Which Massage Is Best For Me?

One of the most common questions that I am asked by new clients is what massage modality should I book? There are so many to choose from and I just am not sure which one would be best for me. This is a great question to ask! The simple answer I often give is that this choice really depends on your goals for the session. 

Is your main goal to relax? Is it to address an injury or chronic pain you've been dealing with? How about Both? How about migraines, tension headaches and arthritis? Are you pregnant? Do you want to address the source of your pain, if so are you willing to commit to come in as often as 1-2xs/week and perform client homework including stretching and strengthening? Or are you wanting to just feel good and de-stress. These are just a few of the questions I may ask you prior to the session. 

If you are a new client I often wait until the initial new client interview and paperwork to determine which massage is best for you. As a massage therapist it is extremely helpful for the client to let me know what they like and don't like and what their expectations are for the session. Feedback is not only helpful for me but also ensures that you will receive the best massage for your needs. Every individual is different; we all have different experiences, bodies and pain tolerances. No two people are the same and this goes the same with massages. 

While it is not necessary to "direct" the massage, it is important that you let us know where you’re hurting and if anything we do is uncomfortable. Not communicating before, during and after the session will lead to subpar treatments. We are here to serve you, we cannot read minds and while I like to think my intuition is spot on I've always appreciated client feedback to reaffirm the progression of the treatment. 

If you are unsure what massage to schedule online, read through the descriptions and choose the type of massage that best fits your needs. If your still unsure which massage to book I recommend scheduling a “Swedish Massage”, when you come in for your professional consultation before your massage we can modify your treatment plan or massage type to what we both believe will ultimately serve you the best.  

Here is a chart to help you decide on session length:

Session Length	General Time Guideline
30 minute	Perfect to address one small area. An example of an area would be the neck, lower back, calves, etc.
60 minute	Great for a general full body massage, to address two small areas or one large area (ex: back).
90 minute	This time length is most recommended. During this session we have enough time to do a full body massage and focus on 2 areas.
120 minute	For the ultimate relaxation, this time length allows us to do a full body massage and focus on 2-4 areas.

Some questions that might help your therapists customize your treatments include:

What is your primary goal? (Decrease pain, relax, prepare for a sporting event, etc)

Are you pregnant? If you are, definitely book a prenatal. 

Do you enjoy deep, medium or light pressure?

Do you want to address the underlying issue of your pain? 

Are you willing to do client homework (aka stretching and strengthening)?

Are you willing to commit time to massage and other therapeutic treatments?

Do you suffer from headaches, migraines, TMJ dysfunction? 

Are you wanting a full body massage? 

(Yes, No, or If there is time after addressing major problem areas) 

Do you experience neck pain? 

When did your pain begin and when is the pain worse?

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments!