How to Choose the Right Massage Therapy for You
Massage Therapy can be one of the best activities for your body, but it can also be one of the most disappointing if it doesn’t meet your expectations. There are a number of factors that you should consider before scheduling an appointment with a massage therapist to ensure that you will get the most benefit from your session. At La Experience Thai & Swedish Massage in San Antonio, we understand that everyone is unique, which is why we strive to fully understand your goals before beginning your massage therapy session.
In today’s post, we’ll take a look at some of the things that you should consider as you determine which massage therapy technique is best for you. Contact our massage shop in San Antonio today to learn more and schedule your appointment.
1. Determine Your Goals
One of the best ways that you can choose the right massage therapy is to figure out what you hope to achieve as a result of your massage therapy session. Are you looking for pain relief? Do hope to alleviate stress? Are you simply wanting to feel extremely relaxed? Depending on your goals, there are different techniques that can help you achieve the desired outcome. The more you know what you want and can clearly communicate with your massage therapist, the better they will be able to tailor the session to your goals.
2. Learn the Different Techniques
Take time to learn the different massage techniques’ names and descriptions so that you are better able to let your massage therapist know exactly what you’re looking for, and also what you hope to avoid. For example, if your goal is pure relaxation, then you definitely don’t want a deep tissue massage, which is designed to provide relief for those with chronic muscle problems. Some of the most popular massage techniques include:
- Swedish – standard technique that is synonymous with massage therapy
- Hot Stone – smooth heated stones are used to enhance muscle relaxation
- Aromatherapy – Swedish massage with essential oils added to the massage oil
- Deep Tissue – targets muscle knots (adhesions) and other problem areas in the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue
- Sports – treats injuries, improves flexibility, and enhances athletic ability
- Reflexology – uses finger pressure on the reflex points of the feet to address organs and other body parts
- Shiatsu – Japanese bodywork that uses localized pressure in a rhythmic sequence along the body
- Thai – blend of assisted yoga, passive stretching, and pressing massage movements
- Prenatal – promotes relaxation for pregnant women
If you are unsure which one is most beneficial for helping you reach your goals, then be sure to take time to speak with your massage therapist before your session begins. By explaining what you’re looking for and what you hope to avoid, they should be able to provide the perfect combination of techniques to help you feel better and more relaxed. La Experience Thai & Swedish Massage in San Antonio prioritizes our customers’ needs, so be sure to talk with us about what your goals are to get the relief you need.
3. Issues that Massage Therapy Can Address
Once you’ve taken the time to determine your goals and do a little reading on the different massage techniques available, it might help to figure out what your preference is for the massage therapy session you have scheduled. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples to show you what we mean.
Healing
If you suffer with regular headaches or migraines, then massage can be one of the ideal methods for addressing the pain they cause. Additionally, if you have a minor illness or flu-like symptoms, which cause aches and pains in your muscles and joints, then consider scheduling a massage session to promote healing in your body. Reflexology would be one of the best techniques to address these needs.
Muscle tension
Tight muscles can be the result of a number of different activities. For example, if you were involved in a sports accident, then you likely have some muscles that are reacting to the impact and are tight and inflexible. Perhaps you sit at a desk for the better part of the day when you’re at work, which means that your muscles aren’t getting frequent use to help promote mobility. Swedish massage is a great technique to help with sore muscles, but if you’ve got some serious knots going on, then you might want to ask for deep tissue massage to truly get to the root of the problem.
Relaxation
Sometimes the best reason to schedule a massage therapy session is to get the rest and relaxation your body needs. Everyday life can put a lot of stress on your mind and body, which is why it’s important to take time to address the symptoms through massage. While massage therapy cannot completely remove stress from your life, it can work to mitigate the symptoms, which include headaches, neck aches, anxiety, and depression.
Pain Relief
For pain relief or help with injuries, be sure to ask for a sports massage therapy session. Sports massage (myofascial release) focuses on the tissues that surround your muscles, organs, etc. When you schedule a sports massage therapy session, you can expect that it will be a little more active than a traditional massage appointment as you will need to engage in movements to help release the areas of tightness.
4. Schedule a Test
Last but not least, call to schedule a short massage therapy session with the therapist of your choice. While most appointments are booked in hour increments, you can request a 30-minute session for the purpose of helping you decide if you have found the right massage therapist for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for a different massage practitioner for your next appointment if the first session didn’t turn out as you’d hoped. Remember that the massage is for your benefit, so make sure to ask for what you need!
At La Experience Thai & Swedish Massage in San Antonio, we care about each of our clients and providing them with the right massage therapy for their needs. Call today to learn about the massage therapy packages we offer, and schedule your appointment today!
