FAQ Part 2

These next few posts talk about Frequently Asked Questions that many might have about legitimate massages. While talking to my husband about his massage experiences, he asked me a question that I never even thought about answering: Should I talk during a massage?
Answer: Not loudly. Many places have more than one room therefore loud conversations may interfere with other clients. However, this does not mean that all talking is prohibited. Communication with your therapist is key to providing the most therapeutic massage possible. You need to let them know if the pressure is too much or not enough, or if there are areas to avoid. Even though a lot of this can be covered in the consultation, sometimes there are things going on in the body that you didn't know about until someone gets in there and starts working. So don't be afraid to talk to your therapist during the massage if you have specific needs.
But how does this apply to regular conversations? That is entirely a personal choice. We do call it massage therapy for a reason. We hold stress in our body and many times a massage can stimulate some emotional release and that could involve the need to talk. I had a client who was kinda chatting throughout, but still not too much, till I got to her neck. After that, there was a flood of conversation involving all kinds of work and personal problems. When I moved on she said, "I don't know why I just told you all that." It happens.
In general, talking during a massage is fine. Just keep the volume to a minimum if there are other clients in the clinic.

What actually happens?

I've had some first time clients who have not only never had one of my massages, but never had a massage in general. Sometimes they have an no idea about what to expect, sometimes they have some idea, though those ideas are necessarily accurate. I've even talked to a client who was treated inappropriately by the therapist without realizing it. So, what should you expect from a legitimate massage? The next couple posts will have a FAQ regarding massage.
1) Do I have to get completely naked?
- It's up to you. You only need to dress down to your level of comfort, and if you feel you need to keep your underwear on, that's fine. No matter what, there are certain areas of the body that will remain covered at all times- Breast area, genitalia area, and the crevice of the rectum. If anything, the only undergarment I recommend taking off is the bra, and this is to allow for more fluid strokes along the back and shoulders. However, there are some styles of massage that are completely clothed, such as Shiatsu, so if disrobing is an issue for you, consider finding a therapist who does Shiatsu.