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f you’re new to the world of massage therapy, you may have concerns about what will happen during your massage session. The American Massage Therapy Association has compiled a list of tips to help make your massage an enjoyable experience.

Preparing for your massage will help make it enjoyable.

1. Be as receptive and open to the process as possible.

2. Do not eat just before a massage session.

3. Be on time. If you arrive in a frenzied, rushed state, it will take longer to get to a relaxed state. Please let your massage therapist know in advance if you need to cancel. Many massage therapists require a 24 hour notice.

4. If you do not want to remove all your clothing, wear clothing that you will be comfortable wearing during the massage and will allow the massage therapist to touch and move the areas of your body you expect will need to be worked on.

5. Give the massage therapist accurate health information.

6. Good communication is very important. Before the session, let your massage therapist know what your needs are. During the massage session, report any discomfort, whether it is from the massage or due to any problems or distractions related to the environment, e.g., room temperature, music volume, lighting, etc. Feel free to give feedback to the massage therapist regarding the massage, such as the amount of pressure and speed of movement.

7. Don’t be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns. It is important that you be as comfortable as possible during your massage. Your massage therapist is a professional dedicated to doing his or her best to help you feel at ease.

8. Most massage therapists like to play music during the massage session and some may have music specially composed for relaxation and other effects. Others may find music distracting. Let you massage therapist know if you have any preferences regarding music, if it is available.

9. Some people like to talk during a massage session, while others remain silent. If your massage therapist encourages you to talk or not talk, it is usually based on whether or not it seems to help let go of tension and get in touch with yourself.

10. Breathing helps to facilitate relaxation. People often stop or limit their breath when they feel anxious or a sensitive area is massaged. Check your breathing pattern to ensure it is regular.

11. Tightening up, i.e., contracting or hardening your muscles during the massage, is counterproductive. If you are able to, relax those muscles. Let your massage therapist know this is happening. They may need to adjust the massage technique being used. They may also be able to help you relax the affected area.

12. If you find your thoughts are racing during the massage, one way to be more body-centered and to quiet the mind is to follow the hands of the massage therapist and focus on how the touch feels.

13. If anything is happening during the massage that you dislike or seems improper, you have the right to ask the massage therapist to stop. If necessary, you also have the right to end the session.

14. If you are dizzy or light headed after the massage, do not get off the table too fast.

15. Allow for some open, quiet time after your massage session if possible. Sometimes one needs a little time to integrate or absorb the results of the massage session or needs some "re-entry" time.

16. Massage has its greatest benefits over time. The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative, so the more often a person gets a massage, the better he or she will feel and the more quickly one’s body will respond. From one session to the next, relaxation deepens as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are affected and released. If you are getting massage to address chronic muscular tension or recover from a soft tissue injury, more than one session is usually needed, so be prepared to schedule several sessions over a few weeks.

These tips will help make your massage experience a good one, even if you remember just a few. If you take the time to prepare yourself emotionally and physically, your massage session will be as relaxing and refreshing as you expect it to be.

Source: www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/tips.html