24/02/2024
Things that will annoy your massage therapist.
1. Holding tension & helping
As a massage therapist, my goal is to help alleviate muscular tension, promote relaxation, and restore balance to your body. By holding tension or interfering with the techniques used, the effectiveness of the massage may be compromised, resulting in less optimal outcomes for your overall well-being. Basically you're creating more work for me and you'll end up hurting me.
2. Unreasonable expectations
When clients have unreasonable expectations that surpass the limits of what a massage can realistically achieve, it can lead to disappointment and hinder the true potential for relaxation and healing.
Each individual's body and response to massage therapy are unique. While we strive to alleviate tension, reduce pain, and promote relaxation, it's important to recognise that immediate transformations may not always be possible.
Massage therapy is a process that often requires multiple sessions to address specific concerns comprehensively.
3. Neglecting personal hygiene
This should be a no-brainer. Take a shower before you come in for your massage. Clean skin allows for better absorption of oils and lotions, enhancing the gliding and soothing sensation of the therapist's touch. When clients arrive without showering or with excessive sweat, it can create a barrier that inhibits the full benefits of the massage.
4. Wanting to be "beat up"
Then go to a boxing match. Massage therapy isn't about "beating up" people. We try to calm the nervous system and muscles down. This is like trying to put a fire out with gasoline, what do you think is going to happen? Someone is going to get hurt and that person is going to be the massage therapist. If you keep on a regular massage routine, you wouldn't need to be "beat up"
5. "I forgot to shave!"
No one cares about your leg hair. I'm more concerned if your clean, not smelling of body odor, smoke, f***l, etc.
6. Constantly rescheduling or cancelling appointments
We understand life happens, but when it's constantly happening. You're taking away time slots from other willing paying clients and you're taking away from my paycheck. Be considerate.
7. Asking for a referrals
Finding a massage therapist that fit your needs is a personal preference. Nobody knows that except for you. It's the same thing with what pizza do you think is the best? I could say Papa John's, you can say Pizza Hut. It's all personal preference. Stop asking me.
8. "Don't get lotion in my hair"
There are four occipital muscles that connect your skull to the top of your spine. So if you have a bunch of pressure at the base your skull, well then I can't get to it if you don't want lotion in your hair.
9. Stop telling me how to do my job
"I only want my back massaged because my low back hurts" That isn't going to fix your back pain, FYI. I went to school and studied anatomy, biology, kinesiology. I understand how the muscles work with one another and where pain is coming from. I don't go to your job telling you how to do whatever you do. Let me do my job, thanks.
10. Staying too long after the session or talking too much before the session starts.
We enjoy talking with our clients but you do understand you're not the only client for the day. When you're talking for 5 to 10 minutes into your session time, you're taking away from hands-on time. Which means your session is going to get cut short. If you want to talk, then continue your conversation when you're on the table. We have very limited time, if no time in-between sessions to clean our room and get ready for the next client. Also we're human as well. We like to eat , take a break, go to the bathroom and do our laundry in-between sessions. Please be mindful about when the session is over.
11. Drink water!!!
The more water you drink is better for your overall health for starters. It also makes the job of a massage therapist so much easier to release muscle knots. When you are dehydrated don't expect any muscle release to happen. It's like massaging a rock.
Things to keep in mind for your next massage!
12. Inappropriate behavior
Don't stare at the massage therapist especially when we're sitting behind your head working on your head or neck. It's creepy that you're staring at us shut your eyes, relax...Don't come into a massage expecting that you're going to get a hand job or any s*xual favors. That's called prostitution, which is illegal and that's not what we do... Don't ask a massage therapist out in the middle of a massage. These are no-brainer things once again but unfortunately we have to reemphasize and remind people these things.
Please keep these in mind the next time you go for a massage!
