At the end of a long, tiring day at work, nothing beats the feeling of being under the ministrations of a massage therapist. As the masseur’s or masseuse’s expert hands soothe away the aches and pains in your muscles, you will be utterly relaxed. There are some who regularly book massage appointments as a way to pamper themselves. However, there are others who do not take advantage of such luxuries simply because they do not know what to expect or how to behave when getting a massage. You are definitely missing out on a lot of by skipping this type of a personal pampering. To help you out, we will be dishing out tips on what to do and what to expect before, during and after a massage session.
Massage Etiquette
Here is a quick guide on what you can do before, during and after a massage appointment:
- What to do before the massage.
Learn how to book the services of a professional massage therapist in the first place. Get referrals from friends or simply go online and look for a day spa where you can book an appointment for a massage. On the day of your appointment, make sure to arrive on time. Being a few minutes early is even better, because there might be some forms that you need to fill out if you are a new client at an establishment.
If you think that massages can double up as a bathing or cleansing session, think again. Unfortunately for some massage therapists, there are clients who arrive for a massage appointment straight from the gym so they come in all sweaty and smelly. Do your massage therapist a favor and take a quick shower prior to your appointment. Remember that the therapist will have to run his or her hands all over your body, so being hygienic is simply the polite thing to do. If you have allergic reactions to creams, fragrances or oils, let the therapist know.
- Proper etiquette while getting a massage.
If it is your first time getting a massage, you might not feel comfortable taking all your clothes off. This is perfectly fine – just remember that the therapist can only work on the parts of your body which are exposed. Never expect anything more than a professional massage. It’s fine to have a quick chat with the masseur or masseuse, just steer clear of off-color jokes or mix your conversation with sexual undertones. It’s perfectly fine to let the therapist know when a stroke feels good or when it hurts. If you think that the massage is too hard, speak up so that the therapist can ease up and apply lighter strokes to your body.
- What to do after the massage.
After the massage, you will be given some privacy by the therapist to put your clothes back on. Do not linger too long because another client might be using the same room. Finally, be generous when it comes to tipping the massage therapist. Generally, 10% to 20% of the total cost of the massage can be considered a good tip. The only exception is if there is a post reminding clients that therapists should not be given tips, in which case you should follow suit.
There’s really no reason why you should deny yourself the pleasure and relaxation of a professional massage. Now that you know what to expect before, during and after the session, book an appointment to ease those aches and pains away!