Massage Etiquette: The Do's and Don'ts of Getting a Massage

Do These 3 Things Before You Arrive

First:  Try to fit in a shower if you can.  If you don’t have time to  rinse off quickly, wipe yourself down with baby wipes or unmedicated towelettes. Next, confirm with the office that they accept your usual method of payment and whether you need to bring cash for the tip. Finally, find out if they need you to be there early to complete any paperwork. 

Use Your Words

If your therapist is applying too much pressure or not enough, let them know. You should never be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.  A professional and experienced massage therapist will ask if you are comfortable during your session. 

DON'T worry if you haven’t shaved

Women commonly come in and apologize for not having shaved their legs. It happens almost every day, and your massage therapist isn’t worried about it. Unless your stubble is razor sharp, it won’t bother your massage therapist.

Reschedule your massage if you are sick

Massage therapy by nature is hands on work. Your massage therapist is exposed to your germs and therefore at a greater risk for catching what you have and even passing it on to other clients. If you’re sick, the right thing to do is to stay home until it passes. Your massage therapist will be happy to see you at a later date.

Be prepared to completely undress

To get the most out of your massage, plan on being completely naked. We are professionals; everything that needs to stay covered is going to stay covered. If your lower back or hips are stiff, do yourself a favor and skip the underwear or boxers so we can really address those areas. We will move the sheet around to access the areas that need work—we’re not going to move your underpants. Most good therapists will treat that as a boundary and leave areas that you choose to keep covered alone.