Tips for Before, During and After Your Massage

As a consumer you play a vital part in the success of your massage. In order to fully reap the benefits of massage therapy, consider the following tips.

Before

  • Do not eat for at least an hour before a massage session.
  • If you don’t want to remove all your clothing, wear comfortable clothing that will allow the massage therapist to access the areas of your body you want worked on.
  • Please be on time.
  • Give the massage therapist accurate health information.

During

  • Communicate clearly. Report any discomfort from the massage or distractions from the environment, such as room temperature, music volume and lighting. Give feedback about amount of pressure or the speed of their hand movement.
  • Don’t be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns.
  • Discuss whether you prefer silence or music.
  • Let your massage therapist know whether you would prefer to talk or not while you are being massaged.
  • Breathe to facilitate relaxation, especially when the massage therapist is addressing a sensitive or sore spot. 
  • Try to relax muscles when they tighten during the massage session.
  • Calm your thoughts by focusing on the touch of the massage therapist. 

After

  • If you are dizzy or light-headed after the massage, do not get off the table too fast.
  • Drink extra water after a massage.
  • Allow time to absorb the results of the massage session and to slowly reintegrate into the rest of your day.

Finding a qualified massage therapist is easy. Simply log on to AMTA’s Web site at and click on Find a Massage Therapist, or call toll-free, 1-800-THE-AMTA (888-843-2682).