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How to Receive Massage/Bodywork
Because massage/bodywork is not a common part of our contemporary cultural experience, many people feel uneasy about receiving their first massage. Here are a few guidelines to help you feel at ease and to gain the greatest benefit from your session.
Tell the therapist about areas of your body which are injured, tense or sore. Also mention any medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, a heart problem, chronic headaches, varicose veins, skin rashes, allergies, or recent surgery.
Close your eyes and allow yourself to relax, or to 'let go' as completely as possible. Focus your attention on your breathing, which should be slow, deep and even.
When the therapists hands locate areas of pain or tension in the body, consciously try to relax those areas. As you inhale deeply, visualize the breath flowing to the tense area and relaxing it. As you fully exhale, visualize the tension leaving the body with the breath.
Unnecessary conversation can be distracting to you and the therapist. Good massage/bodywork requires concentration on the part of the therapist. Please confine your conversation mostly to feedback about the massage.
Allow the therapist to move your limbs in various positions. Be limp, like a rag, and do not try to help move your arms, legs, or head. The therapist is a trained professional who will not do anything to hurt you. However, feel free to speak up if anything the therapist does is too painful, ticklish, or uncomfortable in any way.
The best way to receive a massage is with the body completely unclothed. There are several therapeutically-based reasons for this. Any good, professional therapist is sensitive to the need for privacy and will keep your body covered (aka "draped") with a sheet, towel, or blanket, except for the area being massaged. If this arrangement is not comfortable for you, you may wear underwear or a swimsuit.
Contrary to a common notion in our society about massage, it is an ancient and highly effective healing art and not a sexual service. As a completely natural reaction, the body might become aroused as you experience the pleasure of human touch and total relaxation. Understand that if and when this occurs it is usually a simple phase which passes in time, and it need not result in any undue stress or anxiety for client or therapist. However, sexual behavior during a massage is inappropriate and will result in, at the very least, termination of the session.
Very often, as the body releases tension during a massage, the mind will release emotion. If you suddenly feel sad, angry or joyful, do not be alarmed. Allow yourself to experience and express these feelings.
Many people fall asleep during a massage; an indication that the body and mind are processing and releasing stress and tension. The therapist will wake you when it is time to turn over or end the massage.
I hope that your massage is both enjoyable and beneficial, and that the experience will be the beginning of a lifelong practice to help you enjoy the best possible health, wellness, and relaxation.
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