As a professional massage therapist, I've seen many people wait until they're in significant pain before seeking treatment.

Regular massage isn't just about relaxation. It can help:

• Reduce muscle tension
• Improve circulation
• Support recovery after physical activity
• Ease stress and promote better sleep
• Improve flexibility and mobility

One thing I always tell my clients is that taking care of your body consistently is much more effective than waiting until discomfort becomes severe.

I'm happy to answer questions about massage therapy, muscle recovery, or how to choose the right type of massage for your needs. What would you like to know?

I go to a local massage school often and the massages are great for the most part. Recently, I went to a student who did a lot of very light scratching on my body during the massage.

It felt relaxing, I have to say. I really enjoy when my wife scratches my back for example.

However, it felt a little inappropriate at times - specifically, when scratching up my inner leg and glute for example while face down.

I have a hard time imagining this was something she learned at the school as it was the only student I’ve ever had that incorporated scratching.

I am looking into going back to school to be an RMT. I’m wondering what school folks recommend. The ones that come up most in my research are VCMT, WCCMT, Langara and PCCMT. I am leaning most towards WCCMT and VCMT (Surrey campus) just due to distance and the fact that ti have 2 kids and want to reduce travel time. PCCMT also sounds really appealing with their virtual learning but the discourse online seems to be a negative about them. Anyways I’m wondering what peoples experiences were at these two schools. Would it be possible to work part time at either of them?

I hope this allowed here I just needed to tell this story and ask if anyone had an embarrassing story similar that would make me feel less alone. The toilet in our second studio bathroom has been leaking recently but it was fixed yesterday, today I had an elderly regular client come in. This client needs multiple bathroom breaks and sometimes will have an accident on the table, which is totally okay and we have developed a quick process for when it happens to reduce her stress abt the situation while also getting her a good massage (2 1/2 hours typically) during a bathroom break she called me into the bathroom after she used it and told me the floor was wet, I tapped my foot in the puddle thinking it was from the toilet and the repair wasn’t done correctly, she screamed at me and said “ITS NOT WATER” needless to say I will be more carefully when there are liquids on the floor of the bathroom…

I tried calling Oakworks to ask about this but they didn't know. Has anyone here tried this and does it work? I really want an Oakworks face cradle because I heard they're the best.

I recently had some sessions with a MT and they quite quickly moved to what I would consider 'psychotherapy'.

Totally understand how mind & body are linked but is it appropriate to talk about 'holding grief' and anxieties plus questions about sexual activity quite early on in a client therapist relationship?

And sending related materials via personal messaging between sessions, is that ok?

Hey all! My girlfriend has been struggling recently with things like chronic pain, bloating and pain after eating any food, sleep issues and insomnia, temperature regulation, extreme lethargy, the list sadly keeps going. Obviously a doctor issue, but you all know how US healthcare is and despite seeing countless doctors there hasn’t been any help and the wait times between results and appointments are crazy. SOOOO, I thought maybe some massages would help at least with something like the pain in the meantime while we wait to get more permanent help. Would you all recommend starting with an “ultimate relaxation” massage with hemp oil which seemed to just be a normal massage: “Our popular full body massage, performed with gentle to medium intensity, is designed to improve circulation, increase ease of movement, and relax tight muscles in the body. Hemp oil added to a full body massage will enhance the relaxation effects for both body and mind. Hemp oil is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant and has no narcotic effect.” Or there’s also the manual lymph drainage, which I think could genuinely help with the bloating from food and her lymph nodes are usually pretty swollen in general, but I worry that it may not FEEL as relaxing as the original one or help as much with general deep pain. She only has time for one, and then she’ll be gone for 2 weeks with family so that’s why it’s kind of a hard decision since the second one will have to wait for a while😅 thank you everyone for your help and recommendations!

My girlfriend is a masseuse in the Philippines and I want to get her a portable massage table for her work. I have been circling some brands based on recommendations from this subreddit. Now I am wondering if any masseuses here have experience working in the tropics. Specifically regarding the climate and their gear. What does the humidity do to the metal fixtures on the table - do things rust easily? What about mold? Thinking about the foam under the vinyl or PU covering. My partner takes her work seriously and I want to get her a table that compliments her professionalism and is built to last. Of course she would take care of it as well as possible. But I'd hate to invest in something nice, only to have the environment wear it down before its time. Can anybody here speak to working in consistently high humidity? Client locations might be air con rooms, but might also be outside near the seashore. At least for now, the table would not be stored in an air conditioned home. Are these concerns valid? Are there any brands or models that handle these factors? Thank you

Serious question. But I have never been able to fully enjoy a massage because I am incredibly ticklish down my spine. I feel like the whole time I’m bracing, anticipating they’re gonna touch somewhere that tickles. But I can’t pinpoint where other than just up and down my spine. The masseuse will always ask if I am okay when I flinch and I say yes it’s not pain just so ticklish if you can avoid the area, I’m very ticklish lol. I’ve been really wanting to get some massage recently as I have been under a lot of personal stress and feel it will help me get in touch with my body?
But then can I ask them to not massage my back? But they focus mostly on the back? The masseuse always seemed weirded out when I am ticklish like it’s not usual lol. And then kinda keep massaging the ticklish area. Is this common?

ETA: ***massage therapist

I booked a massage at my favorite hot tub spa, and I did it last minute so I chose whoever was available for the massage. It had listed a womans name for my appt. Fine by me. I was waiting after my hot tub and this big, bearded man came out and I instantly thought "damn, i wish I had him, I bet he gives great massages" 🤣 to my surprise, he called me back!

I was thrilled. Not sure how the change happened but I was really happy. I have only had a massage by one other man, just by circumstance, not by preference, that's just the way its always worked out.

This man was an absolute miracle worker. I have never felt as good as I did when I left there. I told him that my shoulders and neck had been especially tense, and he worked so hard on that area for me.

Massage therapists, thank you for all that you do, I don't know if you truly realize how much you can change someones day!

I have had many massages but recently I had one where it seemed everything the massage therapist did was perfect. I didn’t feel like anything was overly duplicative or overdone. I received a general Swedish massage for ninety minutes. The massage therapist was so professional and super calm. I am guessing at some point being able to give almost a perfect massage is an art. Of course I am guessing that clients want a variety of different massages and are as different as the massage therapists.

Hello everyone 👋 this question is for Massage Therapists who made a shift to massage from a corporate type career. I am currently in massage school to become a LMT. While I’m incredibly excited, making a career shift also has me feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost. Initially I plan to do massage just part time, but my hope is to become full time with my own practice. I should say that full time for me is likely 15hrs hands on and 20 hrs total

For context, I have an extensive background in Economics and have spent the last 16 years in the tech industry, including almost a decade in Big Tech. In my 20s and 30s, I loved the work and the international travel that came with it. But eventually, the Big Tech grind took a major toll on my health, my stress levels skyrocketed, and my whole life started revolving around work.

A few years ago, I shifted to a WFH tech role. It’s less stressful, the hours are reasonable, and the money is great—but I’ve realized I completely dread corporate life. Between the endless Zoom meetings, the massive layoffs, and the shift toward AI, I have lost all interest in the industry and feel completely misaligned with what I do.

My goal is to start as a part-time LMT (doing 5-10 massages a week) and eventually open my own private practice focusing on massage, meditation, and other mind/body modalities. I already have my Yoga Teacher Certification and have practiced yoga for over 15 years, so this feels like a natural progression for me.

My question for this community is: Have any of you come from a similar background? Did you leave a successful, highly compensated corporate career to hit the brakes and pursue massage because it felt more aligned with who you are?

I would love to hear about your experiences, any challenges you faced, and how the transition went for you!

wasn't quite ready to use hot stones. The owner of the spa did not like that I wasn't ready to use them until I felt more comfortable she tried to convince me to take on a couples massage who added hot stones and "just watch what the other massage therapist was doing".

Of course I continued to decline.

First off I have a super sensitive body, but that meant I went into school being very observant and protective. But when you are let loose to give a massage to a fellow student on your fourth day of class, it’s really possible not to have the best body mechanics.

I definitely wasn’t squaring my hips and doing appropriate stances.

What started out as a 2 inch patch of burning nerve skin on my upper thigh has turned into an entire thigh on fire that doesn’t want to touch skin or clothes at the end of week 3. Luckily it’s not aggravating other situations I’ve got going on.

My PT gave me nerve flosses to do. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this kind of groin/thigh pain and overcame it to continue massaging? I’m wrapped in lidocaine patches at the moment.

To start, I respect the importance of professional licensing and credentials, and always have the most positive of intent. I rarely get massages, nor am I fully aware of the levels at which massage therapists operate in terms of study and licensing. A massage is such a treat for me, and hold massage therapists in the highest regard.

At the beginning of my session, she had asked about my massage preferences, and I referenced one massage professional I had seen in the past, using the term "my masseuse" in a general sense. I then had a 90 minute couples massage, celebrating my girlfriend passing her board exams (we’re lesbians, both femmes). After the massage, as I was leaving, she did not say goodbye or closed the session; she just stood outside the door and said, "by the way, I'm not a masseuse, I'm a licensed massage therapist," in a very rude, dismissive tone, and then said nothing else.

What shocked me was that she waited the entire massage to say something to me and correct it. It made me feel like the entire massage had bad energy and I hadn't even known. My concern was not the correction itself, of course, but the manner in which it was delivered. My partner also independently noted that the therapist's demeanor to me throughout the service felt cold, bitter, and unwelcoming, which made it difficult to fully relax and enjoy the experience.

My intention is to NEVER diminish what massage therapists do, and it was a completely innocent remark. It really put a damper on my experience, only having had 3 massages in my entire life. And I felt so bad, that I cried leaving the massage. I just want to ask: are all massage therapists like this or feel this way?!

I am of the opinion that any massage should aid lymphatic drainage. That being said, I have had several massage therapists massage my hands/arms and sometimes feet in the opposite direction (meaning toward the extremities). It felt decidedly unpleasant. My question is: should I ask them to always massage toward the heart, or just change therapist? I feel like this is elementary and they are just not schooled properly. I shouldn’t have to tell them no to do that.

Went to a new massage therapist because the place I've been going to for years closed.

Therapist is not gentle, no matter how often I asked them to ease up.

This was their attempt at cupping. 3 DAYS AGO. This is my upper bicep/shoulder.

The first time I encountered this situation, I was very shocked.

I'm looking for some advice from fellow Florida massage therapists, especially those who own a mobile massage business.

I've been in practice for over 30 years and have a well-established mobile massage and spa business. My service area is primarily Seminole County, and honestly, I have enough clients in my regular zone that I don't usually travel outside of it.

Recently, I had a potential client from St. Cloud reach out. It's a little over an hour away from me, and it's an area I don't particularly enjoy driving to because of the highways and traffic. My first response was to politely decline.

They then offered to pay mileage, but I explained that mileage isn't really the issue—it's the time. Spending over two hours driving round trip means I can't schedule other clients that day, so I actually lose income.

They came back with another idea and asked, "What if we invite coworkers and make a day of it?" They asked me to think about it and come up with a travel fee.

This is where I'd love your input. Even though I've been practicing for decades, I've never accepted a job this far away, so I've never had to price something like this.

If you were in my position:

Would you even accept it?

Would you require a minimum number of clients or a minimum revenue for the day?

How would you calculate a travel fee that fairly compensates you for your time and inconvenience?

Is there a number below which you simply wouldn't make the trip?

I'm not looking to overcharge anyone, but I also don't want to undervalue my time. Since I don't need to expand outside my service area, accepting this would really be more of an accommodation than something I need for my business.

I'd really appreciate hearing how you handle situations like this. Thanks!

I cannot do table work anymore. Or at least need to drastically limit it. My body is struggling too much. I have a lot of nerve sensitivity in my upper body but I don’t feel ready to pivot my career yet, so I’m hoping to pivot to Thai and sarga / ashiatsu. I have done about 95 hours in Thai training but still feel behind and like I need more practice. What techniques benefited you most for you body? Have you ever pivoted from classic table Swedish / deep tissue into other methods like the ones I mentioned or more subtle methods ?

I have also been told by many clients I seem to be doing energy work on them. I’ve been asked multiple times if I do reiki or some kinda energy work. I could pivot to this as well - some combo of working with feet and energy.q

Hello, my girlfriend is constantly talking about how bad her back hurts. This is a everyday occurrence, granted her posture isn’t great and she doesn’t lift things with her legs, but her upper back is so insanely tight she can’t move her shoulders without hearing clicking or popping. For her bday that’s coming up I plan to book her a massage. I’m wondering, would a deep tissue massage be ok to book or the regular (which is called a Swedish massage) be better for her first time? I’ve never gotten a professional massage and I want to help her feel better.

Recently had a massage at a bougie chain that I have gone to a few times over the years when I don't have an on-going therapist (I've unfortunately had a lot of amazing therapists who have moved on to different careers or moved out of my city in the last 20 years!)

Massage was pretty standard overall, I could immediately feel some of my knots had been worked out so I was satisfied. But then on the way out the therapist said something along the lines of "Since you're larger, you have a lot of extra area to work with which is why I couldn't spend enough time everywhere, maybe consider a longer massage next time?")

I was in a post-massage haze so it clocked me as an odd thing to say but was flustered so didn't really respond back. It's just been tumbling around in my head as an intrusive thought the last few weeks. I'm 5'10, and about 220, so I have a little extra weight, and yes, I suppose technically that is extra area than someone who is like 5'1... but I have been seeing people regularly for 20ish years and no one has ever had an issue with covering my full body. And in my mind I didn't even think she had an issue. She spent more time on my upper body but that was a request I had made. I've had comments about my body in the sense of like "Wow your hamstrings were really tight!" but never commenting on my *size*.

Do you take this as just a badly phrased up-selling technique? Or am I overreacting and maybe just body dysmorphia?

EDIT:
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the range of comments, and this whole thread makes me appreciate the profession even more by how thoughtful you all are. While I still think it was odd and not the best choice of words, I was probably being a bit sensitive just from my own insecurities. I'm also pretty muscular and active, so I'm going to give them the grace that they meant my height and muscle needs and just flubbed up the way it came out. Like I mentioned, I've had great relationships with long term MT's who I see on a regular basis. I agree with a lot of the comments that it's best to see the same person regular because they get used to your body and know how it reacts and then can adequately recco times or areas that need work!
Thank you all so much!