Massages from a licensed professional masseuse are life-changing. From tension relief to sheer indulgence, massages help you feel better every level — physical, mental, emotional.
"As a culture we are always on the go," says Erin Broderick, a licensed massage therapist working in New York for seven years. "It's important to acknowledge when you need to take care of yourself."
But too many people deny themselves this little luxury because they're scared. And if you've never had a professional massage before, that's understandable! So to help you overcome your fears, we chatted with Erin about exactly what to expect from — and how to prepare for — your first massage.
You aren't just laying there butt-naked.
"You will be covered the entire time unless the therapist is working on that area," Erin says. "It's called 'draping,' and there are even laws against not being properly draped in NY."
Hit the bathroom and avoid eating a big meal before your session.
"You're going to be on your stomach for a good portion of your massage, so you want to be comfortable," advises Erin. "Plus if your therapist does any abdominal work, stuff gets moved around in there."
Expect to disclose details.
You don't have to tell them your life story, but your therapist should know of any skin conditions, injuries, or sensitivities you have ahead of time — especially when it comes to your skin.
"If you have very specific allergies, feel free to bring your own products," Erin says.
A good therapist will respect that and work with you to give you the ultimate relaxation experience.
You are in control of your session.
"Speak up," Erin says. "If the pressure isn't what you want, tell the therapist. If the room is too cold, tell the therapist. If you want more time on their glutes rather than shoulders, that's ok too. And if you don't want any work on your glutes at all — that's fine, too!"
You may experience some post-massage discomfort.
No pain, no gain — right?
"The massage should straddle the line of uncomfortable, without being painful — otherwise the therapist risks hurting the client," Erin says. "When someone is getting 'hurt' their natural reaction is to tense up, so soreness up to 48 hours after a massage is normal."
Don't expect magical results right away.
"It really depends on why the person is getting the massage," Erin tells us. "It might take a couple of sessions before seeing results. Therapist can't fix in an hour what's taken years to develop."
Your therapist isn't judging you.
"We don't care if you haven't shaved your legs," Erin assures us. "Underwear on or off is your call.You can talk —or not — if you want to. It really is all about you and what you want out of the session."
It's officially time to treat yo'self!
