Your Guide to Massage Etiquette
If you’ve never gotten a massage before, you may not know what to expect or how to behave. It’s a strange experience when observed from a far. It boasts a ton of benefits for your health and wellness, but the bare bones reality of the situation is that you lay on a table naked while someone you’ve never met before rubs your body. It’s okay to feel a little nervous and have some questions.
Knowing what to expect and understanding proper etiquette for the situation will make it seem a little less strange or awkward for a massage newbie. Plenty of people enjoy massages and get them regularly. You’re about to become one of them.
Find the Right Massage Therapist
You’re not going to have a great experience if you go to someone who calls themselves a massage therapist but is not actually a massage therapist. Massage therapists require licenses to operate, and so do facilities that provide massage therapy. Make sure everyone is above board before you book an appointment.
Reputable establishments will have websites and reviews. You can check their licensing before you decide to work with someone. Choose a massage therapist based on their qualifications and professional bio. You might also want to choose them based on their areas of expertise. You need a specific kind of massage, such as one for injury rehabilitation, pick someone who is experienced in delivering that kind of massage.
Prepare for Your Appointment
A massage is an up close and personal experience. You want to make sure you take a very thorough shower before a massage. Don’t schedule a massage right after a gym session or at the end of a long work day when you may be dirty or sweaty. It’s very impolite to your massage therapist, and you don’t want to feel embarrassed about your hygiene while you’re on the table.
Arrive a Little Early
You may need to full out paperwork before your appointment. Even if you don’t, you should still plan to arrive early. The earlier you arrive, the earlier your appointment can start. Massages are always timed sessions. If you run late, you cut into everyone else’s time. You don’t want your massage therapist to have to rush to treat you during what is supposed to be a relaxing experience. You also don’t want that rush to spill over to the next person who showed up on time.
Yes, Nude Does Mean Nude
Massage therapists ask you to disrobe and lay under a thin sheet. They ask this for multiple reasons. Your clothing and undergarments restrict your massage therapist’s access to many muscle groups they’ll need to address. If they attempt to work through your clothes, the friction of the fabric rubbing against your skin will cause unnecessary friction that can lead to a burning sensation or broken skin.
If you absolutely must wear undergarments, thong style underwear are less likely to get in the way during your massage. Ask your massage therapist if he or she will be able to provide the right kind of treatment with your undergarment in place.
These rules won’t necessarily apply to everyone. If you’re seeing a massage therapist to work on a calf you injured or strained while running, you might be able to wear your regular clothes and a pair of shorts. Your massage therapist only needs uncomplicated access to a single muscle.
Save Lunch for Afterwards
Massage stimulates all of the systems in your body. If you’re full of food before your massage, your digestion will be heavily stimulated. So what’s the problem? Well, rapid digestion can cause gas. A lot of gas. And you may be highly flatulent throughout the massage if you’ve eaten first. If you’ve had a lot of liquid to drink before your massage, you may feel tempted to interrupt your session with frequent bathroom breaks. This disrupts the time and flow of your appointment.
Treat yourself to lunch after your massage. You’ll be in a great mood. Your food will taste better. You’ll be ready to chow down on something healthy. If you’re feeling a little gassy, you can be gassy in private.
Communicate Well
If your massage hurts, if it isn’t addressing the right muscle, or if you feel the pressure is too light to be effective, you need to say something. Your massage therapist knows the general principles of massage and the way they human body works, but they don’t know how your muscles feel to you. They aren’t familiar with your pain tolerance, and they aren’t always able to pinpoint the exact location of an ache or a pain.
Communication is vital for having your needs addressed during your massage. Never feel like you’re being difficult or ungrateful for requesting that your massage therapist do something differently. You’re paying for a massage, and your massage therapist wants you to get what you paid for. If you’re happy with the service you received, you’ll come back. Everyone wins when you’re vocal.
Tip for Great Service
The price you pay for your massage does not include a tip for the massage therapist who ultimately provided the service. Plan to tip 15% for good service and 20% for great service. If your massage therapist really goes above and beyond for you, consider a 25% tip. The rules are the same as tipping for a meal out.
You may be able to add a gratuity to your receipt when you pay by card. Just in case you can’t, it helps to have some cash handy. Your massage therapist will appreciate having a cash tip immediately available to them.
The Takeaway
After you get your first massage, you’ll see that it isn’t that big of a deal. There’s nothing to be nervous or feel awkward about, and you’ll leave feeling so much better than you did when you came in. You might enjoy the experience so much that you decide to book your next appointment before you leave. Plan to go every few weeks to maintain your wellness.