Massage Preparation
The Ultimate Guide To What To Do Before Your Massage
So you are thinking of a massage. Awesome! Here are some tips on what to do before your massage to make it the best experience possible.
H Two Oh – So as our bodies are mostly made up of water, one of the best things you can do in the lead up to your massage is drink lots of the stuff. Even after a big night out, the alcohol in your blood stream is minuscule compared to water.
So as you are being kind to your body by giving it some time on a massage table, maybe be extra kind and hydrate it.
This doesn’t mean to say you should drink two liters five minutes before the massage therapist knocks on the door. You don’t want a full bladder during your massage, but maybe a few hours out crack open a bottle of bubbly (sparkling water that is, not champagne).
Massage therapists can always tell when a client is dehydrated. No we aren’t psychics, but it’s simply because a body low on water will suck up a lot of massage oil. If you therapist sees this, she may gently remind you at the end of the massage to maybe have some more water to drink.
The other huge bonus of drinking water beforehand is that massage will dehydrate your body as well release toxins.
Also, if you are dehydrated you may get a headache after your massage. Kind of like a hangover. Having your body loaded up beforehand with lots of water will help reduce this happening.
Head For A Shower
Trust us, this is one of the best ways to get the most out of your massage. A warm shower will not only give your therapist a clean body to massage (thank you in advance) but it will start to let your muscles relax and will allow the massage to be deeper.
Are your shoulders as hard as Uluru? A warm shower will start to loosen them, so by the time your massage starts the therapist can spend their time getting into your muscle knots.
Plus, if you have make up on, now is the time to take it off, as well as any jewellery you maybe wearing.
One of the nice things about massage is that you don’t have to look glam for us.
If you prefer, a warm bath is just as good, or a spa if you have one in your hotel, just make sure its not too hot.
If you are feeling a bit fancy and come prepared, adding in some Epsom salts is said to help the relaxation even more.
“The person you are trying to reach is unavailable” If your eyeballs are continuously attached to your phone screen, this might be the time to disconnect them and, gasp, turn off your phone.
If that is too drastic for you, at least turn it to silent. Your Facebook can wait. Actually, every thing can wait.
Your massage time is your time to switch off not only your body but also your brain.
Try turning it off an hour before your massage to give your mind chatter a chance to calm down. Just like a coffee will kick start your adrenals, a mobile phone will trigger your brain. Switch it off, let it go to voicemail, and start your relaxation before your massage therapist even arrives.
Hang out the Do Not Disturb sign – Because who wants the mini bar service knocking on the door checking if you have enough vodka for the evening when you are in the middle of your massage? Well, even if you do, resist the temptation and put out the sign.
No Rump Steak And Mash – Try not to eat at least two hours before your massage. You won’t feel good with a big heavy meal sitting in your stomach. Nuff said.
Get out the kaftan – Okay so that maybe a little bit extreme, but loose comfortable clothing is the way to go.
And yes, it is perfectly acceptable for you to answer your door in a bathrobe. So, leave the skin tight jeans to another time, comfort is the name of the game here.
If you prefer to leave your underwear on during your massage (and most clients and traditional massage therapists prefer this) then make sure its your most comfortable pair.
If you have a favourite G-string that always, how shall we say, rides up, maybe leave that one at the back of the drawer.
Don’t book anything afterwards – your training for the 30 km marathon can wait. Your impression of Wonder Woman, Superman or whomever is your favourite super hero can wait.
You are only going to cancel it anyway because when you get off the table after your massage in that dopey, blissed-out post massage state, you won’t want to do anything anyway.
White space your diary afterwards – So if you are booking a mobile massage, maybe don’t book it at 4 pm when your kids are going to walk through the front door from school, wanting food and Netflix.
Choose a time when you aren’t going to be disturbed and when you are going to have some time to relax.
Skip rush hour – Give yourself heaps of time before your massage. If you are heading to a day spa, get there nice and early to find parking, get through that random traffic jam, and check in at reception.
If the massage is at home, get home early so you aren’t stressed before you start. Your massage therapist will also appreciate you being on time, so it doesn’t throw her schedule out as well.
No coffee, no alcohol = happiness – We are going to sound like your ultra-vegan, super hip, ripped trainer here, but coffee is the nemesis of a good massage.
Excited adrenal glands that are urging you to “do stuff” are the arch enemy of a good massage. Same goes for alcohol. Massage is a powerful thing to do to your body, and one thing it does super well is increase the blood flow through your body.
So those two glasses of wine you had beforehand? They will feel like ten and your massage table might feel like its spinning.
Skip the suntan – because unless you love serious pain, being massaged while you are sunburnt is not a whole lot of fun.
Say it – just say it when you are making your booking.
Having your feet being touched makes you want to scream and is like finger nails running down a chalk board? Let your therapist know either on booking or before the massage takes place.
We have probably heard it all before, okay sometimes we haven’t, but usually we have, so whatever it is that you want to tell us about what you would like from your massage, just speak the words.
Therapists like to think they are super intuitive, and a lot of us are, but we can’t always read what is lurking in the depths of your psyche. So, verbalizing it before we start gets the thumbs up from us and will give you a better massage.
Except … Most massage therapists are simply that, massage therapists aka health care workers. If you are after extras or adult services, massage therapists really aren’t the people to call.
A pretty good indication is that massage therapists call themselves massage therapists, not masseuses, and we would dearly love if you did that too. So instead of wasting your time ringing massage therapists maybe look for adult services instead.
No need to man up – Saying to your therapist “go as hard as you like” or “I love pain” is just asking for trouble cause they may take you at your word.
Feel free to say you would like more pressure or the parts of your body you would like them to concentrate on, but going all Clint Eastwood, “make my day” style with pain could end you up in a whole world of hurt.
A good therapist will know all those niggle pressure points that are awesome for releasing muscles, but sometimes working too much on these can leave you more tense than before the massage started.
Does your massage therapist tick the box? There are a lot of massage therapists in Australia, some good, some not so good, some who have spent a lot of time training, and some who have just done a 3 day weekend course.
When booking feel free to ask about the qualifications of your therapist, are they trained to minimum Cert IV or Remedial Diploma? Don’t be shy because massage is powerful, and you want to know that the person doing it knows what they are doing.
Fully qualified therapists have undertaken extensive study in anatomy and physiology and the body systems and will know when massage shouldn’t be done. Someone who has done a few days study in their spare time won’t know what to avoid and may cause harm.
If you have the flu, postpone your massage – not just for the health of your therapist, but a massage in the middle of flu will make it worse.
Massage will push any bugs or viruses you have around your body and at the end you may feel sicker than when you started. And who really wants to lie face down on a massage table with blocked sinuses anyway.
Is there a certain music play list you like? Well get it ready, yes even if you think death metal may enhance your massage experience.
No, seriously, death metal and massage, whilst not everyone’s cup of tea, can go together.
Your therapist should provide some music if you like, but you may end up listening to whale song and that can set some people on edge if it goes for an hour.
If you have Spotify, or music that that just floats your boat, feel free to tell your therapist you would prefer to play that instead.
Break out the hippie – If you love meditation, maybe indulge a little before your therapist shows up. Yoga addict? now is the time to get stretching. Love essential oils and candles? Feel free to have them on if you are having a massage in your home. And if you love cleansing your home with sage smudge sticks then go for it.
And after all that the final tip? Don’t over think it! A good therapist will have you feeling like a million dollars and want you coming back for more.
