How to Help Your Massage Therapist Help You

So You Feel Amazing!

Quick Version

• Keep your arms and hands on the table (not elbows winged out).

• Lie centered on the table.

• Rest your hands by your sides (don’t pre-stretch your muscles).

• Come reasonably clean (within a few hours), arrive 5–15 minutes early, hydrate (stop an hour

before), and set an intention.

• Speak up during the session—pressure, temperature, music, face cradle, itch—say it in the

moment.

• Protect the calm afterward: ease back into life, hydrate, and enjoy the reset.

Why this matters (and why your therapist is smiling already)

A great massage is teamwork. When you position your body well and tell us what you feel, we

can use better mechanics, deliver the right pressure, and get you relief faster—with fewer

awkward circus tricks over the table. Let’s make your next session smoother, stronger, and a lot

more relaxing.

1) Arms, elbows, and the “wing effect”

When elbows fly out like you’re preparing for takeoff, we have to lean and reach. That puts your therapist off-balance and reduces the pressure we can deliver where you need it. Keep your arms and hands resting on the table, palms neutral. You’ll avoid accidental elbow-to-therapist collisions (nobody wants the “surprise chicken wing”), and we can stack our body weight over your muscles for slow, satisfying pressure.

I don't even know how someone can lie like this!

2) Center yourself on the table

If you’re far to one side, we’re forced to stretch and hover. That’s like trying to do detailed work from the wrong step on a ladder—possible, but not smart. Lying in the center lets us use the right angles, leverage, and tools (forearms, elbows, knuckles) without strain. Translation: better pressure, better results, less wobble.

3) Hands down, tension down

When you keep your hands by your sides instead of holding them up or reaching, the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and chest stay relaxed. If you pre-stretch them, we have to push through a tightened, guarded layer before we even reach the tight spots. Let your arms rest, breathe, and let the table do its job.

4) Clean-ish is perfect (no need to sprint to the shower)

You don’t need to shower five minutes before your session. Please just come reasonably

clean—within a few hours is wonderful. Maybe don’t do hot yoga, mow the lawn barefoot, or

wrestle the garden gnomes right beforehand.

We keep the room, oils, and creams smelling clean and relaxing; you bring the “not freshly muddy” part, and we can keep the room set for the next client

5) Make it a pre-session ritual (your nervous system will thank you)

The best massage starts before you arrive. A simple routine can flip your body into “relax and

repair” mode:

• Hydrate during the day, but stop about an hour before.

• If we’re doing abdominal work, avoid a heavy meal for 2–3 hours beforehand.

• Do something calming: a puzzle, a few pages of a book, a short meditation.

• Set an intention: “Neck looser,” “Sleep better,” “De-stress.”

• Aim to arrive 5–15 minutes early. If the door’s open, come in and enjoy the 15-minute heated

massage chairs.

6) Speak up in the moment (we love teamwork)

You are not going to hurt our feelings. Really. If you need more or less pressure, say so. If the

room is chilly, the table isn’t warm enough, the music is weirdly dramatic, or the face cradle

needs a tweak—tell us during the session. Also, if you have an itch, please mention it so we can

safely address it. Massage is not a stoic pain contest; that only teaches your muscles to guard.

We’re aiming for “therapeutic good,” not “grit your teeth.”

7) Modesty, draping, and underwear (let’s keep this simple)

Undergarments are optional; oils and creams can stain fabric. For low back/glute work, many

clients skip underwear so we can work effectively—you’ll be professionally draped the entire

time. For women, we use Roman draping. For men who feel embarrassed about involuntary

arousal: it’s a normal physiological response, and we handle it professionally. We also have

Banna Peelz coverage (penis/scrotum) and a men’s thong available on request. If you need a

headband to keep hair out of the oils, we’ve got those, too.

8) Feeling sick? Please reschedule (even if it’s “just a lingering cough”)

If you’re actively sick, getting over a cold, or still hacking with a long, lingering cough, it’s kinder

to your body—and ours—to skip the table this time. Rest up, rebook, and we’ll be ready when

you are.

9) During the session: little adjustments that make a big difference

• Breathe slowly. Your exhale helps us melt through layers without forcing it.

• Unclench your jaw and hands—sneaky tension hides there.

• Try not to “help” by lifting your head or limbs unless we ask.

• If a technique isn’t your favorite, say the word; we have a dozen others.

10) Aftercare: protect the calm you just earned

Give yourself a soft landing. Let calls roll to voicemail. Ignore the inbox for an hour. Sip water.

Take a short walk or a warm shower later. If you can, ease into a quiet evening. Your nervous

system just went on a spa date—don’t drag it to a rave five minutes later. You’ll have more

energy for the things that need it if you let your body keep the relaxation you just paid for.

A quick FAQ

Q: Do I have to be totally silent?

A: Nope. We’ll match your vibe—chatty, quiet, or somewhere in the zen middle. Do speak up

about anything that needs adjusting.

Q: I’m nervous about pressure. How do I know what’s right?

A: A good rule: “Could I relax into this?” If the answer’s no, we’ll lighten up. If it’s too light to feel

helpful, we’ll dial in deeper.

Q: I forgot to mention a sensitive area/injury on the intake form—tell you now or wait?

A: Tell us right away so we can adapt our plan and keep you comfortable.

You don’t need to be perfect—just present. Center on the table, arms and hands resting, hands

by your sides. Come reasonably clean, arrive a few minutes early, and tell us what you feel. We’ll

bring the skill and the good lotions. You bring the body and the honesty. Together we’ll make the