Getting a massage once a month is a general rule of thumb for your well-being. Massage is an ongoing, and evolving healing process. Most therapeutic effects for various types of pain and discomfort are cumulative, so the more often you get a massage, the better you will feel and the more quickly your body will respond. 

So how do you get the most out of your session? Over the years as a passionate therapist what I have found is that your communication, comfort, and trust are most important. Communicating with a massage therapist before the session, giving accurate health information and letting the massage therapist know your expectations, clues them towards the right techniques, pressure and sequence of your session. Your therapist should also communicate the best plan of action with you, because your pain or discomfort may be caused from another area of the body than where you feel it. Don’t be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns. During the massage session, report any discomfort, whether it’s from the massage or due to any problems or distractions related to the environment, (room temperature, music volume, lighting, etc.). If anything happens that you dislike or seems improper, you have the right to ask the massage therapist to stop. If necessary, you also have the right to end the session. You are not obligated to stay.

It’s important that you be as comfortable as possible during your massage. Here are some other suggestions:

• Leave excessive amounts of jewelry at home to avoid losing.

• Be on time. If you arrive in a frenzied, rushed state, it may take longer to relax.

• Turn your cell phone off and use the restroom before your session.

• If you have any allergies to oils, lotions, creams, and nuts tell the therapist. Options should be available.

• Take off only as much clothing as you are comfortable removing. The therapist will uncover only the part of your body being massaged, ensuring that modesty is respected at all times.

• Remember to breathe normally. Breathing helps facilitate relaxation. People often stop or limit their breathing when they feel anxious or a sensitive area is massaged.

• Relax your muscles and your mind. Tightening up by contracting or hardening your muscles during the massage can be counterproductive. 

• Get up slowly to avoid getting dizzy or light headed after the massage. My unofficial term for this is “massage drunk".

• Drink extra water after your massage. Some therapist say “It’s to flush out the toxins.”, but I have not found any research that tells me what those toxins are. A real reason why you should drink more water after your massage is to rehydrate, because a good massage stimulates the parasympathetic system in other words it stimulates digestion and elimination.

Empowered with this knowledge, I encourage you to go out and enjoy your massage, because living in your most relaxed state of being is peace of mind.

Amanda Nauman