After a plentiful feast, sleepless nights and dancing, you want to finally come to your senses, put your body in order. And this is where massage can help. But how to find a really good massage therapist, because there are a lot of offers, and reviews about specialists are not always unambiguous?
On vacation, you want to relax, forget about the difficulties and enjoy life to the fullest. Massage is a great way to work on bodily problems and recover from the stormy celebrations.
But how do you find your specialist? Most often, the so-called “word of mouth” is used. Like, a friend advised, a colleague shared a phone number. In addition, some read reviews on the Internet.
Unfortunately, these are not the most reliable methods. What a friend or colleague liked might not be to your taste. And reviews on the Internet are now often written to order. And even certificates and certificates can be printed at home on a printer. A big name, awards, titles and diplomas also do not give guarantees.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a massage therapist?
1. Specialization and level. Decide what kind of massage you need – therapeutic or relaxing. Therapeutic massage can only be done by people with a medical education, those who have a specialist certificate. Massage for relaxation can be done by anyone who has completed massage courses.
The question of the specialization of a massage therapist should be asked at the first conversation. It is also worth asking about the types of massage that the specialist owns. Little-known, supernova methods with beautiful incomprehensible names are most often ineffective.
2. Documents. A qualified specialist has them, and they will show you their originals without any problems. In addition, ask for certificates of additional education, certificates of course completion. Everything must be available in the office.
3. The cost. This is one of the defining criteria, especially when it comes to long-term treatment. Too low cost should alert. A real master appreciates his work and will not take a penny. Too high cost, most likely, is due to the fact that the specialist is highly publicized. And sometimes completely undeserved.
4. Place of reception. If a massage therapist works in a salon, a medical center or a clinic, then, as a rule, you can get comprehensive information about him on the organization’s website.
Some invite clients to their homes. Often such proposals are treated with caution, although the massage therapist himself should be afraid. Both he and you cannot know enough about each other to feel completely safe.
5. Room. The office should be well ventilated, comfortable, clean, quiet. Disposable diapers, gloves, etc. should be available. Oils should smell like oils, not weird chemicals, and shouldn’t be stuffy or too cold. The cabinet must be disinfected, air recirculators are installed in it, and surfaces are treated with disinfectants.
6. Appearance. This is the calling card of a professional working with the body. If the massage therapist does not take care of himself and his clothes, smells bad, leads a clearly unhealthy lifestyle and is unable to help himself, he is unlikely to help you.
7. Ethics. The massage therapist must be polite and friendly. Obliged to observe medical and universal ethics, to be neat and clean. Massage is an individual, almost intimate procedure, and the presence of third parties is undesirable. Although it is possible at the request of the patient himself.
However, when accepting underage or helpless patients, the masseur himself must require the presence of their guardians, so that there is no misunderstanding and the masseur’s actions are not misinterpreted.
8. Consultation. Before starting the massage, the specialist collects an anamnesis, examines and questions the patient. He listens to your complaints, opinions, wishes, negotiates with you the details of the procedure and the cost, the approximate or exact number of sessions, looks at extracts from the medical history. He talks about himself and his methods of therapy, answers questions within his competence.
And don’t forget – if you don’t like something, immediately stop the session and leave. No need to endure rudeness, rudeness, obscene proposals, pain. No professional will do something that is unpleasant for the patient.
Even if the massage went well, but for some reason you don’t want to come to this master anymore, don’t come. If there is an inexplicable internal resistance, this is normal. So, this is just not your massage therapist. Your body for some reason does not trust it, and you will not get the result, but only waste your time and money.
Using these simple tips, you are sure to find the right specialist for you.
About the Developer
Dmitry Voropaev – certified specialist in massage and medical rehabilitation, massage teacher at the Moscow Medical College. Founder of the School of Massage and Body Practices “Living Hands”.