Finding a great provider doesn’t have to be hard, but it does require that you know a little about yourself.
Here’s our guide to finding your next massage, especially when you don’t know where, or should we say, WHO, to start with. Finding a Massage Therapist doesn’t have to be hard.
Here’s our suggestions to finding the perfect massage therapist for you.
1. Know what you like
Sounds simple right? If you haven’t had 100 massages say from your fellow LMT coworkers or from other students in your massage class, how could you really know what you do and don’t like?
If you aren’t sure, you’ll need to try.
You have to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince, isn’t that how the saying goes? Well, please don’t actually go around trying to kiss anyone—that will leave you on a blacklist with no LMT wanting to take you on as a client.
Finding what you like in a therapist means you might have to be open to trying a few different therapists, with different specialties to really see what’s out there (*cough* we might know of a site that helps you find therapists with availability).
Once you’ve tried a new provider or a new style of massage, take a few minutes to note what was really great about the service. Maybe the pressure was perfect, maybe there was a moment you felt so relaxed that you actually drooled on the floor (hey, it happens, we get it).
You can also take note of what you didn’t like and see if it’s a trend with future therapists.
2. What’s your pressure style
This is so important- pressure preferences vary widely. Most people don’t become deep-tissue (DT) junkies on their first massage. It’s an acquired taste. I have a confession; I am not a deep-tissue junky (despite working in the industry for 8 year, I feel like a rarity). I can handle DT in short bursts, but too much of it ruins a massage for me. So, if you’re like me and you can’t understand how someone can enjoy a full hour of pain (‘hurt so good’ enthusiasts, you are a different breed), I want you to know, it’s perfectly fine to prefer a massage that uses less pressure. Your therapist might thank you. Six massages of DT in a row can get to be a long day in the profession!
Now, if you are the DT junkie described above, you should definitely do your research. Reviews can sometimes leave a clue, but then again, someone else’s version of DT might be your idea of the light touch. Referrals from friends can always be a good place to start. If you’re getting referred, it’s okay to a ask them about their experience and what they like about their massage therapist.
What do you do when you don’t have a referral and you can’t find enough information from online reviews?
Ask the therapist…
3. Ask the therapist about their preferred styles and modalities
After the first year as a professional, most therapists should have a handle on what they do well and the services they’re less enthusiastic about.
Some providers can push through their weaknesses and flourish in a specialty (shout out to my friend Laura and the amazing work she does with wedding up-do’s which weren’t always her favorite, but now she enjoys them and is quite good at them). Mastery and improvement in a provider’s specialty usually happens around years 3 or 4 within someone’s career.
Most people who can turn a ‘frowny’ service into one of the best services on their menu usually talk about it quite openly (after all, it’s something to be proud of).
As therapists start to talk about their modalities, it might require you to come to understand the basic massage modalities- you can find a comprehensive list here.
This list does a good job giving the basics to the most common massage specialties.
4. Personalities must mesh
You don’t have to ‘like’ your therapist (per se), but you are inviting them into your personal energy bubble, so at the minimum you must trust them.
Let’s talk about the number one complaint I hear from others about their massage: talking.
If you want a quiet massage, MAKE IT CLEAR.
Most therapists will talk with you the first few minutes of the session to make sure that you’re comfortable. If it lasts longer, a simple request for quiet is usually all it takes. On the flip side, if you love to talk, most therapists (but not all) are happy to make small talk with you and hear more about you.
That’s all I’ll say about personalities:
-You must be comfortable
-Everyone is different.
Some people just don’t jive, and that’s okay. Move along and keep working to find your frog–Ops, I mean your (metaphorical) prince.
5. I’m in too much of a hurry to call, I don’t have friends to refer me, and I’m not sorting through online reviews-
Your best bet: Look for signs- if you’re in a hurry and you have to make a quick decision, here’s some thing you might be able to look for on websites or profiles (Disclaimer: these generalizations are just that- generalizations).
*The therapist talks about accepting insurance on their website and (maybe) works at a chiropractic office. This therapist likely incorporates a good deal of medical specialization into their practice and (may) find Swedish massage a tad boring- but always be sure to ask! They will likely have you pick a few areas of focus and really work to ‘dig’ into your muscle issues- that crick neck or sore knee will likely feel 20 years younger after your appointment.
*The therapist has a ton of pictures on their website of clients being stretched and you notice they also offer yoga classes. You can likely expect a little stretching and movement to be incorporated into their massage, which is hugely beneficial to your muscle tissue and you’ll feel great after the treatment. If you arrive and see a mat, you are in for a fantastic Thai massage experience!
*The therapist’s website mentions a lot about eastern medicine- expect a really interesting massage that will be unlike anything you’ve experienced, I’d highly recommend! Be sure to come to your appointment with an open mind.
*The therapist mentions a lot about the ‘source’ of their stones- this person has put a lot of effort into making their hot stones an experience, it’s definitely worth trying this service from them!
*The therapist mentions incorporating energy work in their massage. You’ll want to make sure you come with an open mind. In my experience this is often incorporated with other modalities but when we reach the energy work portion of the massage, I’ll suddenly feel hot spots (even though the therapist isn’t directly touching the muscle) or I’ll suddenly feel squirmy. It’s a unique experience for everyone. It can be just as therapeutic, so don’t rule it out!
*Bars on the ceiling? This is such a cool modality! It’s a style of massage where the therapists uses their bare feet and varying amounts of pressure from their body weight to help create a deeper pressure within the massage session. The specialty is Ashiatsu Massage (and there aren’t many people who perform it). If you find a therapist utilizing this therapy, (DT enthusiast, especially) this is something you need to try!
*The therapist mentions fitness and movement in their descriptions. This could be a personal interest, but it could also indicate that their work fits into the category of sports massage. There might be a fair amount of stretching, muscle activation, and trigger point therapy. All great treatments that can leave your muscles feeling very refreshed and invigorated. If your experience has mostly been Swedish, this will have a very different flow to the massage.
*The therapist directly mentions lymphatic drainage as their specialty and it sounds fancy so your interested. I’ve found this experience to be the best description of lymphatic work. Most importantly, don’t expect deep tissue with this specialized modality. Craniosacral therapy is another modality that has a gentler approach to the body.
*You see pictures of their work with tennis balls and foam rollers—you can hopefully expect some myofascial release work with this therapist. This can be great for people who suffer from “shoulders-so-tight-they-feel-like-rocks, syndrome (it’s obviously a complicated medical term).
*The therapist you’ve found is located at a spa or a resort: Most likely (but not always) you can expect the classic Swedish massage.
No more procrastinating!
Finding the right massage therapist will require some trial and error on your part. Worse case scenario, you’ll be left with a collection of experiences and a better understanding of what you like.
It’s never a waste.
