Massage Therapy

The first thing to understand in answering this question is that not all therapists are trained. Each state in the United States of America has different requirements for training massage therapists. Most states require licensure from a massage therapy board or medical board, though not all do. In some states, cosmetologist (beauty professionals) and estheticians (skin care professionals) are given the go ahead to provide massage therapy as part of their practice. Other times, therapists refer to themselves as body workers because that does not require licensure. If you’re seeking massage therapy from a licensed practitioner, ask some questions before booking your appointment. Having said that, no two licensed massage therapists are the same. Even two massage therapists that have sought the same training from the same instructors will interpret the craft in their own way. Some therapists have a more second-hand nature about their practice while others work very hard to achieve the ability to provide a productive session no matter what type of massage therapy they specialize in. Additionally, past experiences and backgrounds give therapists the ability to specialize in different ways. Some may have medical backgrounds while others may come from a personal training realm and yet others may just have liked the idea of being a massage therapist someday. Don’t shy away from learning where your therapist has come from and why they do what they do. It may provide a lot of insight as to if they are the right therapist for you. All therapists tend to gravitate towards a certain type of touch. They may not all admit that but those that claim they are a jack of all trades usually are masters of none. Some are amazing relaxation therapist while others excel at deeper touch. Some therapist may be amazing with expecting mothers while others only want to do stone therapy. Many therapist are trained in multiple techniques and are legitimately able to complete multiple types of massage therapy; just understand that regardless if they admit it or not, they generally will have a preference in the type of work they connect with and enjoy.

I’ve come across a number of people who are extremely nervous about what to expect when they get a massage. Generally speaking, you should expect for your privacy to be respected and to feel safe and comfortable the whole time. Though it is easier for a massage therapist to address soft tissue issues with the client unclothed or with only undergarments on, a professional therapist will ensure that you are covered and your body is respected with privacy and never exposed at any time. Therapists are trained in sheeting techniques so they can accomplish their work while ensuring comfort to the client. Some clients may be open to laying nude on the table. This is not a customary way of providing massage therapy and most massage therapist will be uncomfortable with the request from a client to do so. Likewise, our comfort resides in our sheeting techniques as well. If you are not comfortable in any stage of undress, a professional therapist will respect that discomfort as well. There are ways to provide massage therapy techniques with a client fully clothed and most therapists will accommodate to the best of their abilities upon request.

Most massage therapists will respect that your session is your session. If you only want you upper body worked on or your back alone, they likely will accommodate this request. The time you pay for is your time and you should expect them to honor preference requests. Understand however, that your therapist is a trained professional and may have an opinion about what would be best for you based upon a verbal consultation. It is important to have that conversation with the therapist about if addressing only a specific area of your body is likely to correct an issue you’re looking to correct. If you simply want a relaxation back massage and are not seeking a clinical outcome, the therapist likely can accommodate your request very easily.

Professional massage therapists see bodies all the time. We see bodies that are large and others that are small. We see deformities and we see perfection. In all honesty, a professional therapist is not even thinking about your love handles or cellulite when they provide therapy to you. As a matter of fact, we often don’t notice that you forgot to shave your legs or that you just got out of the shower so your hair is wet. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t effect how we do our work. What we do care about is that generally speaking you don’t stink. We care about this not only because we’re in close quarters with you, but also because it’s a general respect that you have for your fellow peers. If deodorant isn’t your thing, that’s okay; but showers shouldn’t be optional for anyone!

I hear all the time from clients that they have tried a number of modalities and nothing has worked. I caution individuals sometimes to not pre-judge other modalities. There is a place for all things from physical therapy to chiropractic to acupuncture and many more. If you’re seeking clinical work, what you may learn from your therapist is not that the other modality didn’t work but that two modalities support the success of one another. Ask your therapist for their opinion on if they should be combining massage therapy with something else for optimal results. Good therapeutic therapists should have an opinion on this based upon your specific situation.

In my time as a massage therapist I have learned that people don’t know what kind of therapy they need and frankly, that’s okay. The most important thing for the client to know is what they are looking to accomplish from the massage. If they can express to the therapist what they are looking to achieve, a good therapist will be able to recommend to them what type of therapy will work best. The challenge is finding the therapist that has the ability to accomplish the goals that the client is seeking. More on that in How do I find the right massage therapist?

We’ve already addressed that not all massage therapists are the same and that not all massage therapist excel in the same kind of work. I find it vitally important to partially interview a potential therapist to see if they match up with what you’re seeking. Don’t be afraid to throw a few trick questions at them to see how they respond. You will know if they’re being honest and if they are a therapist you can trust to work for you. Here are a few things I recommend asking. • Tell me about your license. • What type of work do you specialize in? • What type of work do you not do? • Generically who are most of your clients? What is your target market? These simple questions will help you understand a lot about the therapist. It will tell you if they are licensed professional or a novice body worker/beauty professional. It will tell you if they’ve taken the time to specialize in any type of work and become a master of one thing or if they still consider themselves a jack of all trades. It will also tell you if they are willing to turn a client away because they don’t do the appropriate type of work for that client, meaning they aren’t qualified to take on every client and potentially, that they don’t need to. It will also tell you if they have taken the time to recognize what type of client they prefer working with, hence helping you to know that they have specialized in a type of massage work. Don’t shy away from a therapist that is busy. It’s a good thing if they are booked. If you are a last minute scheduler, you may struggle finding the right therapist that can accommodate you at the last minute.