Best Massage Practices - Spa Topics On My Mind by Julie Register on DiscoverSpas.com

On My Mind - BEST MASSAGE PRACTICES
by Julie Register

Best Practice: A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark to be equaled or exceeded.
BusinessDictionary.com

The SOP - image © © Boguslaw Mazur - Fotolia.com I've been thinking about what makes the difference between a good massage and an excellent massage. In my opinion, there are a number of best massage practices that are required for a good massage and a few extras to make it outstanding.

A good massage always starts with a thorough intake procedure. The massage therapist spends time getting to know about my current state and determines if the massage I have requested is the right one to address my specific needs. If not, the therapist makes alternate suggestions or incorporates appropriate modalities in the massage. The therapist continues the exchange of information by asking me to share anything that will make the experience better for me - adjustments to temperature, pressure, light level, music selection, etc. The therapist also communicates once the massage has gotten underway to ensure these things are optimal. Additionally, there are a number of other things that I expect without specifically requesting. I've listed them all in the table below. I've also included what a massage experience is like without them - usually poor. It's a long list, but I rarely have a good massage experience without most, if not all, of them. Happily, many spas I have experienced provide a good massage.

BEST PRACTICES FOR A GOOD MASSAGE EXPERIENCE	MY IMPRESSION	WHAT MAKES A POOR MASSAGE EXPERIENCE	MY IMPRESSION
Therapist is well groomed and wearing clean clothing/uniform that is in good condition	The therapist is professional	Therapist smells of cigarette smoke; therapist's clothing/uniform is stained, torn, wrinkled, dirty, etc.; therapist's nails are long (can scratch even if they are nicely shaped and polished)	The therapist is not professional
Therapist reviews my health history	The therapist is attentive and concerned for me	No discussion	Lack of concern for me on the part of the therapist; potentially negligent
Therapist asks me to identify specific concerns	The therapist intends to customize the massage to address my specific needs	No discussion	This massage won't be customized to meet my needs; potentially negligent
Before massage - therapist requests I let them know during the massage if the temperature is uncomfortable, pressure needs adjustment or if anything else would enhance the experience	The therapist wants me to be comfortable	No discussion	The therapist does not care if I am comfortable or not
During massage - therapist asks if I am comfortable and if the pressure is too light, too deep or just right	The therapist wants the massage to be the best it can be	No discussion	The therapist does not care if I think they are doing a good job
Excellent technique based on education and experience - often using a blend of modalities - and can apply specific techniques to address my specific needs	Expert therapist	Muscles not massaged; massage oil/cream/gel just spread on skin; muscles stretched before being warmed up	Poorly trained therapist
Hand washing (or use of hand sanitizer) before the massage, after massaging feet, after massaging scalp, and before massaging face	The therapist cares about my health and safety	No evidence of washing hands	The spa/therapist does not value cleanliness. Do I want them touching me?
Secure draping technique	The therapist is professional and wants me to feel safe	Sheets not tucked; sheets tucked too loosely; sheets tucked too high; sheets tucked too low	The therapist is inexperienced and hasn't thought about what it takes to deliver a safe, comfortable, personal experience
Comfortable, heated table with an adjustable headrest	The spa/therapist wants to create a comfortable experience for me	Treatment table too narrow; headrest not adjustable; treatment table too hard	The spa/therapist doesn't care about my comfort
Soft, clean linen in good condition	The spa/therapist wants to create a comfortable experience for me	Sheets with rips/tears; sheets that smell like rancid oil; sheets with oil stains	The spa/therapist doesn't care about what touches my skin. It gives the impression of being cheap - skimping on the basics.
Bolsters used under the knees and ankles (My regular therapist and owner of Arcadia Massage, Helen, takes the idea of bolster to a new level. Instead of a bolster under the knees, she has a large block of foam with a wedge shape on one end to elevate my legs. It is very comfortable.)	The spa/therapist wants to create a comfortable experience for me	Nothing used under knees or ankles; small, flat pillows used as substitute for bolster	The spa/therapist doesn't care about my comfort. It gives the impression of being cheap - skimping on the basics.
Massage oil/gel/lotion is removed from my feet before the session is over - usually with a warm, moist towel	The spa/therapist cares about my safety and wants to prevent me from slipping after the massage	Massage oil/gel/lotion is not removed from my feet before the session is over	The spa/therapist does not care about my safety or realize this is a slipping hazard
Treatment room is spotlessly clean	The spa/therapist cares about my health and safety	Oil spots on door, wall, counter; floor sticky or slick; sink scummy; dust on shelves or counter	The spa/therapist does not value cleanliness. Do I want them touching me?
Treatment room is uncluttered	The spa/therapist is organized and has taken steps to ensure the treatment room is orderly	Boxes stored in the room; stacks of linen on the counter; implements used on previous Guests drying on the counter or in the sink	The spa/therapist is sloppy. My treatment will be, too.
Treatment room is quiet (no outside or inside noises intrude)	The spa/therapist wants to create a relaxing atmosphere for me	Paper thin walls; staff wearing noisy heels; staff/Guests talking outside the treatment room; chatty therapist who talks throughout the session	The spa/therapist has taken no effort to create a "spa" atmosphere
Treatment room is softly lit	The spa/therapist wants to create a relaxing atmosphere for me	Shades open; ceiling light on; no backlights, wax candles, battery operated candles or other indirect lighting	The spa/therapist has taken no effort to create a "spa" atmosphere
Soft music playing in treatment room	The spa/therapist wants to create a relaxing atmosphere for me	No music; loud music to cover outside noises; music with annoying animal noises/screeches in it	The spa/therapist has taken no effort to create a "spa" atmosphere
Water to drink offered at the end of the service and I am reminded to drink more fluids for the rest of the day	The therapist cares about the effectiveness of the massage	No water offered, no suggestion to drink fluids	The therapist doesn't care or doesn't know better
A quiet, softly lit, comfortable place to rest after the massage	The spa/therapist wants me to get the most out of my massage	No lounge; only area to rest is noisy, bright waiting area by reception desk; I am expected to leave immediately after the massage	The massage is over. The spa/therapist is done with me.

All of the above best practices together usually don't make the massage experience excellent. I find it's the special touches that transform a good massage experience into an excellent massage experience. Below I've listed some of the best practices I've experienced that resulted in an excellent massage for me. Unlike the list above, where almost everything is necessary to create a good massage, sometimes it only takes one or two items in the list below to make the massage exceptional.

BEST PRACTICES FOR AN EXCELLEMT MASSAGE EXPERIENCE	WHERE I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE BEST OF THE BEST
Presence and Intention:	Sometimes the thing that makes the biggest difference in a massage is the mental presence and the intention of the therapist. If they are not with you mentally, the massage will be average at best even if they are highly skilled. But when they are 100% with you and have the intention of providing you with the best massage possible, it can be fabulous. It works even better if they can help you with your presence and intention. My first massage at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona was like that. I was fortunate that my first massage therapist instructed me how to receive a massage - to quiet my mind, be in the present moment and to send my breath and energy to the part of my body being massaged. She did the same. My massage was so profound that it literally changed the direction of my life. Before the S.P.A. (Signature Personalized Attention) massage at The Spa at Cranwell Resort, Spa, and Golf Club in Lenox, Massachusetts, my therapist Jayne invited me to write down an intention for the session before I got on the table. During the massage, she would occasionally remind me to think about my intention. That helped me focus on the reason I was having the massage.
Warmth:	I've been told that it takes between 20 and 30 minutes to warm up the muscles during a massage just to get them to a point where the massage can be effective. Adding warmth before a massage and during a massage can help reduce this time and increase its effectiveness by pre-warming the muscles. It usually just feels good, too. There are a number of ways to do this: Water/Heat Circuit: Spending time in a warm whirlpool, steam room and/or sauna before a massage is ideal. Of course, most independent massage therapists and smaller spas don't have these facilities, but I use them if they are available. Some of my favorites are: The Spa at The Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina; Tabacón Grand Spa and Thermal Resort near the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica; Toskana Thermen in Bad Sulza, Germany; and a few mega spas in Las Vegas - Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, The Spa at Encore, and The Spa at ARIA (I especially liked the co-ed rooftop whirlpool here). Bucky Wrap: My regular therapist and owner of Arcadia Massage, Helen, heats a seed/bead-filled wrap in the microwave before the session starts. She begins my massage by rubbing my back with it in a rocking motion. It warms my back and (bonus!) warms her hands. She then places it across my lower back and under my neck when I turn over. It feels great. Warm Oil: I find the use of oil for a massage is becoming rarer. Massage gel or lotion seem to be the preferred products. One advantage is they don't go rancid the way oil can. Once in a while, but not very often, I run into a therapist that uses oil and an oil warmer. Warm oil feels very, very nice during a massage. Some massages are designed specifically for warm oil. One of the best I've had is the Marma Massage my therapist, Joanne, gave me at One Spa and Health Club at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a profoundly relaxing massage. Warm Stones: Many therapists use warm stones to enhance a massage. During an Umstead Spa Customized Massage at The Spa at the Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, North Carolina, my therapist Mariea used hot stones as an accent to the massage. She had me start face down and placed a large warm stone at the base of my spine. When I turned over on my back, she placed a large, flat, warm stone under each shoulder. They felt great and truly enhanced the massage. Warm Towels/Pads/Packs: Liberal use of warm towels, pads or packs (moist or dry) can enhance any massage. My therapist, Sarah, began my massage at The INN Spa at Poplar Springs in Casanova, Virginia with two warm packs on my back and warm cloths on my feet - a great beginning. She proceeded to do just what I asked for - massaged with extra attention and firmer pressure on those areas that needed it and delivered a smooth, relaxing massage everywhere else. When I turned on my back, a warm pad was tucked under my neck. It was a lovely massage. Warm Robe: After a massage, it feels good to be wrapped in a warm robe. 29 Spa in Atlanta, Georgia (now The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta) had a warming drawer for robes in each treatment room. During a massage at The Cliff Spa at The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, my therapist Carleen hung my robe on a towel warmer. Nice touch!
Cold:	Cool eye pads: The use of cool eye pads (never warm or hot) that have a clean cloth or tissue cover serve two purposes. First, they keep the light of the room out and second, they help reduce puffiness around the eyes caused by being face-down for a long period of time. My regular therapist and owner of Arcadia Massage, Helen, never fails to place a cool eye pad over my eyes during the massage.
Sinus Care:	After my therapist, Natasha, had me turn from face-down to face-up midway through a massage at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas, Nevada, she raised the head of the automatic table. Raising the head really helped relieve the stuffiness I usually feel after being face-down for a long time. She then did a face massage and applied pressure on the sinuses. It felt great. My regular therapist and owner of Arcadia Massage, Helen, spritzes a little peppermint essential oil on her hands before massaging my face. It really helps to clear my sinuses. I've also had therapists use eucalyptus and menthol.
Stretching / Range of Motion:	My regular therapist and owner of Arcadia Massage, Helen, is the best at incorporating stretching and range of motion techniques throughout the massage. She stretches my legs, hips and neck. The neck stretches include my participation in providing resistance. It is a very effective technique for me. During a S.P.A. (Signature Personalized Attention) massage at The Spa at Cranwell Resort, Spa, and Golf Club in Lenox, Massachusetts, my therapist Jayne custom-designed a wonderful session to address my personal needs. When the session was over, she gave me two sheets of paper that had instructions for yoga poses for me to do at home to further address my issues - Supported Fish Pose to uncurl me and Half Frog Pose to open my hips. She suggested that I spend 10 minutes every day in each of the poses. This was one of the best massages I've had and, I particularly valued the suggestions for stretching afterwards.
Energy:	There are lots of ways therapists can impart positive energy during a massage. I've noticed it most with Thai Massage and LaStone Therapy Thai Massage: The Thai Massage I had at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand was outstanding and energizing. The technique of my therapist, Ms. Nutcacharin, was excellent and done in one of the most beautiful spas I've experienced. LaStone Therapy: Beth at The Spa at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre gave me a full hot and cold stone massage with energy work in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. It was fabulous. Many therapists leave out the cold stones and energy work during a LaStone or generic hot/warm stone massage. They are really short-changing their Guests. Bits of Thai, LaStone, Reiki and other energy giving modalities can be incorporated into any massage.

Those are my thoughts about best practices for massage. Thanks for "listening." I am interested in hearing about your favorite massage experiences. Share it with me at jar@DiscoverSpas.com or on the DiscoverSpas.com Facebook page.

~Julie