You have been given a gift certificate or a friend has encouraged you to go visit a massage therapist. That is how many of our regular clients start out. It is perfectly normal to be anxious or nervous about your first appointment with a massage therapist. Christmas time is a period of the year where many of our 1st-time clients make their way to the spa. Over the past month, conversations have brought me to discuss some of the questions many of us are asked from clients experiencing their first massage therapy session. The following are five tips to make your first appointment an enjoyable one:
- The first tip I can give you is that communication with your therapist is critical for a good massage. If the pressure is too firm or too light, the therapist needs to know. Your session is a time to unplug from life. Remember it is appropriate to talk with your therapist during the session to calibrate the pressure to your needs.
- As a first time client, your therapist will need to you to fill out a health history form. You will need to arrive a little early to fill this out. Many therapists will have the forms posted on their website or will email it to you ahead of time. Here is an example of one from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).
- Your therapy session has a set amount of time and most likely the therapist will have another client after your session. I always recommend using the restroom before a session. The last thing you want is to use up some of your therapy minutes using the restroom.
- A question I receive often is “What do I wear during a treatment session?” The answer is you undress to your comfort level.
- Many times your therapist will offer you a bottle of water at the end of the session. It is important to drink plenty of water after a massage therapy session. The water will help flush the toxins out of your body that are released during a massage.
Just remember we are here to help you and when you feel better, thank us by rebooking another appointment.
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