I turned quickly into a bodywork and spa “junkie” starting in my mid-twenties. But, it took years of practice to feel comfortable sharing my expectations as a client, and also talking about how I was experiencing the session as I was receiving the work. At my first massages, I had no idea what to expect and there was very little communication between the therapist and me. I thought if I just “trusted the process,” the practitioner would be able to simply intuit everything my body needed and how I was enjoying the session… or not. Sometimes this worked, but many times I left dissatisfied or annoyed with myself for not speaking up.
I discovered much later that massage can be a collaborative process that requires effort, good listening and thoughtfulness from both the practitioner and the client. It was only after going to many different practitioners (and massage school) that I realized there was a huge difference in not only the bodywork experiences that are out there in the world, but also practitioners’ approaches and communication styles.
These days as a Massage Therapist, I strive to empower clients to share about themselves in ways that will enhance their bodywork on the massage table. I do get useful feedback from nonverbal cues and what I actually feel in the body as I work, but ultimately, I am most confident and connected as a practitioner when there is clear communication coming from the client.
The client is required to fill out an intake form when they are new to The Still Point. This provides the practitioner with practical information about the client’s overall objectives of receiving massage, current health conditions and specific areas of chronic stress and tension in the body. Practitioners also facilitate a short interview before every session to gather the same type of information. This discussion is short (three to five minutes), but I personally rely on this touch point, as well as periodic check-ins during the session to know exactly what the client needs, prefers and how he or she is experiencing the bodywork in progress. It’s important to note that every session that I do is different, and, similarly the need to communicate and check-in with clients changes a lot depending on what type of goals the client has for the session, as well as how many times I’ve given massage to this client.
Here are some simple, but important things to consider (and mention) to your massage therapist when you go in for your next bodywork session…
1) What are my specific goals for this session? How do I want to feel at the end of it?
2) What areas of my body do I notice most when I experience physical stress or tension in my body? Does one side of the body seem tighter, less flexible, more relaxed or stronger?
3) What have other practitioners done in my previous sessions that I have really enjoyed or has worked well for certain areas of the body?
The more thoughtful you are in advance of your massage about what you want and need as the client, the more likely you will leave your session feeling relaxed and satisfied with expectations met.
Now, go get a massage! 
