The First-Timer's Guide to the Massage Experience

What Should I Expect Out Of My First Visit With A Licensed Massage Therapist?

Curious but nervous about getting your first professional massage? You're not alone. The uncertainty about what happens in that treatment room keeps many people from experiencing the incredible benefits of massage therapy.

In this frank, demystifying conversation with massage expert Brandy Morrell from Reflections of Health School of Massage, we pull back the curtain on everything first-time massage clients wonder about but are afraid to ask. Brandy walks us through the entire process, from the initial paperwork that helps therapists understand your specific needs, to what really happens with draping (you'll remain covered except for the specific area being worked on), to how much you should undress (answer: only to your comfort level).

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Brandy's candid revelations about the realities of massage therapy. Worried about showing up after work without showering? Don't be. Concerned about your not-so-clean flip-flop feet? Massage therapists have seen it all and just "add extra lotion and keep going." This judgment-free approach is refreshing and reassuring for anyone hesitant about their first massage experience.

We also explore the techniques used for first-time clients (typically Swedish massage with gradually increasing pressure), how therapists read your body language to ensure comfort, and essential after-care tips like proper hydration and Epsom salt baths to maximize the benefits of your session. Whether you're considering massage for stress relief, pain management, or simply curiosity, this conversation removes the mystery and anxiety from the experience. 

Ready to book that appointment? Your healing journey—or perhaps even your new career—might be just one massage away. Call or text 423-804-3067 to schedule your tour and consultation with Reflections of Health School of Massage today.

To learn more about Reflections of Health School of Massage, Inc. visit:
https://www.ReflectionsofHealth.com
Reflections of Health School of Massage, Inc.
1604 Lamons Ln, Ste 207a
Johnson City, TN 37604
423-804-3067

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Tammy Director of Reflections of
Health.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
School of Massage.

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Reflections of Health Massage
School Podcast, where healinghands become powerful careers.
Whether you're looking toescape the 9-to-5 grind, earn
extra income during college orfinally get paid for all those
family shoulder rubs, massagetherapy could be your next big
move.
Join us as we explore the powerof touch, the path to purpose,

(00:32):
and why starting your journey inmassage therapy might be the
smartest decision you'll evermake.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
If you've never had a professional massage before,
you might be wondering what toexpect.
Will it be relaxing oruncomfortable?
Should you talk to yourtherapist?
Let's break down everything youneed to know before your first
appointment.
Welcome back everyone.
Skip Monty here co-host slashproducer, back in the studio
with actually a special guesttoday, ms Brandi Morrell of
Reflections of Health School ofMassage.
Brandi, how's it going?

Speaker 2 (01:04):
It's good's good.
How are you?

Speaker 3 (01:06):
I'm doing just fine and we're awfully glad to have
you and I know tammy's usuallyin this seat, but she's got a
specialist in here today to helpus out.
So this is this is a reallyimportant conversation.
So many people are curious buthesitant about their first
massage experience, includingincluding me.
I've never had a massage, sowhat should I expect out of my

(01:27):
first visit with a licensedmassage therapist?

Speaker 2 (01:31):
So the first time you come in we'll have you do a
little bit of paperwork just toget some background on you, to
make sure there's nochondroindications or areas that
we don't need to be working on.
So we'll go over that paperworkwith you and then we'll take
you back to the treatment roomand we'll explain how to undress
.
You can undress to yourcomfortability level so you can

(01:52):
leave bra and underwear on.
You can always leave yourunderwear on Bras.
We prefer them to unhook in theback if you are going to wear
them during the massage.
That way, when we do have youface down and we're working on
your back side, we can unhook it, work on your entire back and
then hook it back.
But you'll get on the massagetable and you'll be covered the
entire time, except for theareas that we're working on.

(02:15):
So say, we're working on yourlegs, we'll undrape one leg at a
time and then cover it back up,go to the next leg, drape it,
work on it and then undrape it,so you remain covered at all
times.
Your own modesty there's really.
As long as you're communicatingwith your therapist, they'll
only go as far as you want themto go with the draping and

(02:38):
undraping and they stick to yourcomfortability level as long as
you communicate with them andthey'll ask questions.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
Very good, Brandy.
What should someone do?
Let's say I decided I wanted tocome get my first massage.
What do I need to do to preparefor that?

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Personally, it's up to you.
We take people that have justgotten off work.
They're coming in sweaty anddirty and they still come in and
we work on them.
We're used to all kinds ofdifferent things Girls wearing
flip flops all day and coming inand getting a massage.
So they got the dirty toes, wejust add extra lotion and keep
going.
But it's whatever, it'spersonal preference to prepare

(03:17):
for it.
If you want to shower, if youdon't, you're going to get all
oily anyways while we're workingon you.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
So if you want to shower before, you can if you
don't, that's okay too.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
It's personal preference there.

Speaker 3 (03:31):
Well you can definitely bank on me taking a
shower.
That's going to happen.
Well, how does a therapistdetermine the best type of
massage for the client for thefirst time?

Speaker 2 (03:38):
So when we first have you come in, we typically do
more of a Swedish massage justto get our grounding with you
and your body and what you mightneed.
As the massage progresses,though, or we start to find
areas that need to be worked onmore, we can always go a little
bit deeper with our therapy, butwe've got to leave that
communication open with ourclient to make sure that we're

(04:01):
not going too deep.
We don't want to cause any pain.
So as long as we keep thatcommunication open, we typically
start with a Swedish massageand kind of work deeper as we go
.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
Oh, okay, so not too hard at first.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
No no.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
Speaking of that, what can people expect in terms
of pressure, technique andoverall experience?

Speaker 2 (04:24):
So pressure?
We always start with a lighterpressure and as our strokes go
we get a little bit deeper.
We try to read body language Ifthere's.
If you're relaxed and you'renot really communicating, we'll
tend to read body language tosee if we are going too deep or
giving too much pressure.
But then we'll also check inevery now and then and make sure

(04:44):
that we're not getting too deep.

Speaker 3 (04:47):
So I imagine it would be a.
It would be pretty easy to tell, I guess, from body language if
you're hurting them right.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, yeah, they tend to start clenching and
tightening their muscles.
It's pretty obvious.

Speaker 3 (05:00):
Well, what are some common concerns or
misconceptions that first-timeclients may have?

Speaker 2 (05:07):
Their common concerns are normally going to be just
comfortability level.
They don't know what to expect.
People come in and they getnervous.
So as long as we have that opencommunication with our clients,
it makes them feel morecomfortable.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
Very good and, as far as you know, we've talked about
before, during.
What about after?
How can clients maximize thebenefits of a massage after
their session's over?

Speaker 2 (05:36):
So after your massage you're going to want to drink
plenty of water one to threebottles of water afterwards
because we are releasing thelactic acid that has built up in
your muscles and the knots andyour body needs to process it
out.
So you want to drink plenty ofwater afterwards so that you
don't feel yucky or anythinglike that.
You might be a little sore, butif you drink your water it'll

(05:57):
help.
And then I always tell myclients that Epsom salt baths
help.
It helps pull the toxins out aswell.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
Very good Epsom salt.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
Yep Epsom salt baths.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
Oh nice, I imagine, I imagine you feel pretty good
when you're coming out of theretoo.
Oh yeah, you know, from all theendorphins and all that, yeah.
Well, we talked about how toprepare what the common concerns
are.
How do you determine what isthe best type of massage for a
client?

Speaker 2 (06:26):
So when they're first starting out, like I said, we
like to do the Swedish massagejust to give them a general idea
of what to expect.
Swedish massage just to givethem a general idea of what to
expect.
And then when we've gotreoccurring clients that are
coming in for issues, that'swhen we can do more of the
targeted massages, the triggerpoint therapy or the deep tissue
or possibly cupping things likethat.

(06:47):
But when you first begin, wewant to start out kind of light
and figure out what's going onwith your body.

Speaker 3 (06:53):
Very good, brandy, coming from you know, from
myself being a first timemassage candidate, this is a
very helpful discussion and Iwant to thank you for guiding
through.
Guide me through and ourlisteners through what to expect
.
And to our listeners, we'll seeyou next time for more insights

(07:13):
into the world of massagetherapy.
Brandi, thanks again.

Speaker 2 (07:18):
Thank you.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
All right, we'll have you back soon.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
Awesome.

Speaker 1 (07:27):
Think you've got the touch, let's make it official.
Call or text 423-804-3067 toschedule your tour and
consultation, or visitReflectionsOfHealthcom.
Your future could be just onemassage away.
And, let's be honest, beingeveryone's favorite stress

(07:47):
reliever isn't a bad gig.