Let’s face it. Not all the massages you’ve received in the  past were what you were looking for. Either you just wanted to relax and had a therapist dig their elbows in your back, or you wanted some deep work and the therapist was giving you a Swedish massage that was way too light.

I have good news for you. It doesn’t have to be that way in the future. All you need to do is a little prep work to ensure that you not only enjoy the session but that you’re also satisfied with the results. After all, you’re spending time and money on the session, you should  have it meet your expectations. If you’ve ever had to withstand a full 60 minute massage with a therapist who simply wasn’t to your liking, you know that it can ruin your whole experience.

Here are some tips to choosing the right massage therapist for you:

Know your goals

We’re all looking for something different from a massage so it’s important to ask yourself what you’re specifically looking for- pain relief in a particular region of your body (i.e. tense neck and shoulders), treatment for a medical condition such as tennis elbow or an entrapped nerve, or stress relief.

Do your homework

Before choosing a therapist, there are many factors to consider. You may want to check out their website online and then ask them for a brief phone conversation where you can ask them some questions. The following are some great questions to ask so you can get a better idea if they are the right therapist for you:

How many years have they been practicing?
The more clients a therapist works with, the more likely they will be intuitive. They will also more likely have a better understanding of anatomy and physiology since they have worked on more bodies, which may make their work more effective.

What’s their favorite modality to practice and what’s their philosophy when it comes to massage and healing?
While some therapists prefer to give deep tissue massage and have a no-pain no-gain approach, others may prefer to use a more gentle approach to bodywork, working with the body’s natural ability to heal itself without using force. It’s good to know what type of work the therapist loves doing, as that’s usually going to be the best work to get from them.

You also might want to ask them why they chose this profession in the first place. A therapist who is passionate about what they do is almost always going to be giving you better quality work.

The only real way to know is to try

One of the best ways to find out if a therapist is to your liking is to book a session with them and give them a try. But remember, you may not necessarily have to go through a full hour massage with someone to try them out. Try asking them if you can book a 30-minute session to start and if you like their work, extend the treatment to either 60 minutes. Ask them if they can schedule you in when they have an opening afterwards to make sure that it could work out.

Looking for a great massage therapist?  Schedule your appointment today 309-212-8865.