There are several massage therapists, each offering a unique massage experience. Therefore it is crucial to consider if the therapist is one you can work with. To answer this question, you must consider two vital factors. The first is trust. Do you trust this person’s ability to treat you as expected? You can determine if your therapist is trustworthy by looking at how they communicate, the quality of their customer service, and their attitude towards the task ahead. A friendly, punctual, efficient, and productive massage therapist is always a good option.

The second factor is the massage therapist’s job agility. Upon meeting your massage therapist, you would usually have several questions or specific requests. An agile therapist would understand your requests and provide adequate solutions. Therefore, before you book an appointment with your massage therapist of choice, get information on their qualifications, specialty areas, style or technique used, years of practice, and so on through their website or phone call. Where necessary and possible, try to confirm the information you are given. For example, ensure that the massage therapist obtained certification from an accredited institution. The answers to these questions will help you determine if this massage therapist is a good fit for you.

Closer is usually more preferred. Therefore, location is vital to your massage spa experience. If you need deep relaxation, ease pain, or reduce your stress from a massage, the stress of making the long journey to your therapist and back home would only make the therapy session futile. In some cases, massage therapists are willing to make in-house visits to clients who live far away from their massage spas. However, this may affect your overall cost of a massage. Therefore, it is advisable to have a close massage therapist.

Apart from cutting down on cost in terms of money and time, finding a massage therapist closer to you offers easy accessibility. You can schedule more appointments to satisfy your personal requirements. For example, suppose you want to have a massage therapy session twice a week, and you live or work in Boston. In that case, you should choose a massage spa in Boston that is close to either your place of work or home. Easy access also means you can get the relief you need without the hassle. When selecting a massage therapist, consider the distance of the massage spa. If it is too far, you should consider finding one close. 

On average, massage therapy in Boston would cost about $37.47. However, this is dependent on several factors. First is the years of experience of the massage therapist. Therapists with one to two years of experience would charge an average of $33.51 per hour. For therapists with about five years of experience, you should be prepared to pay an average of $43.59. Therapists with ten or more years of experience charge $52.54 per hour on average. However, the prices you may pay may depend on how long you hire your therapist. Usually, massage therapists have many time allocations, such as 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes. Therefore, you must contact your preferred massage therapist to ensure that you know the fees for each massage session.

Using the above averages as a guide, watch out for overpriced or underpriced massage spas. Although expensive services may seem to mean excellent services, this may not always be the case. In the same way, underpriced services can be tempting but not trusted. Be sure to stay within the average price – reasonably below or above.

There are several massage techniques and styles available. While some massage spas can present you with a range of various massage options, others are pretty limited in their scope as they offer a more specialized service. To properly select a massage technique, you would have to think about the goal you want to achieve by asking yourself why you want to have a massage. Do you want to relax? Or need relief from chronic pain you experience? Perhaps you need to ease your body from bottled-up stress? Once you are sure of the goals you want to achieve from your session, you should consider the various modalities and know the differences between them.

There are several modalities, also known as bodyworks or styles. However, there are a few that are common amongst massage spas. These include: 

• Reflexology
• Sports massages
• Acupressure
• Thai massages
• Swedish massages
• Pregnancy massages
• Shiatsu
• Aromatherapy
• Deep-tissue massage
• Hot stone massage

Therefore, when choosing, you should research these various body works to find the right style to accomplish your goals. You should also contact your preferred massage therapist to see which types are available.

A pre-massage consultation gives you the chance to air your concerns and requests to your massage therapist. It also allows your massage therapist to identify what you need by offering solutions before the massage appointment. During your pre-massage consultation, your massage therapist may ask you about your medical history, personal health history, and the goals you hope to obtain from your massage session. Be sure to give the massage therapist honest answers and as much information as you can. Attending the pre-massage consultation also provides you with the chance to closely examine your potential massage therapist to ensure that they are a good fit. These consultations help your therapist track your progress and set targets to help you achieve your aim. 

The consultation also allows you to explore your massage therapist’s touch. Each therapist has a unique touch, and this may be what you are looking for or create significant discomfort – as every customer has a unique balance point. Therefore, in your pre-massage consultations, let your therapist know how you would like pressure to be applied. Although uncomfortable pressure might be just what your body needs, too much of it may ruin your massage therapy experience and add to your existing problems.

If you come across a massage therapist that offers pre-massage consultations, you would be in for impeccable service.

Just like any other, you should be prepared for your massage appointment. There are several things you should do before you go for your massage. First, research the specialties of your preferred massage therapist. You should also contact them to make inquiries about the services they offer. Also, ask about the garments you would have to bring along with you for your massage. For example, some massage therapists would need you to bring swimsuits, gym clothes, sports bra, and other clothing items. 

It is also important to arrive at your appointment 30 minutes before your scheduled massage to clarify any questions and get everything in order in time. It is also advisable not to consume any food before your massage. Another way to be prepared for your massage session is to book a test session. By trying a test session before your actual session, you can determine if you would enjoy the services of the therapist you have selected. In 30 minutes, you can experience a small piece of the various styles and techniques they have to offer to determine if this is the massage spa for you. A professional massage therapist would ensure that you can do these preparations before the appointment as it is an indication that they would want you to receive the best treatment.

Your post-massage care is as essential as your pre-massage consultation; however, several patients do not remember to do this. After a massage, the therapist would hold a post-massage consultation session to give you tips on what to do. Usually, your massage therapist recommends taking an aromatic soak, having a salt bath, staying hydrated, practicing breathing exercises, and meditating, amongst other self-care techniques. However, the post-massage tips your massage therapists give would be dependent on the preferences you have shared. This is why communication between you and your massage therapist is essential. An experienced massage therapist would provide you with tips that keep you feeling relaxed and revitalized after your massage.

It can be tricky getting the right massage therapist, and these eight questions might usually be what you would be pondering on before you do. However, you may have to visit a couple of massage spas before you find the perfect one. 

Apart from the factors mentioned above, you should also consider issues such as cancellation policies, opening hours, the preferred gender of your massage therapist, and draping policy before you go ahead to hire the massage therapist’s services. Reviews and referrals from previous clients should be considered as well.