Most people can't wait to relax and they need your help to take them there as soon as possible. Creating a comfortable environment for massage is conducive to relaxation. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will help create an ideal situation for massage and make the experience better for you and your client. Here's my pre-massage checklist. If you aren't doing most or all of these things, maybe you should think out it. Remember, when they're on the massage table, it's about them. Your clients will thank you for the extra effort and it will keep them coming back for more. Before beginning your massage, I would like to suggest the following;
Check the room temperature. The temperature of the room should be comfortable enough that your clients can just drift off. It's hard to relax when your body is shivering so much just to keep warm. Pay attention to your client and be ready to make adjustments to the room temperature. Have a blanket on them and extras handy in case you need them. Know where the thermostat is so you can crank the heat if they're freezing. Remember that when the client's blood pressure starts to drop, so does their body temperature. Anticipate the needs of your clients before they do. This will show them that you are paying attention and that you care about what you are doing.
Adjust the lighting in the massage area. Is the light blinding and harsh? You do need some lighting in order to locate massage supplies and see where you're going. If you're working in the evening, subtle mood lighting away from the eyes of the client is best. During the day it's bright out so close the shades to make the light softer. Turn off any bright or harsh overhead fluorescent or halogen lighting.
Remove all possible distractions. If you're working in the home of the client, ask them kindly ahead of time to make arrangements for animals and children. If you don't mind and they don't mind then its okay but they may have trouble focusing on the massage.
Turn off all noise makers! Ever notice that when people get a call or a text that they sort of jump? It's like being on high alert. Of course there's those times when clients are expecting that important call. Just make sure it isn't your cellphone that's going off.
Fill the room with relaxing sounds. Ask them if they want to listen to music or if they'd prefer silence. Find music or white noise that's relaxing but not too climatic at the wrong moments. They may be in the "Zone" and the wrong note might blast them back to reality before they're ready. Let them pick the music or the style they want to listen to. People like knowing they have a choice. Sometimes they prefer their own musical selections and this is great because you might discover some new music to use with your other clients.
So there's the basics for creating a wonderful massage environment that hopefully helps your client's to relax. You can certainly be a lot more elaborate than this with scented candles and water features. My thoughts on scented candles and water features are that you need to be aware of certain preferences with your clients. Many people these days are sensitive to scented things and sometimes hearing water in a water feature will make someone have to run to the restroom. It's hard to relax when you're trying to hold it. Please keep these things in mind while creating a massage environment for your clients. Your clients will appreciate your careful consideration.
Lea Johnson has been a practicing licensed massage therapist for almost two decades. She is now thrilled to share her no-nonsense advice to other licensed massage practitioners to help them find their own way into their practice or improve the one they have. http://www.greatmassagetips.com