Both the massage therapist and the client are responsible for how well each massage session goes. Here are some ways that you, as a client, can communicate effectively with your therapist to get the massage session you want, need and are paying for.

Set the Expectation

Before each session, your massage therapist and you should discuss a minimum of three things:

1. How you are feeling overall
2. What specific outcome you'd like to result from your session
3. What, if anything, has changed about your needs

New clients will be setting these expectations with a massage therapist for the first time in addition to completing a new client intake form, but returning clients should always go through this process, as well.

A good therapist will ask probing questions before each session, so they can custom design each session for your needs. But you should be clear about what you want before you get on the table. you will automatically be more satisfied with your massage session when you get off of it.

Don't be Quiet

While most massage sessions are designed with relaxation in mind, clients should always speak openly and honestly with their massage therapists. It doesn't matter when. Don't wait until the end of the session to speak up - especially if something hurts.

A good massage therapist will ask you a few questions during your session to ensure your comfort - especially if you are a new client. They might ask anything from whether the pressure is good while performing a certain stroke to whether you are warm enough. Be specific when providing feedback.

Since the client is as equally responsible for directing the session as the massage therapist is, a lack of communication during a session that is not going as you would like it to will certainly lead to an unpleasant massage experience.

Prepare for the Future

A good therapist will always ask you how you feel after a session. It is not a rhetorical question. It is an opportunity to communicate.

When your session is over, be sure to give your massage therapist constructive feedback about how the session went. You don't have to know what it is the therapist did to tell them what felt good or didn't feel good, and if you tell them what you liked, you'll be sure to get more of it in your next session.

It is also important to ask questions that will help you prolong the effects of your massage. For example, if you are having a certain kind of pain, your massage therapist should be able to analyze your posture and discuss possible stretches that might help you between sessions.

Your massage therapist is there to help you feel good, and just like in any relationship, it is a two-person job. If you feel like you have communicated effectively with your therapist and you would like to see more come out of your sessions, you should consider finding a massage therapist that you are able to connect with both through bodywork and verbal communication.