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Thursday, 15 May 2008
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What is exactly is Massage Therapy?
What are the key benefits of Massage Therapy?
Do I have to take my clothes off?
Will it hurt?
Are there any preparations I need to make before my appointment?
What can I expect when I go for a massage appointment?
What if I am uncomfortable with my body?
Does the gender of the massage therapist make a difference?
I bruise easily, can I still get a massage?
Am I expected to talk during the massage?
Should I Stretch before and after exercising?
Do I tip?
What is not included in a therapeutic massage?
What if a massage wasn't quite what I wanted?
When should I not get a massage?
What is exactly is Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy spans a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, working to improve an individual's health and well being through hands - on manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the body.
What are the key benefits of Massage Therapy?
Massage therapy relieves pain, reduces stress, renews energy, increases flexibility and mobility, facilitates postural alignment, helps heal wounds (physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual), strengthens the immune system, helps people reconnect with their inner self, improves circulation, helps eliminate toxins, improves sports performance, optimizes the benefits of other health care providers (eg. chiropractic, physician, acupuncturist) and helps in the maintainence of health, vitality and wellbeing.
Do I have to take my clothes off?
Whatever you are comfortable with. Some people choose to undress completely whilst others keep undergarments on. Throughout the massage you will be covered by a sheet and the massage therapist will only undrape that area of your body to be worked on at the time. No clothes need to be removed for certain massage techiques (eg.acupressure).
Will it hurt?
It depends on the type of therapy and what kinds of problems you have. A general relaxation massage (swedish) should not hurt. Shiatsu/acupuressure may access painful points and any therapy that directly addresses myofascial problems (eg. Deep Tissue, Trigger Point) may be painful when treating problem areas. However, most clients describe such feelings as "hurting in a good way" . A good massage therapist pays careful attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues from their client so as they know how deep to go. It is important that you let your massage therapist know if you are feeling any discomfort throughout the massage.
Are there any preparations I need to make before my appointment?
It is best to not eat for at least 90 minutes before your massage treatment. And only a lite meal at that time.
This is a similar process to swimming or a work out when your body will take all the blood away from the digestion process and take it to the working peripheral tissues therefore causing poor digestion and possible discomfort.
What can I expect when I go for a massage appointment?
On your first visit you will complete a confidential health history form. Your therapist will go over your health history form with you.
What if I am uncomfortable with my body?
It is possible to work on a client who is dressed. So just let your therapist know your comfort level.
Does the gender of the massage therapist make a difference?
This is an issue of personal preference.
I bruise easily, can I still get a massage?
It is important to let your massage therapist know (this should be asked on the health history form you will asked to fill out on your first visit). Massage therapy is not recommended for people who suffer from hemophilia.
Am I expected to talk during the massage?
If you wish to have silence, you should say so at the beginning of the treatment. The therapist may, however, require verbal information pertinent to health findings during the treatment.
Should I Stretch before and after exercising?
Yes you should do both:
- After a 5 minute warm up as simple as marching on the spot to get the blood circulating through your muscles you can start your stretching routine safely. Hold each stretch 20 to 30 seconds and breath deeply. No bouncing and no pain.
- After your work out and cool down you do your stretches all again with not pain.
Do I tip?
Tipping is entirely at the discretion of the client. Many clients do tip, and the the average percentage is 15-20%.
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.
Many phone books have listings for therapeutic massage, and most of the people or businesses listed there are serious bodyworkers, not prostitutes. If you're unsure, make the call and ask. They will be up front with you about what not to expect from the massage. Most practitioners of therapeutic massage call themselves massage therapists, because the titles masseur and masseuse have sexual connotations associated with massage parlors. Massage therapists work out of their studios or offices, not parlors.
Don't even think about going to a serious bodyworker under the guise of wanting a therapeutic massage, and expect something sexual to happen. Don't ooh and aah and grind your hips into the table thinking they'll take pity on you and get you off. Don't think because they might catch sight of your genitals that they'll be unable to resist you. Don't ask for anything inappropriate, or indicate that you want sex in any way. Trust me, they can tell if that's what you're after. If you insist on any inappropriate behavior, the therapist is likely to end the session immediately, and you'll be required to pay the full price whether the massage lasted two minutes or an hour. Don't whine, "My penis is a muscle too!" or "I'd be even more relaxed after an orgasm!" Those won't get you anywhere but out the door, and other massage therapists in the area will be warned about you.
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.
When should I not get a massage?
If you have any of the following conditions, you should not get a massage:
- Fever
- Any type of infectious disease
- Systemic infections
- Severe cold
- Fracture, bleeding, burns or other acute injury
- Liver and kidney diseases
- Blood clot
- Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia
- High blood pressure (unless under control with medication)
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Open skin lesions or sores (therapist may work around them if localized)
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, call 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.
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