Finding A New
Massage Therapist 

Finding a new massage therapist can be a scary task for some clients. Doing an online search can send you down the rabbit hole of massage therapists in your area. So I am going to share some words of wisdom to help make your search a little bit easier.

The number 1 big tip is having some idea of what you are looking for. If you are looking relaxation and stress relief chances are a massage therapist who works in a chiropractic office isn’t going to be a good match. Might be worth to just write some notes on what type of experience you are seeking.

These general ideas will also help you with an online search as well. They will help to narrow down your search results. And take some time to explore their website. Do they have a blog or newsletter you can sign up for? Even check them out on social media. You can learn a lot about the type of person they are by the content that is shared online. You want someone who has passion about helping people achieve wellness.

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or even send an email asking the therapist questions about their style and in general the types of clients they work with. Massage therapists want to make sure you have a great experience so we welcome client questions.  

Site such as Yelp can be a helpful tool as well. Take some time reading reviews. Clients generally write about cost, location, and the therapist style of work. Reviews can help you get a broad picture of the massage practice you are interested in check out.

Social buying site such as Groupon and can give you lots of choices, but make sure you read the details of the voucher before you buy. And call in advance how long it will take to get an appointment. These sites sell a lot of vouchers for massage, so you may need to wait a month or more before you can get an appointment. But you can try a new person for 50% off their regular rate.

And don’t forget to ask friends and family. A first hand referral is the best way to go. Let people know what you are looking for and there’s a really good chance someone in your inner circle can point you in the right direction for finding a new massage therapist.

Going to a massage chain

Massage chains are popping up all around across the country. Massage Envy and Elements of Massages are the biggest; there are also a few smaller ones as well. Corporate America has done a good job with jumping on the wellness band wagon. They are getting out there in a big way to share with the public the benefits of massage therapy. Massage Envy is also the largest employer of massage therapists and is it also one of the fastest growing franchises and showing no signs of slowing down.

So what does this all mean for you, the massage client? Stick around and I will give you the 411 on how the massage chains market to the massage client and why.

Here is how they work.  When you are done with your massage be ready for the sale pitch. Some chains have sales quotas that need to be met in order to keep their job. You are going to be sold on the idea of how great it would be for you to incorporated massage therapy into your routine every month. Become a member. You sign a contract for X amount of time allowing the chain to charge your credit card every month in exchange you get the membership price which is about $20 off their regular non member rate.

Something’s to keep in mind about the chains and if you decide to join their membership. There is a high staff turnover rate. Therapists get burned out at these places pretty fast. They don’t get paid a lot of money and they need to do a lot of massages in order to pay their bills. If you are not picky about who works on you, then the staff turn over is a non issue. And because therapists are paid on the low end tips are pushed on to clients a lot to help make up that difference. Your massages don’t roll over, so it you don’t use your monthly massage you lose it (This varies for different massage chains so make sure you read your contract carefully). Also by being a member you are also put on to a special email list that opens you up to other specials that you have access to for just being a member.

You also are getting 50 and 80 minute massages. So for the saving math folks reading, it not that great of a deal to join the memberships. It’s all about convenience. You can get in right way no waiting for an appointment; they have plenty of staff on hand.

If you find a great LMT at a chain and they leave because of non competes they sign they are not allowed to tell you where they are going and it’s about a 10 mile radius they can’t work. You may need to do some hunting to find where they are practicing. That’s why these places don’t tell you the therapist’s last name when you book.

But if you are picky about your massages, this may not be the best place for you to go. 

Yes massage chains have turned the massage community upside down, but they have also done a lot to indirectly help the solo LMT. Many clients get turned off by the constant hard sell and the high staff turnover and they start turning to the small business. The small massage business always has your best interests at heart and is never going to put you in an uncomfortable financial position.       

Your first massage

Did you know about 70% of the adult population have never had a massage before! That’s a lot of people who have know idea what they are missing. And a lot of people don’t give a massage a try because they don’t know what to expect from their first massage.

I am here to lift the veil from the massage therapy session and give you a play by play how I treat each and everyone of my clients that steps foot in my door and enjoys and hour on my table.

Many of my clients book online because that option is stated on my voicemail when you call. Online booking saves me and the client a bunch of time no playing phone tag. Just go to my calendar when you feel like and book in the comfort of your own home.

What to book?

This is really an open ended question it really just depends on what your needs are. And there maybe a change in your service after going over your health history form, which is just fine. 

The day of

New clients can come about 5 minutes before their first massage to fill out a health history form. If you have a lot to say then you may need to come a little sooner. This form gives your therapists a good understanding of what’s going on in your body so it’s important to be honest. You will not be judged by your life style choices. Your massage therapist is here to help you de-stress from life.

Also if you are a smoker it’s important that you please be respectful to your therapist and to the other clients in the office and not smoke 30 minutes before your appointment. Many massage therapists are non smokers themselves and being in close quarters to a smoker can bring on breathing challenges. Plus massage cream/oil also draws of the cigarette smell from your skin.

Right before we begin our session I always ask if you need to use the bathroom. There is nothing worse than having to go pee in the middle of a session! And if you are having a session longer than an hour, going to the bathroom beforehand is a really good idea.

Now to the fun part, the massage. I always ask if there are areas that you need some special attention on before we start, it’s your massage so I want to give you the best possible treatment I can.

How much to undress? That’s really up to you. I always say get undress to your comfort level. For example, if you just want you back and neck worked on then if you wanted to you could just leave on your pants. And women would need to take off their bra. You will be covered by a sheet at all times, so no worries about being exposed. Your job as a client is to enjoy your session and speak up if you would like more or less pressure. 

After your massage

If you have had a session with a lot of focused work you maybe sore the next day. When you get home if you are feeling like your muscle are getting tight, then I suggest putting an ice pack on the area to help calm down the inflammation. And doing some gentle yoga stretches will help to keep the area loose as well. And if you have had a relaxation type of session, then enjoy a great night sleep. You will feel fantastic the next day.

Why you shouldn't
smoke before a massage

We all know smoking is bad for you, so I am not going to get into a lecture about the health risks of puffing on a cigarette. But I am more going to talk about the massage etiquette on smoking.

When people book a session at our office online in our office policy I ask people who are smokers not to smoke 30 minutes before their session or I reserve the right not to have one of my team members not to work on you and you will be charged for the session.

And I always getting a chuckle when people ask “Do people really smoke before they get massage”?

And the answer is yes they do!  

No offence to the smokers who are reading, but it is gross being in your personal space after you have taken a drag out of that last cigarette. Myself and my team members are all none smokers and many of the clients that visit us are non smokers. And when a heavy smoker leaves the office they leave an odor trail.

Here’s the thing, that cigarette odor is in your system not just on your hands and breath and when massage oil/cream/lotion is applied to your skin, the products brings all that out! So it gets into the sheets, air and on the massage therapists hands.

And when you leave that odor sticks around for  bit, in the warmer months the widows may need to be open up to air out the treatment room, so that the next client doesn't feel like they just stepped into a cigar bar.

So for all you massage clients who are smokers I ask you to please be respectful of your therapists and the other massage clients. Shower before your session and don’t smoke on the car ride over to the office either. Also smoking in front of the building is also not a good idea.

And on the flip side clients who are non-smokers have the right to ask if their massage therapist is a smoker. There is nothing worse than getting a massage as a non-smoker by a massage therapist who is a smoker.

Moral of the story the smell of cigarette smoke can really ruin the peaceful mood of a massage.

Are you looking for a new massage therapy in the West Boylston area? Come check me out, you can book your next massage ONLINE