Feeling Stressed?  Stiff, sore, and achy?  Or perhaps you need rehabilitation from an injury?  Have you considered massage?  It’s National Massage Therapy Awareness Week which runs from October 24th to the 30th in 2021.  So if you’ve never had a massage, now is the perfect time to try something new!

Massage used to be seen as a way to pamper yourself at luxury spas.  Or, at the opposite end,  seedy massage “parlors” of old used to offer more than just a massage.  But today, massage is known to be therapeutic and according to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) 30% of those getting a massage are there for medical or health reasons recommended by their doctor. Only 19% got the massage for pampering purposes as opposed to health or wellness such as stress management.

There are many people who haven’t gotten a massage yet because they are uncomfortable with the idea of taking off their clothes or just don’t know what to expect.  Here is a link to the AMTA’s site for What To Expect at Your Massage Session.  Hopefully the information you find there will answer your questions and alleviate concerns.

I am a huge advocate of massage and regularly schedule appointments for myself.  It’s for both body aches and stress management (talk to my shoulders!)  By far, the biggest question I get is, “Do I have to take all of my clothes off?”  And the answer is no you don’t, but if you want to gain the most benefits from a massage, eventually you should.  

I will admit, that the first time I had a massage, I was unsure what to do, so I wore a pair of boxers pulled them up as high as I could. Then I wondered why my low back and the backs of my legs didn’t get massaged. That’s when I learned that any clothing left on is seen as a wall by massage therapists.  

A trained massage therapist will not massage over any clothing. Instead, they will stop as if a barrier or force field was put up. Everything that is uncovered will get massaged, but they understand that some people may be uncomfortable and will honor the message you are sending. Basically, undress to your level of comfort.

One way to try massage for the first time is with a Chair massage—-you get to wear all your clothes! You might see these set up at Health and Wellness fairs. Make sure that it’s a certified massage therapist providing your chair massage though. I’ve seen lots of nail salons that have massage chairs but the person giving you the massage is not a trained therapist.

Many businesses now offer chair massage as an on-site benefit. Employers understand the need to reduce stress among their employees. Some companies will pay for the massage therapist to be there. Other companies provide the opportunity but expect you to pay the massage therapist.

Let me know if you’ve been getting out and trying new things, especially the soothing benefits of massage.