7 Things Your Massage Therapist Wants You to Know

I have massaged a lot of people over 25 years. I have been fortunate to only deal with a handful of not-so-nice people. After all these years, here’s a quick primer on massage therapy etiquette and the answers to the questions clients ask me the most.

It’s OK Not to Shave Your Legs

Really, it’s okay unless you have razor like stubble which I have come across once in my career.  I’m guilty as much as the next person of saying “Oops, I forgot to shave!” when I get a massage. Don’t sweat it, it really doesn’t matter to your Massage Therapist.

If you are a very hairy gent, it’s okay.  Understand that we will have to use twice as much oil/cream when working on you.  Hair causes friction and it hurts our very sensitive hands if we don’t use enough lubricant.  If we don’t use enough lubricant your hair will mat up and pull and it won’t be a pleasant massage for either of us. Yes, I said lubricant.

Go Commando

While I’m still laughing over the word lubricant, let’s get into the nudie parts.  I don’t want to see any more of you than is completely necessary.  Not that I don’t love you.  I do. Your body is beautiful, one part at a time.  What this means is – as I am working on your leg, the rest of you will be covered. Working on your back? You are covered from the waist down.  When you turn over, I will hold the blanket and sheet up for your modesty and I also have my eyes trained on the door.

Unless you are super modest, please go commando.  Your hips and lower back will be one of the main areas I work on.  It’s more difficult when I have to move undies up, down, around and inevitably give you a wedgie.  As always if you are ever uncomfortable with anything I (or any LMT) do in a massage, let us know.

Don’t Moan Incessantly

Just don’t.  While a few little “Wow, this is great” or “You are hitting the spot” moans are okay, incessant moaning is just creepy.  I had a gent once that moaned the ENTIRE time.  Nope. Don’t do it.

We Need Your Medical History.  Really.

We do.  If you have high blood pressure, I may not want to do all the heat modalities.  I need to know about those C-sections for diastasis recti, surgeries, accidents, allergies, headaches, all that.  I need to know so I can spot patterns and hopefully help you beyond just relaxation or a tight muscle.

They Aren’t Knots

Those nasty muscles that are tight or go thump as I move over them aren’t knots.  They are contracted tissue, they are inflamed muscles, they can be metabolic waste around a trigger point but your muscles don’t get knots. This article goes more indepth.  Scar tissue, hardened tissue from stress or dehydration is possible, too. They can be many things but your muscles don’t tie into a knot.

We’ll Give You Our Recommendations at the End

Sometimes people want a play-by-play of their injuries and what the opinion of your problems are.  Some therapists are cool with that.  I’m certainly happy to do it, but it’s probably better to wait until we are done for a synopsis because…

Do Our Homework

Massage Therapists will have things we want you to do at home.  Massage is great, it’s fabulous! But we have a limited time with you.  Even if you come for a 2 hour massage once a week, there’s another 166 hours in that week that need to be addressed.  We are only as good as the enthusiasm the client has for getting well. If you leave after your 2 hour massage and do nothing to support our efforts, well, you just left your money on the table so to speak.  Stretches, computer workstation modifications and support products are just a few of the things that will help you at home.

I am ever so slowly getting classes and videos together for online support.  Put your name and email in at the green box, under Nurture/ Nourish/ Revitalize on my website and I’ll get you on the list for roll outs of stretching videos, beta groups and the like.

If you have any topics you’d like covered, feel free to contact me.  Enjoy your massage!