The most common complaint that I have heard about past massages is either they hurt from too much pressure or the pressure felt "as if the therapist was scared to go deeper".
I firmly believe that even though massage is great for everyone*, not all massage therapist are good for everyone.
Understanding what you want in a massage when searching for a massage therapist will help you avoid getting a bad massage.
I have created a flow chart with the most common reasons people get massages:
You may notice a trend, it all includes communicating to your therapist what you want.
Remember this massage is about you and your body.
If you are confused as to what your therapist is doing ASK them.
I know I personally love talking to my clients and explaining what I'm doing and how it helps them.
If you're not the talking type, that's fine too but only after you are sure you're getting the massage you signed up for.
My teacher said once "We are all victims of our education" and it stuck with me and has helped me better understand that there may not be a wrong or right way, just a different way.
Every massage therapist brings a unique way of massage to the table.
*of course there are always exceptions to the rule, there are several contraindications to massage and that's why it's important to fill out the medical form completely.
That is a great flow chart and easily shows which direction the client should go if they require pain relief or a relaxation massage.
ReplyDeleteSince becoming a massage therapist myself, I can definitely agree that communication is the key, especially for clients that have had none or little experience of massages.