Have you ever gone for a massage therapy session with high hopes for pain relief, and left the experience wondering why you just paid someone $70 for slathering oil all over your skin? It's happened to me more times than I can count. 30 minutes into the session I find myself wondering when the massage is going to start? Inevitably, I resign to the disappointing reality that it never will. Even though I was clear in communicating my needs (specific areas of my body that need attention, level of pressure, etc), my needs don't get met. I leave the appointment frustrated, with 100% of the aches and pains I arrived with. This is when I become convinced that some Massage Schools may have serious quality issues when it comes to what they are teaching and who they choose to certify. Or perhaps my standards are unreasonably high because I happen to be a professional Massage Therapist of 15 years myself? Yet the vast majority of my clients (thousands over the years) come through my door with the exact same complaint. And this is all the confirmation I need to know that I am not imagining the scope of the problem.
Massage is a much needed investment in health, happiness and well-being. Receiving regular sessions improves quality life in so many ways. It unlocks muscle tissue and keeps the body flexible, which helps avoid future injuries. It circulates blood and lymph, giving the immune system a wonderful boost. It stimulates endorphins to elevate your mood. It provides a sense of feeling connected through human touch and so much more. Most importantly, it releases stress from your body. And in turn, this releases stress from your mind. In the absence of physical and emotional stress, humans experience the potential for great freedom and joy. And it's a wonderful gift to receive bodywork that can move you closer to that potential. Does your therapist move you closer to a state of freedom in your physical body? Do you leave their office feeling like a new person, with a clearer mind, ready to be productive in a way you haven't felt for weeks? If so, then you are lucky to have found an effective Massage Therapist with some serious talent. Stick with that person and give them your support. Know that the quality they deliver is truly rare and can be difficult to find.
If you haven't been able to find an effective massage therapist, it's time to do research. Start by asking your friends and family who they go to and why they go to that person. Find out what they like most about their therapist. Listen for details about what kind of therapy and healing experience the practitioner provides and whether or not it sounds like a good match for you. Sometimes word of mouth can be the most powerful source for finding exactly what you are looking for. If not, then call around and interview any practitioner you would consider hiring. Have a list of questions ready: Ask what techniques they specialize in, what kind of pressure they can deliver, and what kind of pain issues they work with. Don't forget to ask how long they have been in practice and how big is their clientele base is. If someone is seeing clients 5 days a week and has a ton of repeat business, there is a good reason why: They are in high demand and have a regular following! And when you finally arrive for your long-awaited session, make sure you clearly communicate your needs. Don't be afraid to convey exactly what you need, in order to receive the type of healing you need in that moment. Ask, (and if you've chosen a great massage therapist whose style matches what you are seeking), you will surely receive!
By Angela Bothwell:
Banyan Tree Healing Center, Massage SLO
