If you are growing a massage practice, then this may be helpful.
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Courtesy of: The Whole Brain Group
Don’t Be Envious of My Massage
You need a massage but where do you go? How do you find a qualified massage professional?
It used to be that massage offices where small operations run by massage professionals. But with the growth and acceptance of massage we now are seeing big box clinics and spas.
Having been a massage professional for over a decade I have had the experience of working with a professional in her own practice and I have also been a cog in a much larger operation.
We now have membership driven massage establishments with pushy salespeople, distant and uncaring owners, not to mention less experienced massage therapists. These places are driven by the bottom line. Massage is an exchange best given from the heart. Trust me, I have had many clients on my table tell me about that envy experience. Check out some Google or Yelp reviews for yourself.
The large corporate franchise places seem to lack the personal touch that many people are truly looking for.
My advice to you is to patronize the smaller owner operated massage place. There you will find a massage professional with a vast working knowledge of the body. He or she also cares for you in ways impossible to a large spa-like franchise. Massage takes two people to make it happen, and a massage professional lives by this.
A local massage professional has to earn your trust, personally, with one on one human interaction. The services you receive are more personalized and many times there are free add-ons, like aromatherapy or a nice herbal tea. They genuinely care for you.
There is room for all. After all, everyone needs a massage. However, you will find a better experience for the price with a massage professional with years of experience rather than a therapist working their first job like at those larger places.
How Often Should I Get a Massage?
As a massage therapist I am often asked how often should someone receive a massage. As with most things in life the answer is it depends.
Let me start by saying that everyone should be getting a massage once every four to six weeks as part of a general wellness plan and a healthy lifestyle. This is preventative maintenance for your body!
But there are factors to consider when it comes to chronic and acute pain management.
Many people only think about getting a massage when they have acute pain. An example of an acute situation is like when you wake up with a stiff neck, or maybe you have sudden low back pain from lifting something.
In acute situations the best course is to get massage about every three days for up to two weeks. This sounds like a lot I know, however, the sessions are usually thirty minutes and the treatment is focused only on the area of concern. Once the condition has cleared, then you should shift to getting a massage once a month.
Chronic situations are treated a bit differently. Chronic issues arise over a long period of time and as such will require a longer range plan. There is no magic massage technique to erase years of build up. Typically with a chronic case you should receive longer massage sessions once per week. The effect of massage are cumulative so each concurrent massage builds on the beneficial effects of the previous massage. Generally it takes about four weeks to turn the clock back on a chronic problem. Think of this like starting and exercise program or diet. It takes about thirty days to fell the results.
Many people find the cost of a massage to be a barrier. I once had a chair massage client who paid $15 each week for her massage. Having her car washed cost the same amount. After a couple of weeks she felt so energized that she started washing her car herself. So her massage started to save her money.
Many health insurance plans are now covering massage. You may be able to get your monthly massage for only a small co-pay.
Regular massage is a great part of a healthy lifestyle. And it feels good too!
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged acute pain, chronic pain, healthy lifestyle, massage, wellness
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What to Expect During Your First Massage
So you have finally done it. You have set aside the time, located a massage therapist, and made an appointment. You are going to get your first massage. Now you are beginning to question your decision. You have never done this before and you’re getting a little nervous. What is a professional massage really like? Do I have to get completely undressed in front of a stranger?
Relax. Take a deep breath as we go over your first massage and what to expect.
The biggest concern most people have when receiving their first massage is the level of undress required. While many people prefer to receive massage fully undressed, it is not absolutely necessary. You will remain fully draped throughout the massage. Your massage therapist will only undrape the body part being massaged.
Also, your massage therapist will leave the room so that you can undress in private. Once you are comfortable on the massage table and under the covers, your massage therapist will re-enter the room to begin your first massage.
Your first massage will be administered in a warm, softly light, room with relaxing music playing in the background. Every detail of the room is designed to help you melt the tension away.
You will be asked to arrive a few minutes early so that you can fill out an intake form. The massage therapist will then review that information. Then your therapist will suggest a massage plan to meet your unique needs.
What will your massage feel like? Your first massage will most likely be a Wellness Massage based on Swedish techniques. Long gliding strokes are intended to soothe and calm the nervous system. Once in a calm, relaxed state the muscles can tolerate deeper more therapeutic pressure.
Many people wonder what to do during their first massage. Our busy lives can make it very difficult to simply unplug and relax for an hour. Your massage therapist may ask you to do some deep breathing, or gently remind you not to “hold” yourself. Once your massage therapist starts the massage, you will have no problem knowing what to do. Breathe and relax.