Anytime is a good time to get a massage. You don't need to wait until you're stressed or injured. Too often I see clients who wait until they reach this stateto see me. Massage works wonders as preventive care for a person's body and mind. Instead of waiting until your back hurts from overwork or stress, or the headaches that start at the back of your skull begin to pound, or the stress of everyday life makes you want to pop your cork, get a massage before these things happen. A regular massage is a wonderful way to cope with stress, both physical and emotional, and to keep it from causing discomfort or harm to your body.

If you've found yourself dealing with a nagging minor injury, sore muscles, or are completely stressed out, find a massage therapist and see what he or she can do for you.

There are several contraindications for receiving a massage. If you have any of the following conditions, you should not get a massage:

• Fever

• Any type of infectious disease

• Systemic infections

• Severe cold

• Fracture, bleeding, burns or other acute injuries

• Liver and kidney diseases

• Blood clots

• Pregnancy-induced diabetes, toxemia, preeclampsia/eclampsia

• High blood pressure (unless under control with medication)

• Heart disease

• Cancer

• Open skin lesions or sores (therapist may be able to work around them if localized)

The guidelines here are pretty straight forward. You don't want the massage to make an underlying medical condition worse, and you don't want to pass anything contagious to the massage therapist. If you're unsure about whether a minor condition should prohibit you from getting a massage, call your therapist before your appointment. If you have a chronic medical condition, check with your doctor before proceeding on a course of massage therapy. For some illnesses, other bodywork modalities may work well. If you're suffering for fibromyalgia, lupus, and other conditions, try to find a bodyworker who has some experience with these, since they should know what works best under certain conditions.

At your initial visit, you will most likely be asked to fill out a client intake form. Some of these are simple, some run for a couple pages. Not only does it provide the massage therapist with your name, address, and phone number, it should also have a place to list any underlying medical conditions. The therapist should be aware of any of these. Even if you have an allergy to something in the oil the therapist uses, you should list this. You should be asked at any subsequent visits about any new medical or physical conditions. If you're not asked, volunteer that information if there is anything that the therapist should know.

There is a wide array of bodywork modalities. The most common, and probably the best known, is Swedish massage. If you see a movie, or television show with someone getting a massage, this is usually what they show. The client is undressed, draped with a towel or sheet, oil is placed on the skin, and the muscles are kneaded, rubbed, vibrated, or tapped. Most of this FAQ will concern itself with Swedish massage.

Esalen massage is similar to Swedish, except that it usually involves long, lengthening strokes, stretching, and rocking. Both Swedish and Esalen massage primary body focus is the muscles.

There are many types of Oriental bodywork, Shiatsu and acupressure are the most common. These are often done with the client clothed, and concentrate on applying pressure to different points of the body. The primary body focus of these are energy meridians, and bringing them back into balance. Practitioners of these arts believe that an imbalance in these meridians affect the inner organs of the body and causes illness. Some bodyworkers may combine one of these therapies with a Swedish massage.

There are a host of other types of bodywork: cranialsacral, myofacial release, postural or structural therapy (Rolfing, Hellerwork, and others), Reiki, and many, many more. They all have one goal in mind, to bring the body's systems back into balance. The accumulation of stress, misuse and over use of the muscular-skelton system, illness, poor posture, and just the normal routines of daily life bring the body out of balance, and some degree of suffering ensues. All bodyworkers try to bring the client back towards the state of natural equilibrium in their bodies. Note that this doesn't usually happen in one session.

The best place to find a massage therapist is a referral from someone else. People who are happy with their massage therapist are usually eager to recommend them to you. Ask your friends and family to see who they recommend.

If nobody you know recieves massage, or you're too embarrassed to ask, there are a variety of sources. The phone book is a great place to start. Some newspapers carry ads for massage, use the ones in the health section, not the ones in the entertainment section. There are a host of websites for massage therapist listings, although there's always a question of how up-to-date those listings are. The AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) will provide a listing of therapists in your area, by they may restrict that list to therapists who are members of their organization.

In an urban area, there are a mulititude of massage therapists from which to choose. Make sure you find a legitimate massage therapist, not someplace using massage as a front for sexual services (unless of course, that's what you're looking for). As a general rule, any place that advertises how beautiful, exotic, or young their masseuses are, is offering sexual services. The age, gender, or attractiveness of the massage therapist has no bearing on the quality of the massage you'll receive. In suburbs or smaller towns, look around to see the therapists in your area. Then ask around to see what others can tell you about him or her. Many therapists work together in group practices, work for chiropractors, or work for resorts or spas.

When you have decided on which therapist to try, give them a call. Be aware that therapists who have their own studio, or work from home, will not have a receptionist answering the phone. That's normal. If they're not there, or with a client, they'll let the answering machine pick up. Don't hang up because they're not answering immediately. Leave a message, and they should call back within a few hours most of the time, or within a day almost all the time. Ask them about their rates, the types of massage they offer, the length of the massages, what type of hours or days they usally work, and explain the reason you want a massage. Even saying that you want to treat yourself is a perfectly good reason. If it's because of soreness or an injury, explain that too. Beleive me, they'll be doing their darnedest to make sure you feel at ease already, and want you to come see them.

The massage therapist will describe the type of massage they do. There are therapists who practice what's often referred to as "medical massage." They prefer to work with clients recovering from an injury or tying to live with an underlying medical condtion. They work closely with their clients' doctors. Some, but not all, aren't interested in doing a general stress-relief massage. If this is the case, you're better off with someone who does, who centers their practice around using massage as preventitive care and relieving stress. Find a therapist who is more inclined to provide the kind of massage you want.

There are massage therapists with restrictions on accepting new clients. In some cases this is because they're booked solid with regular clients, and can only take a few new clients. It is not uncommon for a female massage therapist to only take femal clients, or they will only take a new male client upon a referral from an existing client. This is because they've been harrassed too many times from men seeking sexual releif instead of a massage from them. They don't want to deal with this harrassment anymore, or put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

You wouldn't beleive how many times I've heard someone say they'd get a massage if they lost weight first or didn't have that cellulite on the back of their thighs. Don't let this stop you. You're denying yourself quite a pleasurable experience.

Massage therapists have seen bodies in every imaginable shape and size, from young to old, and they're not there trying to judge your physique or ogle your body. The're professionals who have found massage to be a wonderful gift to give men and women alike, regardless of age and weight, and are proud of what they can offer to people in need of help or just wanting to luxuriate in the sense of touch.

A license means that a massage therapist has met the requirements and paid the fee to legally practice massage in that area. Many places have no licensing requirements. To get a license, a massage therapist usually have to have a minimum number of hours of training at an accredited or accepted school or training center. This varies widely, from 100 hours in some places to over a 1000 hours in others.

Certification means that the therapist has successfully passed a specific course or test and has been granted a certiciate to bear out that fact. This may range from courses in pregnancy and neo-natal massage, to different modalities like Rolfing or Hellerwork. There is also a written national certification test for massage therapists.

Ask a group of massage therapists about licensing and certification, and you'll get a never-ending argument among them. Some are insistent that licensing and certification are a necesarry protection for the public to ensure that every massage therapist has the correct training in massage methods, ethics, contraindications of massage, and understands all the local laws pertaining to massage in their area. Others are just as vociferous that licensing and certification are tools of those who would attempt to control the industry so they can maximize their profit from it, driving up the prices for everyone, driving therapists out of business, and providing no real protection for consumers. Learning facts and passing a written test says nothing about a massage therapists's palpitation skills, interpersonal skills, personal ethics, or anything else that can't be measured on a written test. Some states that license do insist on an actual evaluation massage before granting that license.

If a jurisdiction requires licensing, it also means that a set of laws governing massage exist. Some places still can't get out of the mindset that massage always equals sex. Massage therapists in these areas must have fingerprints and blood tests taken, and might be restricted to doing business in areas zoned for adult entertainment. Other places have laws that control nudity, draping, and even force the consumer to use a same-sex massage therapist. In most cases, these aren't laws that were drawn to protect the consumer, but are anti-sex laws used in an attempt to restrict massage parlors that are really offering sexual services. The number of hours of education required to obtain a license often is also used to make it difficult for sex workers to get a massage license, not to ensure that the therapist is properly educated.

So i'll leave it to each person to draw their own conclusion as to what a license or certification means about any massage therapist. The bottom line is that a good recommendation from a therapist's clients actually says more than any piece of paper can.

When you first arrive at the massage therapist's studio or office, you'll be asked to fill out a client intake form. This will give the therapist the personal information about you that will guide them to give you the style of massage most appropriate for you. Don't hesitate to ask questions about anything which you're unsure, or any concerns you might have. If you're expecting something in particular from the massage, make sure this is told to the therapist. For example, if you've been having a lot of tightness in your right shoulder, and you'd like some extra attention given to it, tell the therapist. If you prefer a lighter or deeper massage, make the preference known. The massage therapist will discover your tight and sore areas during the massage, and will prioritize the time spent on these areas, and may do less work on areas that don't need as much attention. Letting the therapist known ahead of time about these problem areas, let them prepare to spend some extra time there.

Once you've finished with the intake, the massage therapist will give you some privacy to get undressed and get on the massage table. A drape, either a sheet or towel, should be provided. The therapist should have advised you to start the massage lying on your stomach or on your back. If you're to start on your stomach, there will be a cushioned doughnut-shaped device at one end of the table. This is a face rest, and you should place your face in there. This allows you to be face down, and keep your shouldersand neck muscles relaxed. If you lay your head on the table and turn it on one side, the muslces in your neck and shoulders won't be in their relaxed state and won't be able to recieve the best benefits of the massage. There may also be a pillow or bolster on the table. A bolster is a padded, cylindrical device. These are to be used for your ankels and knees. If you're lying face down, the pillow or bolster goes under your ankles, so you're not hyperextending your feet while lying that way for an extended period of time. If you're lying on your back, it goes under the knees to prevent any heperextension of your knee joint.

Once you're undressed and under the drape, the therapist will come back into the room. For the most part, your work is done, and all you have to do is relax and enjoy. The therapist will undrape the section of the body that they will work on first, and apply oil to the skin. They will use a variety of strokes, some rubbing, kneading, vibration, percussion, whatever they think will work best for your muscles. Stretching, rocking, or pressure point work may all be added. If the therapist gives you directions for slow exhales, just follow along. If they strech or rotate any joint, don't try to help. Just stay as relaxed and imp as you can and let the therapist move that part of your body.

Every therapist has their own style of massage, strokes they like to use on different parts of the body, and prefer to work on different areas of the body in a particular oder. One therapist may start you on your sotmach and begin the massage with your back. Another may start you on your back and begin with your feet. So for the first visit with any massage therapist, don't be alarmed if their style and direction is different from another therapist you've seen.

When the therapist finishes with one area of the body, they will put the drape back over the part, and undrape the next section to be massaged. At some point, you may be asked to roll over under the drape, and the therapist will continue with the other side of the body. When the massage is over, you'll be left in private to get dressed again. If a towel was used for a drape, you can wipe off any excess oil with it. The therapist will return, and this is a good time to tell them how you feel, if you have any concerns, settle the bill, and make your next appointment.

You should undress to your comfort level. The massage therapist will work around the clothes left on the best they can. You should realize that this may mean that certain areas of the body may not be massaged at all, or may only receive minimal work there. I suggest to my clients that they be completely undressed under the drape, but they should leave on whatever clothes are neccesary for them to be relaxed during the massage. If removing all your clothers makes you nervous and unable to relax, then receiving a massage that way won't allow you to obtain the optimal benefits from it.

The pieces of clothing left on the most often are either panties or boxer shorts. Certain styles of panties will allow access to most muscles in the buttocks if they are moved slightly. Boxers and panties that cover over the bottom of the buttocks usually mean that no work will be done in that area. Some women wear thong panties to a massage. It allows the therapist acces to all of the major buttock muscles, and also allows them the comfort and modesty they prefer.

Some therapists will insist that you leave on your panties or underwear. This will be for the therapist's own comfort level, and in some cases is required by law.

The key to a massage is relaxation and allowing yourself to enjoy the experience. Many therapists will discourage you from talking during the massage. They want you to relax, to just let your mind float free and let the massage transport you to an almost subconscious bliss. It's not uncommon for many people to be more relaxed talking. After all, they're lying undressed on a table with a stranger touching their skin. Talking makes the therapist become more human and personal to them, and having this interaction makes it easier for them to place their trust in the therapist, and therefore make it easier for them to relax. Many clients talk in the initial stages of the massage, and as the massage progresses, they slip farther into a state of toal relaxation and become quiet.

There are times when you should speak up during a massage. If anything makes you uncomfortable, bring it to the therapist's attention. If you're too cold or too hot, the room is too bright and hard on your eyes, or if you prefer the strokes to be deeper or lighter, mention it to the therapist. Bear in mind that some therapists only do a light massage, so they may not go deeper even if you request it. It is just not their style of massage. Feel free to speak up, if something about the massage isn't working for you.

That depends on the type of massage and the depth of the strokes. A light massage that doesn't probe very deep into muscles shouldn't hurt. At the same time, the light massage won't be able to work out any stress that's deep within those muscles. A muscle that is relaxed will be supple and soft and won't hurt when rubbed. Muscles that are thight, and in many cases have been chronically tight for a long time, may have that "good hurt" feeling with a deeper massage. Think of that "good hurt" as the feeling you get when you strectch a sore muscle during excerise or a yawn. Muscles can be very sore from overuse or tightness, and that good hurt can become painful. A sharp pain may indicate a muscle that has been injured and has some sort of inflammation. In this case, you don't want the deep work to continue in this afea. A deep massage with tight muscles may leave some residual soreness the next day.

Everybody has different thresholds of pain. The depth of a stroke may not be deep enough for one person's liking and may cause pain for another. Some people want the massage as deep as possible regardless of soreness. Others want something much lighter, more sensual and pleasing, to help them relax rather than deeper work that might be sore. So make your preference known to the therapist, and give feedback at any time during a massage that the depth of the strokes is more than you'd like.

Every massage therapist has their own style, their own approach to massage, the strokes they like to use and the depth they like to work. Some prefer a more clinical approach, some a more personal approach. Not every client clicks with every massage therapist. The key is to find one who can deliver the type of massage you like best. When you find one you like, stick with them and sing their praises.

I've had many massages over the years from both men and women. Some have been astoundingly good, others just so-so. Some have skipped areas that I would have preferred to have been massaged. Others have had a quiet, impersonal appraoch and I prefer it the other way around. This doesn't mean they've given you a bad massage, or that you haven't reaped any benefits from it, just that it wasn't quite what you're looking for. This is one reason why personal recomendations from friends and family can be valuable. You can get a good sense of the therapist's style from them, and know how well it matches your expectations before you visit them.

The answer here depends on the reasons for receiving the massage. If a client comes for some injury relief, and to relieve chronic thightness that is interfering with their daily lives in some way, weekly sessions may be necessary for a while to build on each session's improvement in their relief and healing. For those who use massage as preventative care and managing the daily stress in their lives, once a month is about the norm. They may shorten the time between massages during stressful periods. Some come more often just because they enjoy it that much.

For most people, the frequency of the massages they recieve is limited by their pocketbook. It's an unfortunate fact, but once many people realize the benefits it provides them, and they pleasure they recieve from it, they find a way to incorporate a regular session into their budget.