The Fear of Massage

A lot of people want to get a massage because of the health benefits, but are very nervous about it. Some never do make an appointment because of their fears. Others do make the appointment and still have concerns that need to be addressed before the massage ever begins.

Some anxiety-provoking thoughts of massage newcomers include:

I don't want to undress - Most massages require skin to skin contact so avoid layers and complicated outfits if you do not want to remove all your clothing.    Many people prefer to keep their underwear on during a massage, while others prefer to be completely nude. It's up to you. If your problem area is your lower back, hips or buttocks, tight-fitting underwear can sometimes get in the way of massage work, however, a thong for women or briefs for men would be an acceptable workaround. The massage therapist will step out of the room and wait until you are on the massage table and appropriately covered. Even when fully undressed, you will be partially covered up at all times, with only the main areas exposed for massage (back, shoulders, arms, legs). 

I am self-conscious about my body.   People are self-conscious for various reasons. Some of the more common concerns are:

• I'm overweight.
• I have excessive hair growth on my body.
• I've got acne on my face or back.
• My feet are ugly.
• I have scars.

Being self-conscious should never keep you from seeking health care, whether it's visiting your doctor or seeing a massage therapist. The purpose of a massage therapy session is to make you feel good.   The mind is a potent force when it comes to the benefits that you receive from massage. If your mind is thinking about your imperfect body, it can be difficult to feel the full effects of massage therapy. To that end, you should do your best to ‘tune out’ and focus on the work that is being performed.

I am a male worried about a physical reaction. It is common for men to get an erection during a non-sexual, therapeutic, full body massage. Touch administered to any part of the body can activate the parasympathetic nervous system which can result in a partial or complete erection. If a man shows no signs of embarrassment or discomfort due to his erection, and the therapist is comfortable, then addressing it is generally not necessary. Professionally managing human interaction surrounding this type of arousal requires preparedness, maturity and education.

I'm not sure what I should do during the session. - A person unaccustomed to massage may be unsure about assisting the therapist when a part of his or her body is lifted or moved. Unless specifically requested, you should resist any attempts to help the therapist.  Think of yourself as a limp noodle in order to support the session's therapeutic benefits.

I am shy about conveying my needs. - Make sure to talk to your therapist about what your goals are for your session, and to keep the therapist informed if you are uncomfortable with your degree of pressure, the temperature of the room, etc.   The therapist will periodically ask about your comfort level, it is up to you to answer honestly.

Should I chit-chat? - A common question first-time massage recipients have is whether or not they should talk to their therapist during a massage. At the onset of a massage, close your eyes and relax, this will help to put you at ease. While most people enjoy meditating or forgetting about their worries during a massage, some will chit-chat to mask insecurities and nervousness.  Try to focus on breathing and/or listening to the music or use imagery to help you relax and forget about conversation concerns.



Do you have concerns not listed here?  Let us know, I'm sure we can help.

How to get the most from your massage