
roll over under the drape, and the therapist will continue
with the other side of the body. When the massage is over,
you'll be left in private to get dressed again. If a towel
was used for a drape, you can wipe off any excess oil with
it. The therapist will return, and this is a good time to
tell them how you feel, if you have any concerns, settle the
bill, and make your next appointment.
What parts of my body will be massaged?
This will vary from therapist to therapist. The one area you
can be assured that won't receive any stimulation will be the
genitals. Different therapists may skip other areas of the
body, Some work only on the back side of the body. Some won't
work on the buttocks or inner thighs. Some skip the abdomen. Some won't work
anywhere in the chest area of a woman. If one area of the body
takes a lot longer than expected to massage, the therapist may
skip other areas of the body to finish within the allotted time.
There are different reasons why some massage therapists skip
different areas of the body. For some it may just allow them
to concentrate on areas of the body that are typically the
areas that need the most work. They would rather give fuller
attention to these areas and not do areas that usually are
not a problem for most people.
Some therapists would rather not work on areas of the body,
either out of their own discomfort with those areas, or not
wanting to provoke any discomfort in a client by working on
those areas. You must respect the therapist's decision not
to work on those areas. If you would prefer these areas to
receive some massage, you can ask the therapist to do so,
and they may agree.
Some therapists will ask you during the intake if you have
any areas of your body that you would prefer not to be
massaged. This may be verbal or you might have to check
off areas of the body on a chart on the intake form. The
therapist will respect your wishes.
Should you request that any part of your body not be massaged?
This is another area where the answer is not so easy. A
person getting massaged should be relaxed. If anything
during the massage causes them to tighten their muscles,
than the benefits from the massage won't be obtained. So
if having your buttocks massaged makes you suddenly steel
every muscle in your body, then massaging this area is
a waste of time. On the other hand, the body is one
interconnected organism. Even though you may feel
discomfort in one part of your body before a massage,
the cause of the problem may rest in a different area
of the body. Overcompensation for an ache or nagging
injury by limping, walking differently, or carrying
yourself other than your normal way
will cause muscles throughout the body to suffer.
To reap the most benefits from a massage, all areas
should be addressed. Skipping an area like the
buttocks will ignore all the large and important
muscles in that area that connect the torso to
the lower limbs.
A massage therapist has seen and massaged hundreds or
thousands of different bodies. They won't get excited
seeing or massaging any part of your body. You'll find
that even on parts of your body you might be nervous about
having touched, that the therapist will use the same
sure, confident strokes that they've used everywhere
else. Numerous times I've started on a new client's buttocks,
and felt a small twinge of nervousness from them as I did, but by
the time I was finished with it, they were relaxed, and
often made the comment that they didn't realize they
were sore there.
The other area besides the buttocks that cause a lot of
nervousness is working around a women's breasts. Some therapists
skip this area completely so as not to make the client nervous.
Others work the pectoralis muscles (your pecs) above the breast,
and sometimes to the side of the breast near the armpit. They
keep as much of the breast draped as possible while working
these areas. Again, it can be an important area, especially
if you have upper back problems. Tightness in the chest muscles
can affect the muscles in the upper back. The same caveat
applies, though, that if you cease to be relaxed because this
area is being worked, then the benefits of the massage will
be lost.
As a general rule, just try to stay relaxed as much as possible
during a massage. If it's your first massage, and you suddenly
find yourself nervous as the therapist moves to a new area,
just try to make your mind float and enjoy the feeling of
having the stress worked out the muscles there. As you see
more of the therapist in future visits, your nervousness
about these areas will probably go away pretty quickly as
you come to trust their strokes and professional approach
to their work.
Do I have to be completely undressed?
You should undress to your comfort level. The massage therapist
will work around the clothes left on the best they can. You should
realize that this may mean that certain areas of the body may not
be massaged at all, or may only receive minimal work there. I suggest
to my clients that they be completely undressed under the drape, but
they should leave on whatever clothes are necessary for them to
be relaxed during the massage. If removing all your clothes makes
you too nervous and unable to relax, then receiving a massage
that way won't allow you to obtain the optimal benefits from it.
The pieces of clothing left on the most often are either panties or
boxer shorts. Certain styles of panties will allow access to most
muscles in the buttocks if they are moved slightly. Boxers and
panties that come over the bottom of the buttocks usually mean
that no work will be done in that area. Some women wear thong
panties to a massage. It allows the therapist access to all
of the major buttock muscles, and also allows them the comfort
and modesty they prefer.
Some therapists will insist that you leave on your panties or underwear.
This will be for the therapist's own comfort level, and in
some cases is required by law.
Do I have to use a towel or sheet as a drape?
This again depends on the therapist. I think the vast majority
of therapists will insist on draping. In some cases, it's
required by law. The key is that you should always have the
option to be draped. A drape should be available when you undress.
For those of you who would prefer not to use the drape, check with
your therapist first.
If the therapist insists on draping, accept it and comply.
It's essential to build a bond of
trust between the therapist and the client. Neither should
be forced to exceed their own comfort level during the
massage. The key to all facets of massage is relaxation,
and if the client or the therapist is uncomfortable, the
benefits of the massage will be lost.
You should also be aware of your reasons for wanting to
be undraped. If it's just a level of comfort with your
own nudity, the feeling of freedom unencumbered by the
drape, those are valid reasons for preferring an undraped
massage. If you want to be undraped to put your genitals
on display with the hopes that it will foster a sexual
atmosphere in the room, then you're not even approaching
the massage experience in the right frame of mind. It's
too many people using this latter excuse for not wanting
a drape that has most therapists unwilling to allow it.
One more draping issue again concerns a woman's breasts.
When a woman is lying on her back, and the therapist is
ready to work on her abdominal muscles, lowering the
drape to expose the stomach also exposes the breasts.
This is easily remedied by providing a second towel to
cover the breasts. Many therapists will insist on this
second towel to cover the breasts, for either their own
comfort level, or to ensure the client's comfort level.
Others will offer the option to the woman to use the
second towel to cover their breasts and leave the choice
up to them.
Can I talk during a massage?
The key to a massage is relaxation and allowing yourself to
enjoy the experience. Many therapists will discourage you
from talking during the massage. They want you to relax,
to just let your mind float free, and let the massage
transport you to an almost subconscious bliss. It's not
uncommon for many people to be more relaxed talking. After
all, they're lying undressed on a table with a stranger
touching their skin. Talking makes the therapist
become more human and personal to them, and having this
interaction makes it easier for them to place their trust
in the therapist, and therefore make it easier for them to
relax. Many clients talk in the initial stages of a massage,
and as the massage progresses, they slip farther into a
state of total relaxation and become quiet.
There are times when you should speak up during a massage.
If anything makes you uncomfortable, bring it to the
therapist's attention. If you're too cold or too hot,
the room is too bright and hard on your eyes, or if you
prefer the strokes to be deeper or lighter, mention it
to the therapist. Bear in mind that some therapists only
do a light massage, so they may not go deeper even if
you request it. It is just not their style of massage.
Feel free to speak up, if something about
the massage isn't working for you.
Will a massage hurt?
That depends on the type of massage and the depth of the
strokes. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep into
muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light massage
won't be able to work out any stress that's deep within
those muscles. A muscle that
is relaxed will be supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed.
Muscles that are tight, and in many
cases have been chronically tight for a long time, may have
that "good hurt" feeling with a deeper massage. Think of
that "good hurt" as the feeling you get when you stretch a
sore muscle during exercise or a yawn. Muscles can be
very sore from overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can
become painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that
has been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this
case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this area.
A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some
residual soreness the next day.
Everybody has different thresholds of pain. The depth of a
stroke may not be deep enough for one person's liking and may
cause pain for another. Some people want the massage as
deep as possible regardless of the soreness. Others want
something much lighter, more sensual and pleasing, to help
them relax rather than deeper work that might be sore. So make
your preference known to the therapist, and give feedback
at any time during a massage that the depth of the strokes
is more than you'd like.
What if a massage wasn't quite what I wanted?
Every massage therapist has their own style, their own approach to
massage, the strokes they like to use, and the depth they like to work.
Some prefer a more clinical approach, some a more personal approach.
Not every client clicks with every massage therapist. The key is to
find one who can deliver the type of massage you like best. When you
find one you like, stick with them and sing their praises.
I've had many massages over the years from both men and women. Some have
been astoundingly good, others just so-so. Some have skipped areas that
I would have would have preferred to have been massaged. Others have
had a quiet, impersonal approach and I prefer it the other way around.
This doesn't mean they've given you a bad massage, or that you haven't
reaped any benefits from it, just that it wasn't quite what you're looking
for. This is one reason why personal recommendations from friends and
family can be so valuable. You can get a good sense of the therapist's
style from them, and know how well it matches your expectations before
you visit them.
How often should I receive a massage?
The answer here depends on the reasons for receiving the massage.
If a client comes for some injury relief, and to relieve chronic
tightness that is interfering with their daily lives in some way,
weekly sessions may be necessary for a while to build on each
session's improvement in their relief and healing. For those who
use massage as preventive care and managing the daily stress in
their lives, once a month is about the norm. They may shorten
the time between massages during stressful periods. Some come
more often just because they enjoy it that much.
For most people, the frequency of the massages they receive is
limited by their pocketbook. It's an unfortunate fact, but once
many people realize the benefits it provides them, and the pleasure
they receive from it, they find a way to incorporate a regular
session into their budget.
© since 2004 by Gary D. Hampton, LMT, et al
all rights reversed .... uh, reserved.
Contact via phone: 817-366-5574
or email: gary@RadioFreeTEXAS.com
Click the MapQuest map for directions to our clinic
