Ask Me Anything
5 things your massage therapist wants you to know…
Hello and welcome to the first installment of the Body Aligned blog!
My name is Abbie. I’ve been a licensed massage therapist (LMT) in the state of Oregon for a decade and I’m here to offer some insights on the massage and bodywork industry. Whether you’re a client or therapist, prospective or active, this blog is for you!
This AMA series is intended to answer frequently asked questions that I’ve recieved from my own clients in addition to clearing up any misinformation or misrepresentation about the massage and bodywork industry that I’ve encountered personally or in media. My hope is to demistify some of the more cloudy aspects of the field and to normalize the concept of safe and platonic physical touch.
Chances are, if you’re here, you’ve probably experienced bodywork before. Or you’re thinking about it. You might even be a client of mine. Perhaps you’re someone who’s always wanted to get a massage but for one reason or another, the idea makes you nervous. Maybe you’re self conscious about some aspect of your body? Maybe you have an injury you’re not sure an LMT can address? Maybe you’re not sure how to talk to your therapist once you’re on the table?
Don’t worry. I’ve got you.
This first AMA post is going to be about various reasons people avoid booking an appointment. Or, rather, things that clients have told me make them feel embarassed or otherwise uncomfortable about recieving massage.
Do I need to shave my legs?
No! Often. So often. Way too often, I will be working with a client, and at some point during the session I will hear some version of the following phrase; “I’m so sorry, I forgot to shave my legs.”
Body hair politics dictate a lot about how we as a culture percieve femininity, masculinity and cleanliness. Over the years I’ve had different responses to this confession. From, “it doesn’t bother me in the least” to “cool, neither did I.” Light-hearted and jovial is kind of my vibe, after all. But I think I’ve landed on my favorite response; “you do not owe me a hairless body”. Whether you forgot to shave or simply just don’t shave (I’m specifically talking about legs but this is true for any and all head, back and body hair), the job remains the same. We’re massage therapists. We’re here to work on your muscles and gosh darn it, that’s what what we’re going to do! Your leg/back/arm hair isn’t going to stop us*.
While I’m at it, I’m going to say the same is true for pretty much any aspect of the body that one might feel self-conscious about. Scars, moles, prosthetics, stretch marks, body fat, tattoos (barring anything racist, culturally insensitive or homophobic), piercings, etc. etc. etc. Not only am I not concerned with what the body on my table looks like, rarely do these things interfere with my work. For the sixty or ninety minutes that you’re on my table, I’m focused on your muscles. How are they treating you? How are you treating them? How can I help you achieve balance in your body?
*One small caveat to this: If we’re doing cupping therapy or kinesio taping, I will ask you to shave any excessive patches of hair in areas that the cups/tape will be applied prior to your session. Thick hair prevents proper adherence to the skin.
What if my therapist is using too much/little pressure?
Please speak up. Ideally, your therapist will check in with you in the beginning and throughout the session regarding their pressure level and your comfort. You are not going to hurt my feelings by asking for adjustments. That’s my job.
I DO NOT WANT TO HURT YOU. I do not subscribe to the “no pain/no gain” philosophy. Pain is our body’s way of alerting us to tissue damage. Sometimes it can be a good thing, like the delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) from a good workout. Much of the time it’s an indicator of something more serious (i.e. nerve damage, muscle over stretch, joint hyperextension, bone fracture, bruising).
Yes, there are some massage modalities that can be less than comfortable. Cupping, trigger point therapy (TPT), and some varieties of deep tissue massage all have the potential to create some discomfort. Here’s my rule of thumb when it comes to modalities like that: If it’s creating a pain that’s sharp/shooting AND/OR that you don’t feel like you can breathe through, tell your therapist immediately. I encourage my clients who are experiencing a new modality for the first time to communicate with me continually about the quality of sensations they’re experiencing. I will also not perform a style of massage that I have not experienced on my own body first hand. I want to be able to describe to my clients what to expect.
Massage therapists, especially the ones that have been in practice for a while, develop skills that allow them to “read” their clients body cues. Altered breathing, facial expressions, holding or angling the body in a particular position (we call that guarding). If we notice any of these cues, the primary directive is to check in with our client and adjust as needed. Even with those heightened skills, people are very good at masking pain and we therapists can’t always tell that you’re uncomfortable until it’s too late.
Please, please, please tell your therapist if you need more of this, less of that, or whether or not something is uncomfortable. I want you to feel safe on my table.
How often should I get a massage?
The answer to this question varies from person to person. But I’ll tell you one thing, a single one hour session once a year isn’t going to do much.
The benefits of massage, like most self care and preventive care practices, compound over time. If you can swing it, I wouldn’t go longer than one month without getting a massage. I have clients that I’m fortunate enough to see weekly. Now, I recognize that that frequency can be a financial hurdle for most of us but you see what I mean. I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much massage*. Especially if you’re recovering from an injury.
More and more insurance companies are recognizing the therapeutic benefits of massage and are including X number of sessions in their policies. Be sure to check your coverage, you could be getting your massage for free (or, you know, for the cost of your insurance premiums).
*Unless you have cold or flu symptoms, fever, concussion, or are less than 6 weeks out from a major surgery.
Should I get my massage before or after my workout?
The short answer is after. The long answer is, it depends.
When you’re excersicing, you’re putting fatigue on your muscles. Massage after a good workout can be a great way to relax, reduce pain and stiffness and maintain flexibility. Recieving a deep, relaxing massage before a workout can put unecessary stress and strain on those muscles and increase the likelihood of a strain/sprain injury.
HOWEVER, there are particular styles of massage that are well equipped to prepare your body BEFORE that tournament, marathon or other strenuous activity you’re about to go do. Massage therapists that specialize in sports and event massage know what I’m talking about. You’ll usually see us under a canopy at an event doing some joint mobilization or tapotement techniques. These styles are intended to prepare your body for movement by warming up the muscles, improving flexibility and mentally preparing you for peak performance. You’re less likely to see Swedish massage being used in these scenarios. The aim is to invigorate rather than relax.
The corrective exercise specialist in me would like to jump in here and say, even if you’re not recieving sport massage prior to your event, PLEASE, for the love of everything good, do some intentional dynamic stretching and warm up before you start running around and/or lifting all the things.
Do I have to be naked?
Hell to the no. Not if you don’t want to. When your therapist says “dress to your level of comfort”. They mean it. If that means no clothing, not a problem. You will always be draped securely and in a way that preserves your modesty and comfort. If that means you go ahead and pop on some overalls and a parka, excellent. There’s still plenty to be done.
I like to let my clients know what kind of massage they can expect from me depending on their comfort level with clothing. Compression, friction, vibration/tapotement, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), pin & stretch, shiatsu, Thai, Tuina, chair massage, reflexology, acupressure, reiki, Rolfing, and structural integration are all techniques and modalities that can be performed fully clothed. Not all massage therapists practice all of these techniques so be sure to check in with your LMT about what they can do for you! I went ahead and bolded all of my specialties on that list.
Key takeaway: Talk to your LMT about your level of comfort. They should be doing everything in their power to make you feel safe and heard throughout your session.
Please Note: The thoughts and opinions shared on this blog are my own personal perspectives and do not necessarily represent the official views or stances of the broader massage and bodywork industry or any organizations I may be affiliated with.
Disclaimer: Massage is a complementary therapy and should not replace medical care from a licensed medical professional. If you are considering massage for a specific medical condition, it is crucial that you discuss it with your healthcare provider first.
