08.13.08
What you can expect at your first massage.
Many people don’t get massaged because they don’t know what to expect. What happens?, what do I do? Do I have to take all my clothes off? Will I be covered? etc…
Here is what you can expect.
When you walk in for the first time the massage therapist will take you to a room or have you sit in a waiting or sitting area and have you fill out an intake form. This form gives the therapist your name and address, birth date, and phone number. Why? some therapist want your birthdate for medical reasons or also because they may offer you specials or discounts for your birthday, which is also why they ask for your address, you don’t want to miss out on any special offers or discounts do you? They may ask for your e-mail address for the same reason. Your phone number is in case the therapist needs to get a hold of you to cancel or change your appointment.
Some therapist work with insurance companies, so there may be a section asking about your insurance, the policy number, name, and address. They may also ask for your doctor’s name incase your doctor is the one who made the refferal for you to have the massage. The insurance company may not accept the session if a doctor did not make the referral.
There will also be a section asking about your medical history. This is important because there are certain conditions that could interfer with the massage. For example a person with high blood pressure maybe asked if the condition is under control or if you are under any medications for your condition. Massage increases the circulation in the body and if you have high blood pressure that is not under control a massage could worsen your condition, you could pass out or worse, go into cardiac arrest. There are also certain skin conditions that could interfer as well. Anything like poison ivy, which could not only be spread over more of your body by massage, but also spread to the massage therapist as well. We also like to know if you have had any recent surgeries, we don’t want to reinjury the area. We also like to know if you are taking any medications that could interfer with your ability to feel pain or pressure.
After filling out the intake, form the therapist will take a look at it and ask you any further questions based on what you filled out. Then the therapist will talk about the session and how best to approach the session so you get the most benefit from the massage. For example if you are having lower back problems the therapist may ask you to start off by lying face down on the table so that area can be worked first. Your therapist will also ask you the type of pressure you prefer, light to firm. This may also be asked on the intake form. Your therapist will also let you know how the massage session will progress, will the therapist start will your back, then legs, then have you turn over etc… You will also be told to lay under the sheets on the table, or towel depending on what type of massage style your therapist was trained in. Most likely though you will be under a sheet and blanket. Your body will be covered at all times by the sheet and blanket. Only the part of you body being massaged will be uncovered, massaged, then covered back up.
At this point your therapist should say something to the effect of “You can undress to your level of comfort”. The level of comfort will obviously vary from client to client. For women it is recommended that you take your bra off, but if you are not comfortable taking your underwear off, don’t. For men if you want to leave your underwear on that is fine too, but remember if you wear boxers that come kind of far down on the thigh, the therapist may ask for you to either take them off or if they can be rolled up, so that the therapist can work on your thighs.
You should also tell the therapist if there are any area on you body you do not want massaged. Some people don’t like thier feet touched, let your therapist know. It should go with out saying that a legitimate massage therapist will never massage breasts or genitals. There are some therapists who are trained to do breast massage for breast cancer patients or other abnormalities dealing with the breasts, but these therapist often work with health care practioners and have a special training or license to do so.
Ok, so you have been over your intake form and know how the therapist is going to start your session as well as how you should lay on the table and how you will be covered(draped). You have told her of any areas you don’t want massaged. Now the therapist will leave the room so you can have privacy to get undressed and under the sheets on the massage table. When the therapist comes back in, the massage will begin.
Now lets talk of something that is of concern mostly to men. Some men are concerned about what will happen when the therapist massages their thigh. Ok, lets say it, Will you get an errection? Massage engages the parasympathetic system. The system that is responsible for controling smooth muscle contraction, regulate cardiac muscle, or stimulate or inhibit glandular secretion. In other words the PSN (parasympatetic nervous systm)plays a role in the pelvis in sexual activity. In males, the cavernous nerves from the prostatic plexus stimulate smooth muscle in the fibrous trabeculae of the coiled helicene arteries to relax and allow blood to fill the corpora cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum of the penis, making it rigid to prepare for sexual activity. To put it more simply, the PSN is responsible for making the penis errect.
It is possible for some men, when getting a massage that they become so relaxed that they can get an errection. Bottom line is if you don’t make a big deal about it neather will your therapist. If you find your therapist does make a big deal about it, then you should find a new therapist. I can also guarantee that 9 times out of 10 your therapist is not even going to notice, unless you say something. It is not something you should be embarassed about, it happens and a mature therapist will not make a scene or big deal over it. If you have any concerns about this you can talk to your therapist about it. So don’t let this worry stop you from experiencing the benefits of a massage. It may not even happen to you.
To learn more about the parasympathetic nervous system click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasympathetic_nervous_system
If you have any other questions or concerns about getting a massage or what to expect, talk to a Massage Therapist. If you want ask your questions here in the comments section. Don’t let your worries prevent you from getting a massage. I am sure anything you are worried about can be overcome just by talking to a therapist about it before your session.
Love and Light
Shellie Morin LMT
www.sensesationalmassage.com
