How to prepare for the best massage of your life.
A gentle, friendly ritual for body, mind, and everything you carry in between.
There is a moment, right before a massage begins;
when the body already knows what’s coming.
A softening.
A loosening.
A quiet hope that maybe, finally, today will be the day you get to unclench.
But the truth is this:
Your massage doesn’t begin on the table.
It begins at home.
It begins with the way you prepare yourself,
the way you clear your space,
the way you honor your own arrival.
Let this be your guide,
a full ritual from beginning to end.
A way to make your massage not just a service,
but a ceremony of returning to yourself.
Before your massage: The Cleansing Ritual
A massage works best when you show up already saying “yes” to your body.
And one of the simplest ways to do that is through cleansing.
Take a warm shower before your session,
not a rush, not a rinse...
a cleansing that feels like you are washing something off of yourself.
Old stress, heavy thoughts, yesterday’s tension…
let the water take it. Wash it down the drain.
Consider using a gentle chemical exfoliant body wash
with lactic or glycolic acid in a proper strength.
Nothing harsh.
Just enough to soften the skin,
lift away the old layers,
and prepare your body to drink in the oils and lotions your therapist uses.
Think of it as emotional exfoliation, too...
a way of leaving behind what’s ready to be released
and stepping into the session refreshed, open, and renewed.
Foot cleanliness is sacred..
Your feet tell an entire story about how you move through the world.
If foot massage is part of your treatment, keeping them fresh is a kindness.
A simple rule:
Do not wear sandals after showering.
Put on clean socks to keep everything feeling clean, soft, and comfortable.
Both you and your therapist will be grateful.
The gift of freshness.
A clean, light deodorant is always appreciated.
It signals that you respect the space and the person working closely with you.
Your therapist does the same—
they shower before work, avoid fragrance, and arrive visibly clean.
You’re meeting each other halfway with presence and care.
Freshness creates ease.
Ease deepens the work.
During the massage, how to receive with ease.
Communicate About Pressure.
Repeat after me:
You will not hurt your massage therapist’s feelings by asking for more or less pressure.
Every body is different.
Every pain threshold unique.
The general rule:
On a scale from 1–10,
aim to stay around a 7.
Anything higher will make you brace...
and once you brace, the body stops letting go.
If a moment feels intense,
take a slow breath in through your nose
and exhale softly through your mouth.
Let your breath pave the way for release.
Falling asleep? It’s a compliment.
Don’t apologize.
Don’t feel awkward.
Falling asleep means your nervous system finally feels safe.
Your therapist will not be offended—
they’ll know they did their job.
Talking?or not talking?
Some people talk.
Some don’t.
Neither is right or wrong.
I don’t typically start conversations,
but I’ll follow your lead with warmth and ease.
Still, there is something beautiful
about quiet during a massage...
a stillness that allows the therapist to “dance,”
to listen with their hands,
to follow the intuitive map of tension and release.
If something feels off—pressure, position, temperature...
please say something during the session.
It’s a shared experience, and your voice matters.
Telling your therapist afterward that the pressure was wrong
is a miscommunication on both sides.
Most of us can read the body well,
but we are not inside your mind.
A gentle word about the room...
When your session is over, rise slowly.
Dizziness is normal; your body has been in deep rest.
Be mindful of how long you take in the room.
Many spas require a 10-minute turnover between clients,
a system that puts pressure on therapists and doesn’t leave much grace.
Your awareness and courtesy make a world of difference.
Tipping: A Ritual of Respect
Massage therapy is not a latte.
It’s not quick table service.
It is specialized, trained, regulated, deeply physical work
that requires presence, education, and skill.
In the United States,
20% is the industry standard for tipping.
Anything significantly below that tells the therapist
you were unhappy with the service—
and honestly, it can feel insulting.
Massage therapists:
-
complete hundreds or thousands of hours of education
-
pass difficult board exams
-
maintain licensure
-
study pathology & anatomy
-
take continuing education
-
and work mere inches from your body with deep care
You might be surprised how strict the requirements are in most states.
Your tip is not just a courtesy.
it is an acknowledgment of the craft,
the labor,
and the heart that goes into your session.
Aftercare: Completing the Ritual
Drink water, but not oceans.
Hydration matters.
Drink enough to support detoxification,
but not so much that you overwhelm your system.
Yes—too much water can make you feel unwell.
Journal what comes up.
Massage moves emotions as much as muscles.
If anything rises: relief, sadness, clarity, gratitude
write it down.
Give it a place to land.
Epsom salt soak.
A warm bath with Epsom salts
continues the softening,
the unwinding,
the release.
Let your muscles say their final exhale.
The Anointing Ritual
When you’re finished and still damp,
take your favorite body oil
and then your favorite lotion,
layering them gently over the skin.
Seal in warmth.
Seal in softness.
Seal in the love you just gave yourself.
Let the day end with kindness.
A Final Word
A massage is more than an appointment.
It is a passage.
A quiet doorway back into yourself.
Preparing with intention-
from cleansing at home and continuing the self caring afterward,
turns the session into something sacred, grounded, and deeply restorative.
May your next massage be not just relief,
but a ritual.
A returning.
A remembering.
A reawakening of everything inside you that is ready to soften
and finally…
Be.
ooh. Be. twenty minutes early for your comfort and experience.