What To Expect From Your First Massage

So, you are getting your first massage and want to know what to expect! As the time nears you might feel uncertain or have questions about the whole massage procedure. Do I have to undress in front of a stranger? Will it hurt?  This is something you haven't experienced before, so there is that fear of the unknown.  A good massage therapist can help to put you at ease and show you just how beneficial and relaxing your first massage can be. With your massage therapist there is no need to feel self-conscious about perceived body imperfections.  Your therapist is there to help you, not judge you in any way. 

 Things To Expect When You Get Your First Massage (Or your 100th!):

• It's good to arrive about 10-15 minutes before your appointment time to fill out information forms. These forms are often minimal and similar to basic medical history forms, just so the therapist can have an overview of your health and be made aware of any conditions such as allergies to products or any other challenges.  You also don't want to arrive after your appointment time, as you will still have to take the time to fill out the forms, and this can cut into those precious minutes that should be for your massage.  You don't want to short-change yourself by arriving late.
 
• Your therapist will then take you to a treatment room. Here, you'll discuss the issues you noted in your form and let your therapist know if there are any areas that are bothering you where you would like them to focus with the massage. Also, let your therapist know if there are any areas you would like them to avoid.  Ex: If you have extremely ticklish feet just let your therapist know you would like to have your feet omitted.  This information is always valuable to your therapist.  It's better to let them know ahead of time than to "suffer" through having your feet tickled for any length of time.
 
• Now you are ready for your massage to get underway!  Your massage therapist will step out of the room and let you get on the massage table.  Undress to your comfort level and get on the table under the sheet and possibly a blanket also.  It's fine to take everything off, since the only area that will be uncovered is the area being massaged at any specific time.  The rest of your body will be draped and covered for your modesty and warmth.  If you feel more comfortable leaving your underwear on, then feel free to do so.  Your massage therapist will instruct you whether to get on the table face up or face down.  They will give you time to get on the table and relax a moment before they give you a knock on the door to see if you are ready.
   
• During your massage, feel free to let your massage therapist know if anything is ever uncomfortable or hurts in any way.  If the pressure is too much, just ask them to use a little bit less pressure. In the same token, also let them know if you would like more pressure.  Although a lot of conversation is not necessary, make sure you communicate if you would like anything changed.  This is your time to relax and enjoy, and your therapist wants you to get the most out of it. 
   
• You can also respectfully voice your opinion about other factors that might affect your comfort during the massage, such as music volume or the temperature of the room. 
     
• At the end of your massage, your therapist will again leave the room and allow you to get up off the table and get dressed.  You will not want to just jump up in a hurry and rush to get dressed.  Take your time while getting up.  You may even feel a little sleepy or light headed.  This is perfectly normal as your body adjusts to the massage work you have just received. 
 
• Once you are dressed and ready to come back to reality, your massage therapist will most likely bring you some water and show you to a waiting area or the front desk area where you can pay for your massage.  Feel free to include a gratuity to show appreciation to your therapist.  Many people are not sure how much gratuity to give, but 15-20% is a good guideline.  After a massage, you may feel sore or achy from toxins being released.   Make sure you drink plenty of water and relax the rest of the day if you can.  Any soreness you experience should be quite temporary and can be eased by taking a bath with Epsom salts when you get home. Your therapist may offer you strategies to soothe soreness, like using a heating pad. 

**Massage may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant may be advised to adapt their massages or limit them in certain stages of the pregnancy as a precaution. Also,  people with burns, fractures, and other wounds and medical conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis) are also cautioned. You may want to speak to your doctor before scheduling a session.

Please bookmark my site so you can come back and post a comment about how you liked your first massage!

I hope that reading this will put all of your fears to rest.  Now that you know what to expect from your first massage, relax and enjoy!

Tools That Make Life Easier For A Massage Therapist

It seems that within the massage therapy product industry there are a great deal of people trying to invent the perfect gadget or gimmick to sell to massage therapists. In the past, I have always resisted even trying these for a couple of reasons. First, I didn't want to have to interrupt the flow of my massage to grab a gadget. I also didn't want to take away from the power of healing touch. I just happened to stumble across the Thumbby when I was at my local supply store to stock up on lotions and oils. I always take a look around to see what's new in the store. When I picked up the Thumbby it just felt good in my hand. I started asking the store owner about it and how it was to be used. He gave me a brief explanation of all of it's features, and I decided to try it. Since I didn't have a client to try it on when I got home, I decided to try it on myself. I think it's so cool how it sticks to a smooth surface and can be placed where you need it. So there I was, with my Thumbby stuck to the refrigerator, leaning back on it with my shoulders to hit those spots that all massage therapists need work on. I was amazed at how effective this was, and my next thought was, "I need 2 of these"!

The next person I tried it on was my daughter, who is a freshman in college. She walks all over campus carrying books and art supplies and she always feels it in her neck and shoulders. So Mom broke out the Thumbby and she absolutely loved it! Since she is away at college, she hasn't been able to get massages as frequently as she would like or need. So.....I have to get her 2 Thumbby's of her own. It's the best substitute for Mom's massages that we have found so far. If there is a substitute, that is.

Now, I also have another daughter who has a pretty physical job. She is in another state also, so doesn't get massages from Mom as often as she would like either. Can't get my daughters to go to any other massage therapist for some reason. Does that mean they are spoiled? I hope so! In a good way though. So now I am up to 6 Thumbby's! Two for each of us.

Trust me, if you try the Thumbby you will want more than one. Even someone without formal massage training can use this with ease. It comes with a great little brochure that shows you grips and techniques that you can use for yourself or others. Really the ideas are only limited by your mind. It is so easy to use the Thumbby, and I am all for doing the best massage without expending all of my energy. I'm so glad I gave the Thumbby a try. It has made my job a lot easier and it's also a great thing to have on hand when you need pain relief but can't get to your massage therapist right away. Think of it as a tune-up in between massages.

If you already have your own Thumbby, feel free to post any tips and tricks that you have. I love to hear about new ways to use it!

The Awakening Of A Massage Therapist

I have always been the type of person who cares a lot about others, and I can't stand to see others hurting. As a mother, I had always used massage to calm and soothe my daughters and to help them sleep well. I believe it truly had a positive effect on how they grew and thrived. They were always very active in the outdoors as well as sports, and they always knew it would be Mom's hands that would help them feel better when they were injured or had overdone it. I hadn't had any formal massage training at the time, but I just instinctively knew my touch would soothe, calm, and take away pain.

If a family member or friend had slept wrong and had a "kink" in their neck, I was always the one who would put my hands on them and ease that pain. To me, it's so rewarding to have someone tell me, "Thank you. I feel so much better!" or "It doesn't hurt anymore!" That always brings a smile to my face. But even then, it didn't really cross my mind that I could make a career out of helping others be happier and free of pain.

I had always been drawn to the salon and beauty industry also. When my kids got a little older, I decided to take classes to become a manicurist. This was very rewarding to me also. I just enjoy doing things that make people feel better, and making a woman's nails look pretty can really make her feel better in general. What I didn't realize was that I was also having a positive impact with the power of touch, and that my presence also had a calming and soothing effect on my nail clients. Of course, women talk, so I never had a problem staying busy. My schedule was overflowing with clients who had been recommended me.

I always enjoyed the feedback that I got from clients. I had many nail clients tell me that I made them feel so much better. I had people fall asleep in my chair while having their nails done. I always took my time with giving a nice hand massage or foot massage with a manicure or pedicure. Now, I did great nails and made them look pretty, but many confessed that that was just the icing on the cake. They were coming to me for the great hand and foot massages! Being good at what I do has always been important to me, so I truly felt blessed with all of the material and immaterial rewards this career provided. Having a client call you hours after their appointment just to thank you for making them feel good is a great reward to me.

With my success as a manicurist, I still always thought I needed to take this all a step farther. If I could have that much impact on their well-being with a hand or foot massage, I could have a greater effect by becoming a massage therapist. Living in a somewhat rural area with no massage schools available, it was really just a wish for about 5 years. I looked around trying to find online classes, but they would still require me to go out of state for any hands-on instruction.

After going through a divorce, I was trying to get my bearings and decide what direction I wanted to go with my future. Of course, massage therapy was still on my mind. After finding a massage therapy school in another state that offered a 7 month course, I decided to dive in. It was more wonderful than I even imagined, and I grew so much as a person while learning to refine my skills and learn the human anatomy in depth. Even more unexpected rewards! I never expected to have the personal journey of growth that I experienced by going to school for massage therapy. The program I chose had a lot to do with that I think.

I continue to receive wonderful feedback from clients. I have been told I'm doing the work I was intended to do. The best thing of all is that it doesn't even feel like work. The fact that I can do what I love and make a career of it is what most people always dream of, but most never complete the dream. I feel very fortunate to have been able to do work that I love all of my life. I would encourage anybody to follow their dreams and do what they love. If you want it badly enough you can always find a way. Even though I loved my first career choice, I would have always regretted it if I hadn't taken that step and gone to massage therapy school to further my dreams. It didn't come without sacrifice, but all of the sacrifice was worth it in the grand scheme of things. Follow your dreams!