A lot of people experience a little bit of anxiety when scheduling their first massage session. They don’t know what to expect and might be a little uncomfortable with the idea. However, they can still be excited and know that stress management is good for them! In this article, you’ll learn about getting ready for your first massage and what to expect from a massage appointment!

My first massage experience

So I figure it might help you to understand my first massage experience. I never had a massage until I was enrolling in massage school. I knew the benefits of massage, but had never had one to begin with, but I knew that I could help people while being a massage therapist.

Like everyone else, I was nervous about my first massage. I was maybe 19 and didn’t love the idea of having to undress for a stranger to poke at me – regardless of how relaxing the music was.

I did as the massage therapist asked me (she later became one of my best friends and I’ll actually be part of her wedding party soon YAY!). I undressed to my comfort level, got under the sheets, and anxiously awaited what was to come.

She was fantastic and professional, and put any worries I had at ease. She talked a little bit until the anxiety wore away and I peacefully drifted off into Neverland (the place between awake and asleep where anything is possible!).

I may have fully fallen asleep, I don’t really remember as it’s coming up on 10 years later, but it was a lovely experience. I did stay in the room too long after. My muscles felt so relaxed and like I could get in a good stretch – plus she said to take my time and I did. I came out and she said “oh good you didn’t die” which was equally concerning and entertaining. Then she explained most people just hop right off the table and leave… Oops!

After this first massage, I had a new respect for the career I was embarking on. Not only did it relax me, but it also helped me to see just how beneficial massage is to our whole body wellness.

How to prepare for your first massage

So now that you know my first experience, I want to let you know some information you should know before you get your first massage.

Know your goal/what service you want

Tell me what you want what you really really want!

First things first, know a little bit about the service you are booking. If you have a goal in mind, let your therapist know ahead of time.

Do you…

• Just relax
• Relieve stress
• Improve circulation
• Reduce congestion
• Get a kink out of your neck
• Fix back pain(we aren’t supposed to say ‘fix’ because you aren’t broken, but this is most people’s verbiage)
• Improve range of motion or flexibility
• Prep for an athletic event
• Reduce edema
• Regulate emotions
• Pregnancy
• Health conditions

Any of these things can help the person booking your massage pair you up with the right therapist and service type. There are a lot of different types of massages so knowing your goal can help the therapist tailor the session to you.

I love working with people who have a goal for their massage because this helps me to track progress and know which modalities or techniques I’ve learned over the years can get the best results.

Stay very hydrated before and after your session

Getting a massage doesn’t replace your workout, but it does give your muscles a similar effect. Hydrating yourself with water and electrolytes prior to your session makes sure that the tissues respond well to the treatment.

After a massage, things have been loosened up and your body can remove dead or damaged cells easier once the massage is over. Adequate water intake allows your body to do this more efficiently and quickly.

If you don’t like plain water here are some alternative ideas for you:

• Coconut water
• Aloe water
• Water with fruit in it
• Tea

And I know it’s delicious, but please don’t flood yourself with coffee.

Don’t wear clothes that might be ruined by oil

There are a lot of different types of oils or lotions that therapists can use during your massage session. Some can leave oil stains on your clothes, so don’t wear your favorite blouse if you know it will be stained by oil.

In addition to this, you may feel uncomfortable taking off your bra or underwear but do know that these too can be stained by oil.

Make sure the therapist you are seeing is legit

I’ve been told so many stories over the years of people who are massaging that are not licensed to do so. It may seem silly, but you can harm people if you are not properly trained to do massage. You can check with your state board of licensing for massage therapists to ensure that they have a current license.

I’ve met therapists who never took the test but still practice and this can really cause problems for people if they are not up to date on recent guidelines.

Also, this can protect you from ending up at a massage parlor and receiving inappropriate services that you don’t want.

Relax

Understand that you are going to a massage therapist to relax. Whether you are receiving a sports massage or a Swedish massage, you will end up relaxing. Don’t stress yourself out ahead of time worrying about the massage.

If you like certain music, you can ask for that (well at some places anyway). I’ve played every type of music for my clients from Ozzy Osborn to spa music. Some therapists won’t accommodate this, but it never hurts to ask.

If you like a certain smell that helps you to relax, see if you can add aromatherapy for your session. It’s a nice way to add some extra relaxation to your session.

Don’t be afraid to speak up

If your therapist is using too light or too deep pressure, let them know. You are the client and the session is tailored to you and what you need. So many people get massages and never get one again because they didn’t like the pressure or didn’t like something the therapist did but they never say anything.

So don’t be afraid to let your therapist know what you prefer and if throughout the massage they need to readjust, it isn’t a big deal.

Now, this can go in the polar opposite direction. I’ve had clients complain because they wanted their neck pain relieved but I didn’t spend the entire hour on just their neck. When you ask about something like this, it opens up a conversation where your therapist can let you know why they are doing what they are doing. I love talking to my clients about why I treat the body holistically as opposed to just ‘spot treatments’.

Don’t be a creep.

Some therapists can get just as uncomfortable as a client. Nearly every therapist I know has been asked by creeps about happy endings and it’s uncomfortable. It isn’t funny, especially for those of us who find professionalism to be so important.

Massage therapy is a truly great profession and we help people. We are not sex workers. We do not want your creepy advances. We do not want to kick you out, but we will. So please understand that we do not find it funny and will not tolerate unacceptable behavior from our clients.

If at first, you don’t succeed…

Sometimes it takes a while to find a therapist that you really enjoy. I find that us massage therapists are some of the pickiest clients there are. Just because you’ve had a massage that you didn’t love, does not mean that all massage is not for you. Try a different therapist, location, or service before you write it off altogether.

Enjoy yourself!

The most important thing is that you find a therapist that helps you to achieve the goals you desire, talks the amount you want them to (or doesn’t talk at all), and that you feel comfortable with. I’m not sure about other massage therapists, but I 100% would rather refer you to someone that I know will provide you with what you need than keep you as a client for myself.

What to Expect at Your First Massage

So that you feel more prepared here is a list of a few things to expect at your first massage!

1. You’ll need to fill out an intake form. This should include your health history ESPECIALLY medications you’re currently taking. Massage can affect how your medications work and if you are on painkillers or muscle relaxants you will not be able to tell how much pressure is too much which can lead to tissue damage.
2. Arrive early for your first appointment. Since you’ll have to fill in your intake form, this can eat away at some of your scheduled time if you don’t arrive early. To make sure you get your full allotted time, come a little early.
3. You’ll need to get comfortable with the idea of undressing. Many people don’t like the idea of undressing for a stranger. However, for us to be able to accomplish anything, we need to be able to manipulate the body tissues. Clothing gets in the way of this and it doesn’t allow us to feel what is really going on in your muscles. People who need work done for sciatica will need to get comfortable with the idea of no underwear as well.
4. You can expect professional communication from a good massage therapist. Any questions you have, please feel free to ask them! Part of our job is to inform and teach our clients so any questions you have, feel free to ask.
5. Make sure you have your current medication list and a doctor’s note if you have any health issues. If you are dealing with any health concerns especially heart or kidney-related, please get a doctor’s note to bring in before your appointment.
6. Massage therapists have the right to turn you away. If you’re being inappropriate or not abiding by the rules, massage therapists have the right to stop an appointment or tell you no. We are in the service industry, but that does not make us slaves who have to put up with anything.
7. I like to have water or tea options available for my clients. I also like to let them choose their music and tailor their appointments to their specific needs. Not all massage therapy businesses work this way. So don’t expect the same thing from every place.
8. Expect professionalism from your massage therapist. Also expect them to know a lot about the human body! We study a lot of anatomy, physiology, and pathologies during massage school. So explaining health concerns to your massage therapist can help you get a good understanding of what is happening in your body.
9. Massage therapists are not doctors. We cannot fix everything and we cannot diagnose you with anything either. You still need a doctor in your life even if you have the most amazing massage therapist.
10. Expect relaxation and to be a part of making choices with your treatment. 

If you want to book a massage with me today, send a message to crystal@wholeisticallyyou.com and we can get you set up with your first massage!