8 Tips From Massage Therapists To Save You From Embarrassment

The whole point of a massage is to relax yourself ― to soothe sore muscles, reduce pain and lower stress. But lying on a massage table with nothing but a sheet between you and a virtual stranger is an experience that leaves both the client and massage therapists vulnerable. Both may be unsure of what to expect, which can lead to a less-than-ideal massage.

As a starting point, Michael Jones , a pain-reduction massage therapist in private practice in San Diego, California, and Bangkok, Thailand, has had “ a few uncomfortable situations with clients who misunderstood the professional nature of our service” and expected sexual favors. “The client must be respectful, and the therapist must always maintain professionalism,” he explained.

Here are eight things massage therapists recommend you do to maintain a respectful relationship with your massage therapist and have the best experience possible.

Don’t lie about your medical history.

Most spas ask clients to fill out a form with their medical history before getting on the massage table. Massage therapists aren’t being nosey.

They need to know this information because “with certain conditions, some types of treatment should be avoided,” explained Chernell Bartholomew, a therapeutic massage therapist with Vitality MVMT in Toronto, Canada. “It could be dangerous if you lie about medications or health conditions,” she said.

According to Jones, it’s particularly important to know if a client is taking blood thinners since they can increase the risk of bruising. “Deep tissue or forceful techniques could lead to larger, more painful bruises or internal bleeding” for these clients, Jones explained. Jones also avoids deep pressure massage for clients taking pain relievers such as