If something is off, we want to know about it.” We are not mind readers, and we take pride in our work. “You should feel comfortable enough to let your therapist know if something isn’t right, whether that’s the pressure they are using, you get too hot or too cold, you hate the music that’s playing or you need more work done in an area,” Agakian says. “After all, massage therapists are body workers. In turn, you should feel free to speak up if something could improve your experience. They should check in to make sure the pressure they’re using works for you, and to ensure you’re comfortable. The communication should continue between you and the therapist throughout the massage. If they do not, you can speak up at any time and let your therapist know. But again, this does not need to be the case: If you’re not comfortable being touched there, your therapist should clarify that in the beginning. In some massages, the gluteal muscles (butt) are involved in a massage, as it may relieve common ailments like back pain or sciatica, Hunter explains. “When a massage therapist asks if you’d like a full-body massage, in our minds we are going to massage all of the major muscle groups,” Stephanie Agakian, a licensed massage therapist and owner of Bodhi Body Studios, explains.Īnother way to think about it is that a typical therapeutic massage will include all the parts of the body that a bikini does not cover, including legs, arms, back, hips, abdomen and face, says Kathleen Lisson, a board-certified massage therapist and author of Swollen, Bloated and Puffy. Next, a good therapist will walk the client through exactly what they plan to work on during the session and confirm they understood the client’s specific needs, Hunter adds. Before your first appointment with a new therapist, they should do a thorough intake, she adds, which involves asking about the client’s pain points and any injuries, as well as medical treatments and medications they are taking. They also should touch on what pressure level you might like them to apply, because everyone’s preferences are different.Ĭommunication is key, regardless of whether you’re getting a massage as part of prescribed physical therapy or you’re simply there to relax, Kamillya Hunter, the owner and founder of Spa Analytics says. At this point, the therapist should go over exactly what the massage entails and ask you if there are areas you would like them to avoid or focus on. The most important part of a massage is the conversation you have with your therapist before the treatment starts. So instead of skipping your next appointment or avoiding this treatment on your next spa trip, here are a few guidelines to help you determine what’s normal during a massage (and what’s always inappropriate) and tips for communicating with your therapist while you have a treatment. Massages can potentially benefit your health if executed correctly, including helping with aches and pains and recovery after a tough workout - not to mention they can be incredibly relaxing if you’re in the right hands. If you aren’t used to massages, or even if you are but are working with a new massage therapist, it can sometimes be difficult to determine where the line should be drawn, especially when that line is a thin sheet covering your naked body. These reports about Massage Envy raise a lot of questions regarding consent during spa service and what’s normal - and should not be happening - while you get a massage a massage. This is wrong and disturbing on so many levels, but primarily that when you go for a massage, you put yourself into a physically vulnerable position with a stranger - and you’re there to relax and let your guard down.
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