If you’re dealing with pain or a variety of other conditions and have never experienced a professional massage, it’s never too late. Massage therapy is incredibly valuable as a pain relief and overall wellness resource for numerous individuals, from athletes to those with specific pain conditions – and anyone in between.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re proud to offer numerous massage therapy options, from sports massage and injury massage services to Swedish massage, Gua Sha treatment and many others. If you’re considering your first professional massage, we’ll be happy to walk you through everything you need to know to ensure you’re properly prepared for the session and get the most out of it. Here are some important areas to keep in mind, from session preparation to what will happen after your first massage.
For starters, massages are all about comfort – and you should be as well. Wear comfortable clothing, generally of the loose variety that won’t pull or tug during the session. Before your session begins, you’ll be told to undress to your own personal level of comfort, then lie on your stomach underneath sheets, any clothing left on may limit the way the therapist is able to massage the body. Know that you’ll remain covered the entire time, with the exception of the areas being massaged, and our therapists take great care to observe your desired privacy.
When you arrive for your first massage, your therapist will spend some time speaking to you about your pain points, focus areas and other priorities for the massage. If you have specific areas of pain you want relieved, this is the time to lay them out.
As the massage gets underway, be sure to communicate with your massage therapist about your comfort and how the session is feeling. While they don’t necessarily need a second-by-second update, you should definitely let them know if you feel uncomfortable or have any other concerns, and especially if any of their techniques are causing significant pain for any reason (this is rare). A little pain or discomfort is normal, we are looking for a “hurts so good” type sensation.
Do your best to breathe normally during your massage session, with standard breaths or perhaps slightly longer ones. This will help you relax and be calmer, plus will complement the therapeutic benefits of the session itself.
When the massage is finished, plan to spend a few minutes with your massage therapist going over the conclusions they drew, how you felt and other factors. You’d be surprised how much your therapist will be able to tell you after just one session – they may recommend a future massage frequency, plus will go over the specific areas where future massages can benefit you. They may also give you some self-care areas to see to in between sessions.
For more on how to prepare for your first massage, or to learn about any of our massage therapy or float therapy services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.