If you’re like a lot of people who love going to the spa for some relaxing time, you would know by now what goes down at spas and massage clinics. But if you’re a first-timer and is wondering what to expect, here’s a list of what to do before, during, and after a massage.
Before:
- Do your research – You should equip yourself with the knowledge of where to get a massage. We highly suggest you go to a place where you’re not pressured to sign up on any contract. After all, what you want is to relax and not get ripped off on a monthly basis.
- Make an appointment – Most spas allow walk-ins, but you need to be sure that you’re not wasting your time going to the spa and not be catered to right away just because you forgot to make an appointment.
- Don’t eat a lot – We recommend that clients don’t feel entirely full during a massage since you will mostly be lying down the entire process and because massages are known to stimulate digestion. 30 minutes to an hour is just about the best amount of time to grab food before having a massage.
- Wear comfortable clothing – During massages, therapists will normally ask you to take off some of your clothes and change into robes or be covered in towels. You want to wear comfortable clothes so it’ll be easy to take them off and put them back on after the massage.
- Go to the bathroom – Getting a massage will take more or less an hour so it’s essential that you take care of your personal necessities before going in for a massage.
During:
- Communicate with the therapist – Once you’re inside, before doing the massage, your therapist will be asking a few questions and will discuss with you everything you need to know about the massage you’re getting. This is where you ask the questions or concerns that you have so your therapist can gauge the level of your needs and preferences.
- Speak up – When you feel like the therapist may not be hitting the right spots or pressure, speak up and let them know.
- Remember, it shouldn’t hurt – While at some point you would feel a little pain during the process, if it feels too much, let your therapist know right away.
- It’s okay to be naked – We respect everyone’s privacy but normally when getting a massage, your therapist might ask you to take off all your clothes. Undergarments can get in the way of reaching deeper layers of muscles and tissues, but keep them on if you’d like. They may get some lotion on them though while therapist work around those, so don’t wear expensive undergarments. Be comfortable enough as you’re dealing with professionals.
After:
- Rehydrate – Just like when working out, your muscles get dehydrated right after a massage. It’s necessary to replenish your body with lost water.
- Reschedule – You might think that going to the spa is a one-off thing, but you’re wrong. You will never see all the benefits of a massage if you do it just once or very rarely. In fact, according to Natalie Johnson, a certified massage therapist based in Boston, “Massage should be considered a part of a long-term wellness routine.”
- Avoid caffeine – You’d want to drink your morning cup of coffee before the massage but not right after. This is because caffeine can tense the muscles that were worked on. You can try herbal tea or just plain water instead.
Now that you know what to expect during a massage, the next thing to do is to schedule an appointment with us. We look forward to your visit! 🙂