My First Massage

Stop worrying so much. I get a massage weekly due to headaches and tension. They are wonderful. I have never gotten sick or light headed. I have my girl stick to my back and neck. You most certainly can tell her where to rub and where to stay away from. It was always pointless for someone to rub my legs as they never bothered me. I always tip any where from $5-$15 depending on how much money I have that week.

Keep us Mama's posted on how you liked it. I think you will love it.

Good for you for having a day to yourself!

Tell the massage therapist about your neck and your sensitivity on your legs/feet. Tell her you aren't sure how you will react. You may find that you are relaxed enough that she can massage other parts of you, but it is okay to tell her you need to play that by ear. Also, with the oils/lotions they use, sometimes their hands move more easily over those sensitive areas, and also a firmer touch often doesn't tickle like a light touch. If she's good, her hands should find the muscles that are tight and which need work. My friend is an extremely experienced therapist, and she says her hands just tell her where to go.

I would expect her to do your head/scalp as well as your neck, shoulders, arms, back, etc. It's all part of the same muscle system. Sometimes they work a little on your jaw if they detect tension there. Just so you know.

Tipping is usually 15-20% but there are different practices when someone is the owner. Some owners don't expect tips - those prices are what they expect. I would make sure she is the owner rather than the person filling in on a Sunday! It may sound awkward, but you can ask - say you don't want to offend her, but you don't want to shortchange her either.

I've not heard of people getting sick - I think that sometimes toxins can be released after a massage, which is good - you've got to get rid of that. She will probably tell you to drink extra water afterwards. It wouldn't hurt to do that for a day or so before also. Just not right before - you don't want to have a full bladder and have to get up during the massage!

Also, don't feel compelled to chat during the massage - it's supposed to be relaxing, and the silence is restorative. She will probably play some soothing music so just relax and enjoy without making a lot of conversation!

Enjoy your day!

Hi A.,
I am a "retired" massage therapist. You can ask her to focus on whatever area you choose and to ignore areas you don't want done. She is working for you!
What you need to do after a massage is drink water. When you get a massage it moves all those toxins around in your body. Drink water to flush them and you will feel fine!
Talk to her. If she is not going deep enough or too deep, let her know. It's her job to what you want. Tip whatever you feel is appropriate. If she listens to you and does what you ask give more. If she doesn't, don't tip. She needs to earn her tip.
Enjoy!!

If your massage therapist uses enough pressure being ticklish won't be an issue...go for the whole body you'll feel MUCH better.

It will help with the pinched nerve but not long term. Massage is short term only...the effects only last about a week if you don't get them regularly.

I tip my therapist $10

Drink LOTS of water to avoid getting sick. When you get a massage it floods the lymphatic system (your garbage disposal) with toxins held in the muscles. By drinking A LOT of water you flush out the lymphatic system and also all the toxins it contained. You should drink at LEAST a gallon of water 24 hrs following the massage.

ENJOY!!

Congrats! You will love it!
On the ticklish aspect you can have her massage/or not anywhere you like. Maybe since its your first let her know you are extremly ticklish and let her try, you may be surprised that with some pressure it isnt as bad. If it is then you say so and she will stop and focus elsewhere.
I have never gotten sick afterwards?? You can feel stuffy or runny nose which is due to your sinuses opening up while you lay on the bed. But it clears quickly afterwards.
On the tip....a friend who does them on her own told me she doesn't expect a tip because the full cost of it is all going to her. Where as some one who massages for a company such as Massage Envy only gets a portion of the $60 you pay the company so a tip is how they make their $ like servers. if you feel like you still want to tip her I find a rule of thumb of 15-20% is more than reasonable.

ENJOY!!

Let your massage therapist know about any super-sensitive areas you have or spots you're not comfortable with them touching.

You said it's a one-person operation so I'm assuming the owner is also the masseuse (sp?) correct? My rule of thumb is this: if the owner is the one providing the service I don't tip. They're getting all the money after all.

As for getting sick afterwards, getting a massage releases a lot of toxins in your body so you'll want to drink a ton of water for 24-48 hours following the massage.

All in all, don't worry about it. The whole point is for you to relax & enjoy it!

They typically ask about certain areas or where you would like it the most if not tell them.You can use scented oils or lotions thye have candles lite & music of what ever tehy have in office & will ask you what you like it is nice & soft mellow.Drink water before & after tons of it take a cold bottle with you but all the places i've gone to give it to me after the massage.The toxins are being released out of your body & will make you poop so if you don't have anywhere else to go for the day head home.

I am ticklish too, but for some reason, the massages don't bother me in those areas like pedicures or other touching. You may be surprised. Otherwise, just tell them not to do that area and why. Trust me they hear it all the time!

I usually tip $15 for an hour massage, but I have been told that is on the high end, but I don't mind. I love her and she keeps me sane, and always puts in a little extra time for me! Tip standard, then if they do a fabulous job, give a little extra if you can.

It is very important, and they should tell you this, to drink lots of water after a massage. Your body is going to release toxins after, and you need the water to flush your system. I have never "gotten sick" after a massage, I just feel a little out of it for a while (in a good way) and sometimes I take a nap, if I can!

You are going to love this! Enjoy it!

Congratulations! Oh my - you will become addicted from the get go!

The therapist will have you fill out a health form and on that form you can put info regarding your pinched nerve and ticklish areas. However, you may find that a very skilled therapist will be able to massage your ticklish areas and it won't be ticklish at all. So, give her a chance to try it out because you might actually be okay with it.

You will definitely want to make sure you are hydrated, so drink plenty of water before (but not so much that you'll want to get up and pee in the middle of it) and plenty of water after. I am always super sleepy and relaxed after my massage - hey, that's the point - so I tend to go to multi-treatment spas that have relaxation rooms. These are areas where you can sit or lie around in your robe and rest or take a nap before you leave.

I like to tip 20% for the massage but I usually go to a high-end hotel spa in Chicago (like Espa or Four Seasons/RC) where the hotel runs the spa and has hourly wage workers who also get tips. If it is a one-woman business then she is getting the entire fee so you may want to adjust accordingly.

A good therapist will respect how much pressure you want. For example, some people want a deep tissue massage and the feeling like a steam roller is attacking their body. Others like all the knots in their back to be mercilessly worked out. Um - not for me! I like a pleasant, moderate touch that is relaxing. In fact, I tell the therapist that if they find a knot to work on it but don't feel like they have to dig it out.

Instead of using a ladder to adjust the valances, I was standing on a chair. It flipped out from under me and I landed with my right hip on the windowsill. What an ache and a pain. Coundn't sit or drive a car for more than 10 min before the pain was shooting up my back. A day at the SPA was a christmas gift from my husband (love that man!), which included a massage. Told the therapist about my proplem and she worked her gifted hands on the trouble spots. She did advise me to see a doctor if the massage did not provide a resolution to this problem. Well, it worked! Pain free for the last four years. A massage is soothing, relaxing, and to me, luxurious. Advice you received from the ladies is excellent. Enjoy your day!!

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They should ask you if you have any areas that you would like to be avoided. If they don't tell them about your back and also about being ticklish. You might be surprised and it not bother you by the time they start to work on your feet and legs though :) Also try drinking some water the day before but don't drink too much the day of or you'll have to get up and go potty during your massage. And drink alot after and that will help with the feeling sick and soreness after. Don't be surprised if you are a bit sore the next day like you worked out or something. I like to pop a few Ibuprofen before bedtime and it helps. Take a nice long bath before you go too to soften you up before you go.
Most of all relax and enjoy it. I've gotten them on a regular basis for about 11 years now. Some one turned me on to them after my mother passed away and I never stopped :)
As for a tip, well that all depends on how good/professional they do. I've had good ones and not so good ones.
Enjoy,
C.

I never heard of anyone getting sick from a massage. It's important to drink a lot of water for good health. I find upping my water intake after a massage is very important. In fact my massage therapist has all her clients sit and have a glass of water before leaving.

ENJOY your day and don't worry about those tasks that you think you should do - they will be there on Monday but your free time to relax and be healthy will not!