How do I choose a massage therapist?
Each massage therapist will give a very different massage, and it’s really worth finding someone who fits you well for the best possible experience and results. Even a “deep tissue” or “Swedish” massage can feel very different coming from different therapists. You’ll only know properly how good the match is once you’ve had a treatment. However, to help you decide where to try first, here’s a guide to some common styles of massage.
If you like: results-focused massage to find and fix pain or tension issues
Look for: therapists describing their work as “remedial”, “clinical” or “sports”.
The treatment might include: movement and posture assessment, tracking range of motion and pain at each appointment, lots of self-care exercises
If you like: massage that welcomes the emotional and spiritual as well as the physical (I’m mostly in this category)
Look for: therapists using words such as “holistic”, “intuitive”, “somatic” or “bodywork”
The treatment might include: slow holds, using the breath, calling your awareness to places you are holding tension, explicit attention to safety and consent
If you like: massage that makes you feel really pampered and special
Look for: therapists using words like “indulgent” or “pampering”
The treatment might include: extra attention to scents and sounds, eye pillows, luxury products
Something else to think about is the language they use, and if you’d feel comfortable discussing your treatment with them. It’s always worth finding someone who fits your level of “woo”. For example, after a treatment involving a restricted shoulder, different therapists might say:
“There are some trigger points in subscapularis which we worked to release. Here are some exercises to do at home.”
“It seems there’s a lot of guarding going on in your shoulder. How do you feel emotionally when we work there? Try moving it gently, trying to find as much ease as you can. You might try a qi gong class.” (I’m probably most likely to say this).
“I felt stagnant, blocked energy around your shoulder which I worked to rebalance. Try visualising golden light coming up through you and bathing your shoulder when it feels particularly tight.”
When you read someone’s website or social media, do you picture yourself being able to talk with them easily?
I hope that’s helpful. If you’re looking for someone to fit you and you’re not sure where to look, I’m happy to recommend someone from the therapists I know locally. You can contact me at bookings@joannecraven.co.uk.