Massage is an experience that is always better when both the therapist and the client are clear on expectations. The amount of terminology and misinformation within the industry really doesn’t help achieve this clarity. Sometimes people feel the need to book a ‘sports’ massage because they have a niggle in one part of their body and feel they shouldn’t expect any relaxation. Others book a ‘deep tissue’ massage simply because they are worried they will be given another massage where they hardly feel anything. And what does ‘holistic’ massage actually mean? In truth, a good therapist will be able to give you a variety of techniques and pressures throughout the massage. This will allow you to enjoy both a feeling of relief from pain, and some relaxation as well, if wanted, taking the whole picture of your mental and physical wellbeing into consideration.
Massage in Bristol
Even though my original training was sports massage specifically, I am quite dismissive of the term. To me, sports massage simply means using whatever techniques are required to achieve the objectives agreed with the client. It will involve some deep pressure being applied, but it doesn’t mean leaving the client red and sore all over their body. There’s no reason why you can’t apply more pressure and attention to those one or two key areas, but also give the client some relaxation as well. A good sports massage therapist, with a Level 5 qualification, should be qualified to give rehabilitation advice as well, to help sustain the benefits started by the treatment, and also get the client thinking about how they can maximise self-help.
Expectations may be prejudiced by a poor experience during a previous massage. A client may only get the treatment a therapist wants to give, rather than the one they have asked for, perhaps because the therapist doesn’t really know how to meet the client’s demands. Some therapists are quite limited in their repertoire of techniques and will only be able to give a light-pressure massage following a pre-set routine. Similarly, some are obsessed with trying to fix something, even when a client has asked them specifically for a relaxing massage.
Ultimately, all of this simply shows the value of finding a good therapist with lots of reviews to show they are worthy of your money, time and trust. Once you have found a good therapist, maximise the benefit of having the chance to build a rapport with them, and make sure they give you the best possible treatment, time after time.
If you are looking for massage in Bristol, please get in touch.
