Massage Monday

Honestly, most Mondays are pretty good for me. But yesterday was a “Massage Monday.” Yesterday’s massage wasn’t all peace and relaxation because I had some places that were really tight and they needed to be worked out. That isn’t always pleasant. However, the way my body feels afterward is fabulous.

I’ve been getting regular massage for at least 20 years. I’ve been blessed with some amazing massage therapists over the years. In fact, I’ve only had a handful of what I would call “bad” massages over that span of time. This usually occurred when the therapist I had been seeing moved away and I was trying to find a new one.

I’ve been with my current massage therapist for about 5 years. I was referred to him after my last knee surgery. Although the knee issues are still there, I believe that the work we did specifically on that leg is largely responsible for my current level of mobility. Now we are in maintenance mode with the leg, but work on all the rest of my body so that I can stay active in these “senior years.”

I thought I might offer my top 5 things to consider when looking for a massage therapist.

1. Be clear about what you want. Do you want a totally relaxing experience in which you feel pampered? Soft touches? Do you want to really work out the knots with more pressure and focused work? Do you want a combination? You are going to have to say it outloud to the person giving you the massage. They can’t read your mind.
2. Are you a person that wants to know everything someone is going to do before they do it? Thats perfectly fine. Tell them. Does that kind of talking bother you? Tell them.
3. Decide on your comfort level for nudity. Tell them. If the therapist cannot respond to your requests they are probably not the right therapist for you.
4. The setting can be important. Some people feel comfortable in a larger spa where there are more people around and other people prefer a more secluded establishment where there is not much environmental noise and distraction.
5. Cost. Unfortunately, our budgets do play a part in the decision. Perhaps you would really love to do a 90 minute massage with all of the bells and whistles every week. Me too! But if you cannot afford that, choose something that fits in your budget so that you will be able to make it a regular part of your health and happiness. I really do believe that a 15 minute chair massage is better than no massage at all.