5 Ways to Make Your Next Introductory Massage Smoother

We get it, going to a new massage therapist, clinic/spa, or both can be scary. Many people put up with massage therapists who they feel do an okay job just to avoid the stress of having to do another introductory massage somewhere else. Here are 5 ways to Make Your Next Introductory Massage Smoother.

5 Ways to Make Your Next Introductory Massage Smoother: On Time Please

Yes, you came in on time for your actual appointment but you missed the extra 15 minutes we give you to fill out paperwork and relax. Now you have to scramble to get only the most important health information scribbled with your signature and you are ten minutes into your appointment. Laugh all you want but this is a constant problem for you. For your massage therapist, it is more of an annoyance which is quickly alleviated by the additional time they have to take to go through everything with you. Solution:

• Pick up paperwork when you are in the area prior to your appointment. You have plenty of time to fill it out and by filling it out as you have to wait for whatever it is in the car, you have an opportunity to fill out the paperwork without the paperwork leaving the car. Simple

• Ask if you can get an electronic copy emailed to you. Yes, this is the golden age of technology and some spas/clinics are embracing electronic forms. Not only does this allow you to help keep from cutting those trees, you also have a digital copy saved on your phone which can later be printed if you forget. Very simple

• Arrive 15 minutes early by asking front desk to remind you of the time of when you need to be there for paperwork instead of telling you the appointment time in your reminder. This is not as odd as it may seem and is completely understandable. The front counter associates or manager staff want to make your transition into their facility as stress-free as possible.

At Transcendence Massage and Yoga, you only need about 5 minutes to fill out the form. Yes, we have electronic forms and yes you can request them to be emailed. Yes, we print out a paper copy for you when you arrive if you do not want to do your form ahead of time or you just enjoy the pen/paper.

We Know Anatomy Do You?

Well if not, this can be a huge language gap seeming to you. We love talking about anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and ethics or we wouldn’t have spent tens of thousands on our degrees. We completely understand if you don’t know these words and if you ask, we will explain exactly what we are talking about in non-medical lingo.

TAKE ADVANTAGE THAT YOU ARE IN CONTROL

Really how many times are you going to tell me that the pressure is okay as you are jumping off the table? As a massage therapist, I have been trained to know where the muscles are but I cannot feel through your pain receptors if it is too much. The same with not enough pressure applies too. If I need to go deeper, let me know. I want to give you the best massage ever so if it is not, let me know.

DO NOT TALK UNLESS THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO RELAX

I cannot count how many times a client has felt the need to purge everything because they are expecting to have to keep me entertained. You paid for the time to relax so relax. I am more than happy to let you just find your happy place and stay there. It is your massage after all.

THIS IS A MASSAGE, NOT A HAPPY ENDING

I am a massage therapist and I get it. Back in the day, a masseuse was a catchy term for someone in my profession but that was when massage parlor could mean prostitution. We do not do happy endings because we are medical professionals. We have to be licensed to practice and we do have to do hundreds of hours in training before being licensed. After being licensed, many states require us to have so many training hours to remain current. Scandals where massage therapists are caught taking things too far put a stain on the entire profession. This is why it is important for you as the client to know that you can always ask to see the license of the therapist when you are meeting them for the first time. We are proud to show off our license and it is required by most state laws. We want you to feel safe on our table so you can enjoy your next introductory massage.