5 Things to Know Before Booking a Massage Therapist

1. First you need to know what type of massage the therapist does. Does he/she do Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage or other kinds of massage? If you just want a relaxing message with little pain involved then Swedish massage might just fit the bill for you. Deep tissue might be a bit too intense for you. It all depends on what you are looking for. So question the therapist on the various techniques she uses. Also ask him or her, what you expect from the massage, and then he or she can point you in the right direction about the kind of massage you want.

2. Is the therapist certified to practice? He or she should be probably trained and licensed to perform massage on you. So ask for proof for his or her qualifications and training are. There is a national board that watches over massage therapists and make sure they have the right credentials. Only let one with the right credentials work on you.

3. Does the therapist have some client testimonials or contact info that they can share with you. It is wise to know what type of service others have gotten and if they have any complaints. Many times clients will not mind being contacted for their opinions. This can help you make up your mind if the therapist is right for you.

4. Check and see how long they have been in the business. Having someone work on you that has experience could increase the results you get from the massage. If they are fresh out of massage school you might want to question them further before letting them work on you. But if they have been massaging people for 1 year or more you know they have some hands-on experience. Wouldn't you feel better knowing the therapist had worked on many people rather than just a few?

5. Make sure that the massage therapist does his or her job in a sanitary manner. They should have fresh towels and hygienic supplies for your massage session. You definitely do not want to catch something from the previous client he or she worked on. If you have any concerns at all check out a different therapist.

Using the 5 things above to make your decision about which massage therapist for you to use will ensure that you have a safe and effective massage done on you. You want to receive all the benefits from massage without being harmed in any way. So do your homework and research the different therapists in your area to find the one right for you.