Massage Therapy is a booming profession which means there are a zillion and one incredible and not so incredible therapists out there. So how do you pick a massage therapist that lives close, won’t break the bank, and is going to meet all of your needs? My hope is that the answer is contained in the following paragraphs. (PS. If you don’t have time to read everything, that’s cool. Scroll to the bottom where I’ve summarized everything into a cute little info-graphic.)
Pick a Massage Therapist who you feel comfortable being around.
If you meet a massage therapist who gives you the heebee jeebee’s or any other bad vibes, GET OUT! Hopefully, it’s all in your head, but you never want to risk your safety for an hour long massage.
Does the Massage Therapist you’re working with practice the massage you’re looking for?
Most every massage therapist I know has their few chosen massage specialties that they practice regularly and continue to learn more about and improve. And many spa’s and other massage clinics offer only a few specific massage styles. So it’s important to find a massage therapist who can give you the massage you’re looking for.
If you walk into a spa looking for injury work, you might not find anyone who can help. The same goes for someone walking into a chiropractors office looking for a hot stone massage. It isn’t likely to happen.
BUT!!!! And it’s a big one.
It’s OK to have a handful of massage therapists in your wellness pocket. You may have a chosen therapist who you see only when you want a deep tissue massage. And you may also have another massage therapist who you seen once a month for reflexology.
A great Massage Therapist listens to you and answers your questions the best they can.
When you’re looking for a regular massage therapist, you need to feel like they are listening to you and tuned in to what your body needs. Only you know your body the best! Doctors, Massage Therapists, and Chiropractors only know your symptoms, what they can measure in blood tests and see on x-rays, and what they can feel with their hands. They don’t know “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” unless they listen to you and hear what you have to say.
So find a therapist who will listen to you. And find a massage therapist that you can ask questions to when you don’t understand. Even if your massage therapist doesn’t know all the answers they can help you find them.
If it doesn’t fit, don’t buy it – the same goes for your massage schedule.
When choosing a massage therapist, it’s important to find one who works around your schedule. This means that if you work until 6pm and your therapist only works from 1-5pm, you need to either a) find a different therapist to go to or b) schedule to see your therapist on days that you have off.
Also, even though a massage therapist may think she’s super human, she’s not. She has a family and hobbies and her own desire for time off just like you do. And if she’s a great therapist, she knows how to appropriately juggle her schedule to fit you in and everything else that’s important to her.
Money makes the world go round and keeps a massage therapist in business.
Two rules of thumb here:
1. Find a massage therapist or a massage clinic that charges reasonably for the area in which you live. You don’t have to go to an over priced spa to find a good quality massage. Often times the neighbor with the massage room in his house or even the massage therapist at a chiropractic office does equally if not a better job.
2. Look at your budget first. If you can afford a massage every day, WOW! I applaud you and wish I was that cool. If you can only afford a massage once a month, FANTASTIC! Another round of applause because hey, you’re cool too. Massages can be expensive, and they fit into everyone’s budget differently. I never want anyone to feel bad because they have to say, “Sorry, I can’t do a massage this month because money is tight.” You are doing the best you can and together we can make things work.
Massage Makes Me Happy (#massagemakesmehappy #MMMH)
There’s nothing worse than going in for a relaxing massage and meeting a grumpy massage therapist who hates his job. So find a therapist who loves what he does.
Safety is number 1.
Remember what I said about getting the heebee jeebee’s about a massage therapist…? (Please scroll up until you find the picture of the penguins and read the following paragraphs.) The exact same thing applies to wherever a massage therapist works: from home, in a spa, or anywhere else, if you get an uneasy, sketchy, heebee jeebee, scared for your life vibe, find the nearest exit and RUN AWAY!
Refer your friends and family to your favorite massage therapist to say THANKS!
The best way for a business to grow is through word of mouth. And it is an absolute honor when someone we’ve massaged sends their loved one to come get a massage from us too.
Home is where my Massage Therapist is.
It’s not 100% necessary, but wouldn’t it be nice not to have to drive or fly to a different state to get a massage. My mom wishes I lived closer, so I could give her a massage more than once or twice a year when we get to visit each other.
Although it’s not impossible to have a massage therapist who lives hours or days away as the crow flies, I recommend picking a massage therapist that you don’t have to travel more than 60 minutes to see. The closer the better especially if you want to see them more than once a month.
“I HAD THE BEST MASSAGE EVER.” – says me every time I get a massage.
A great massage therapist is someone you want everyone to meet. You feel so good after your massage is over that you can’t wait to tell everyone all about it. Everyone MUST meet your massage therapist and get a massage from them!
Why?
Because you can’t stop raving about how absolutely INCREDIBLE your last massage was. Everything was amazing. The music was great. The way she massaged your neck was out of this world. The massage table was nice and warm. You can’t wait to go back. You wake up on massage day knowing that whatever life throws your way – it doesn’t matter because you’re gonna get a massage today.
Picking the right massage therapist doesn’t have to be hard. It’s like shopping for a new pair of shoes or choosing a new car. Sometimes you have to try on a few pairs or take a test drive or two before you find the perfect fit, but once you do – you won’t regret it!
