Do’s and Don’ts of Getting a Massage

 

Don’t:

 

Show up late or show up too early

Your appointment begins at the time that you scheduled.  If you’re a new client you should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment, this gives you enough time to fill out paperwork and ask your therapist questions.  If you’re a regular client 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment is preferred.

Plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment.

Some people have gotten upset because their time got cut or they had to pay a fee for showing up late.  Don’t be that person.  It is your job to show up on time and your therapist is not going to inconvenience their other clients because you were running late.

 

Smoke before your appointment

If you’re a smoker I understand that it’s a way that helps you relax but I don’t want my business to smell like an ash tray nor does your therapist want to smell it for the next hour.

Also, some people are highly allergic to the chemicals in cigarette smoke. Smoke is something that a fair number of people have a sensitivity or allergy to, and the smell can stick around for a while before it dissipates.  I like my business to smell clean, and none of my clients should have to walk into a massage/reiki room smelling of cigarette smoke.

 

Don’t be a helper

Some people have a really hard time relaxing during their massage appointment.  Try to lay still and relax as much as possible. You’re therapist is more than capable of moving your arm or legs when they need.

One therapists commented, “Occasionally I have a client who will jerk their arms and legs up in an attempt to assist with the draping or bolstering.  Just the other day I nearly got kicked in the face by a client who was anxious to help me drape her leg.”

When you try to help your therapist in this way, you are actually creating more work for them, and risk hitting or kicking them in the process.  If you’re uncomfortable let them know, otherwise let them let them do their job.

 

STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK!

I don’t think I really need to go into why this is not a good idea. But if you would really like me to explain, “Sharing is not caring keep your sicky butt at home.” Same applies to the massage therapist.  No one wants a massage or to massage a sick person.

 

Don’t even joke about sexual services

Some people think that this is funny and other people are very serious when asking for sexual services.  I’m going to tell you right now the fastest way to insult you massage therapist is to ask for sexual services.  And if you press the subject you can get charged for sexual harassment or if you’re lucky you just get kicked out.

So just don’t do it, it’s not worth it.

 

Does:

 

Use proper terminology

I talked about this in one of my blogs Things Your Massage Therapist Wants You To Know.

And what you need to know is they are a massage therapist not masseuse.

Many people don’t realize this but never call your massage therapist a “masseuse.”  Reason being masseuse is associated with under the table“happy ending” type massage.  Which they do not do, and some therapists get very offended.

 

Communicate

If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to ask.  They are there to answer all your questions so you can get the best benefit for your health.

 

Tip

Some people don’t know that they should tip.  Ask the therapist if tip is included in the price and if it’s not be sure to do so before or after your appointment.

You may be asking, “What’s a good tip?”  A good tip is typically $20.  Now if you really want to make your therapists day you can tip them $40.  Not that you have to do that every time but it really makes the therapists day when someone tips more then expected.  Especially around the holidays.

 

Be sure to turn off your phone

The point of the massage is to help you relax and you’re not going to do that if your phone is constantly dinging, ringing or vibrating.  Also it disrupts the appointment in the next room.

 

There we have it!

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Sources:

https://www.massageanddoula.com/blog/massage-etiquette-10-dos-and-donts-of-getting-a-massage

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