Those who haven’t tried booking a massage therapy session yet might feel intimidated at the thought of disrobing in front of a total stranger, and having their bodies touched intimately. But if you belong to the group of people who have yet to try getting a massage, you are definitely missing out on a lot.
Let’s say that you had a very long day at work and your muscles are all knotted from tension and stress. By simply booking a one-hour massage session with a professional therapist, you will experience utmost relaxation and stress relief. The knots on those muscles will be worked on by the skilful hands of the masseur or masseuse. The therapist can also give you tips on how to improve your posture so that your muscles will be not as tense. They can even detect some of the health problems that you might have after a thorough massage session. More importantly, you can let all the stress in your body melt away.
Things to Remember when Getting a Massage
Perhaps the only thing that’s preventing you from trying to have a full massage experience is the fact that you do now know what to expect. To help you out, here is a list of the top things to remember when getting a massage – whether it’s your first time to have one, or if it has been a long time since you have yourself such a pampering experience:
• The massage is performed by a professional.
All professional massage therapists underwent schooling and training. There are referral service websites that you can visit so that you can book the services of professional massage therapists near your area. Some websites have online referral service and all their therapists are members of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals.
• It takes place in a comfortable, quiet room.
Relaxation is the primary purpose of a massage, so you will be led to a quiet, clean, and comfortable room where the therapy will be held.
• During the massage, only the area being worked on will be exposed.
Most first-time massage clients get conscious about their bodies. Don’t worry because massage therapists have seen it all. They do provide clients the courtesy to leave the room while you’re undressing. Only the part of your body that is being worked on will be exposed, and there’s a towel to be draped on sensitive parts of your body if you prefer to be unclothed during the entire session. You can undress depending on your level of comfort, although too much clothing might hinder the work of the therapist when unknotting the stress from your muscles.
• There are several techniques used in massage therapy.
Deep tissue, Shiatsu, Swedish, Thai – there are a lot of different techniques used in massage therapy. If you have no idea which one to choose, you can ask the therapist, who will in turn recommend a technique based on his or her expertise.
• It’s entirely up to you to decide how long the massage therapy will last.
Massage sessions can last anywhere from as little as 15 minutes, to as long as 30 to 90 minutes for a full-body massage. Make sure to inform the therapist beforehand so that you would know what to expect in terms of duration.
• There are plenty of health and relaxation benefits that you can enjoy from a professional massage.
Aside from stress relief, massages can bring about plenty of health benefits. It can help flush out the harmful toxins from your body. It can also help improve circulation, increase the flexibility of the joints, promote faster healing, improve posture, and even reduce blood pressure. If you have an underlying medical condition, make sure to inform the therapist about it so that he or she can adjust the techniques accordingly. There are also cases when you might need the approval from a doctor before you can get a full body massage.
Even if you’re a first timer, you should never miss the opportunity to experience the health and relaxation benefits of a massage from a professional therapist.