With over one hundred thousand certified massage therapists operating in the United States, this ancient practice has many health benefits. This whole health approach is a great way to treat yourself, from reducing pain to clearing your mind.
However, if you’ve never gotten a massage before, you risk making one of the many massage mistakes. Not only are these blunders embarrassing, but they can impact the enjoyment of your experience.
If you’re getting ready for your first session, you may want to keep reading to learn some of the most common mistakes many make during their first massage appointment.
Not Knowing What Kind of Massage You’re Booking
If you plan on scheduling your first appointment, you may not know what types of massages you want or need. Understanding the various options will help ensure your session is effective and enjoyable.
If you’re looking for the most standard options, a Swedish massage is best. This is a gentle and relaxing experience while still alleviating tension caused by pesky knots and muscle aches.
However, a deep tissue massage is ideal if you’re looking for something more intense to help with injuries or chronic pain. The massage therapist will use intense pressure to massage, knead, and manipulate your muscles to help alleviate pain.
Knowing what kind of massage you’re signing up for can help you get the most enjoyable experience out of your appointment. You can read about the benefits of a massage at serenitymassageandspa.me to help you decide which option is best.
Assuming One Appointment Will Cure Ailments
Another mistake many first-time massage clients make is assuming massage therapy is a miraculous fix for all ailments or pain. While you’ll inevitably leave your appointment feeling better, it’s not going to resolve with one session.
Like any illness or injury, you’ll need to schedule frequent appointments to help combat an injury or chronic pain.
Instead, you’ll want to plan on reoccurring sessions to help alleviate issues. Though you may find that immediately after an appointment you feel less tension or pressure, frequent appointments help chronic pain.
Talking Too Much
Though you may be eager to chat about your day with your masseuse, talking too much during the process can have negative effects.
As you talk, your lungs expand more than you would when breathing. This can make it harder for your masseuse to give you an effective massage.
Similarly, if you’re too focused on the conversation, it can make it more difficult to relax. A massage is an ideal opportunity to focus on yourself. Keeping your mind grounded and centered on the massage can improve your mind-muscle connection, helping you feel better.
Suntanning Before Your Appointment
Though you may be desperate to soak up the sun before your massage appointment, limiting time spent sunbathing before your session can help big time.
If you become sunburned, getting a massage will have adverse effects. Not only will it be incredibly painful to have your skin rubbed, pushed, and stretched to reach the muscles, but your therapist will have to do extra work.
When you’re sunburned, your skin becomes more inflamed than usual. This makes it more difficult for your therapist to effectively massage your muscles.
Eating a Heavy Meal
If you have a busy day, you may be starving after running errands and attending appointments or meetings all day. However, it’s best to have a light snack before your massage session and save the heavy meal after your session.
When receiving a massage, you’ll likely spend a lot of time laying on your stomach while the masseuse works on your neck, shoulders, and back. This means they’ll press into and apply pressure on your back.
If you consume a large meal, this can cause discomfort. Instead of focusing on how relaxing the experience is, you’ll be worried about bloating!
Getting There Late
Like any appointment, getting there late is extremely rude and not good practice in the service industry. In some instances, your masseuse may have a policy to deter clients from being tardy.
When you show up late, it makes it incredibly difficult for your massage therapist to stay on schedule. This means all their clients will be delayed, making the masseuse look bad.
While accidents and emergencies happen, limiting lateness is essential. If you know you’re going to be late, call ahead. This gives the therapist a chance to reschedule your appointment and take a walk-in client to ensure they still make money.
Not Communicating With Your Therapist
Finally, one of the most common mistakes people make when getting a massage is not communicating with the masseuse. This means you’re less likely to have an experience you enjoy, and your therapist loses a potential reoccurring client.
If something hurts or doesn’t feel right, you’ll want to ensure you let your massage therapist know. The best massage therapist will adjust to ensure you’re comfortable. This helps ensure you are on the same page for the best session.
You may also want to clear up expectations about what or how much to wear before getting undressed. Your therapist sees many clients who know what to expect, so asking for clarification can help you avoid an awkward experience.
Steer Clear of These Massage Mistakes
Though getting a massage is a great way to stay in optimal health, knowing how to act is essential. Avoiding these massage mistakes ensures you have the most rewarding session possible!
If you’re ready to get your first professional massage thanks to the help of this guide, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you’ll find more health and wellness tips and tricks.
