How to get the most out of a massage

Now that you have found your therapist, there are a few things you can do to stretch out the enjoyment of your session and maximize the long-lasting benefit of massage.

It starts with booking your session - don't wait too long between appointments if you are trying to make progress with any particular issue. I know, we all know, from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in life, chores, work, household needs, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. However the harsh reality is all that stuff will still be there, waiting, regardless of whether you deny yourself basic maintenance and try to continually push through it. Ergo, you might as well carve yourself out some mental 'me' time to thoroughly enjoy and experience without the pointless guilt.

Next is showing up at your appointment - just do it! It would be best if you could show up a few minutes early for decompression time, wearing comfy clothes, and being well hydrated. But seriously, the most important thing is just to show up! The number of times I have had clients that desperately need their appointment but decide at the last minute that they have too much work to do and cancel- over and over again. In the end they are sabotaging their own health, making the lives of those around them hell, and ultimately not ever getting 'caught up' or 'done' with work that continually stresses them out.

So now that you have made your appointment, and have arrived, just relax. Use the restroom if you can and have some water. Take two minutes to tell your therapist how you are feeling, if you have any requests, concerns, or want special attention paid to any certain area of your body. Do this to get the session you want! While most therapists are somewhat intuitive, or have a great sense of what the body is saying, your wants have to be addressed as well for you to relax.

During the session, breathe, and let yourself go. Don't worry about hairy legs, falling asleep, snoring, or anything else - trust me, therapists have seen it all before. The one exception is if something is bothering you or you are uncomfortable - SPEAK UP! Don't waste the whole session and your $$ by suffering in silence, you are doing both yourself and your therapist extreme disservice. If you don't like the music, if the temperature isn't right, if you are getting a cramp, if the pressure needs to be adjusted - say something so the session can be righted for you. Then return to your dreamlike state. A mental trick dealing with wayward thoughts is to say to yourself the phrase, 'be present.' Let yourself really be there in that moment, listen to the fountain and music, feel the massage strokes, and smell the silky oil - allow yourself to fully exist only in that moment. A pure definition of sensual without sexual connotations, is: of the body / of the senses. How often do we take small pleasures and experience the world through our senses? How often do we confine our bodies to merely carry our head and frustrations around? 'Be present.'

Finally, after your massage - drink water, perhaps have a mint. Don't rush to get dressed, make use of the towel to wipe your skin if you wish.  Try to still exist in the moment. Depending on your session type there may be some aftercare suggestions that should be followed for maximum results. Rebook to decrease your chance of letting self care get away from you, and drive carefully.