Who is in charge?

You’re the paying client

They’re the trained professional

So, who is the boss during a massage?

Well… both of you!

Massage is a collaborative effort between the therapist and the client.

The client - you - communicate your wants and needs with your therapist during your intake. Not all massage and bodywork is the same, so whether it is more important for your massage experience to be calming and settling, energizing and invigorating, or targeted to a specific relief goal, making sure your therapist knows what you want, and understanding the kind of work your massage therapist will be doing is crucial for establishing trust and making sure that you are getting the most out of your treatment.

Your massage therapist will make a plan based on a visual assessment and what you tell them about what you want and need.

Then they will share the plan with you to agree to or change, and you’re totally allowed to provide input on what you want or don’t want! #informedconsent!

Even if during your treatment you change your mind on what you want or if something you thought you would be okay with turns out to be not-so-okay; speak up!

Your massage therapist won’t get their feelings hurt by clear communication about what feels effective for your body. Your comfort and safety are the most important aspect of your massage treatment.

That's really all there is to it. At the end of the day, you are the one who gets to determine how, where, and when you are touched.