GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MASSAGE

• Do not eat just before a massage session
• Be on time
• Give the massage therapist accurate health information
• Good communication is very important. Before the session let your massage therapist know what your needs are. During the session, report any discomfort whether it is from the massage or due to any distractions related to the environment, e.g. room temperature, music volume, and lighting. Give feedback to your therapist, e.g. amount of pressure, speed of movement.
• Don’t be afraid to discuss any apprehensions or concerns. It is important that you be comfortable. Your massage therapist is a professional dedicated to do his/her best to help your feel at ease.
• Breathing helps to facilitate relaxation. People often stop or limit their breath when they feel anxious or a sensitive area is massaged. If you realize your are stopping your breathing, let yourself breathe
• Tightening up your muscles during the massage is counterproductive. If you are able to, relax those muscles. Let your massage therapist know this is happening. They may need to adjust the technique being used.
• If anything is happening during the massage that you dislike, you have the right to ask the massage therapist to stop. If necessary, you also have the right to end the session.
• If you are dizzy or light headed after the massage, do not get off the table too fast. · DRINK EXTRA WATER AFTER A MASSAGE
• Massage has its greatest benefits over time. The therapeutic benefits effects are cumulative, so the more often a person get a massage, the better they will feel. From one session to the next, relaxation deepens as the chronic patterns of stress in the body are affected and released. These changes are readily felt day-to-day life as well.