It’s a common question that we hear all the time; “Can I talk during the massage?” Some clients are worried about talking too much or too little. They want to be friendly but not ruin the whole experience. But what do massage therapists say?
It’s up to you!
If you want to talk, go for it. If you want to be completely silent, go for it. If you want to talk a little, but not the entire time, that’s fine too. What a lot of clients tend to forget, is it’s your time. Whether you’re getting a 15 minute Lokte Method session or a 90 minute restorative massage with Natalie, how much conversation there is, is completely up to you.
Many clients find it comforting to talk for the first few minutes of a massage, especially their first few sessions as we’re getting to know each other and build the trust that is really important to a great therapeutic relationship.
Then as they get more comfortable, the conversations get shorter and shorter, and sometimes go away completely. (Ask me about my client who sleeps so well that his sleep apnea kicks in!). For some clients, a large part of the relief they get from their massages is the ability to vent and get everything off their chest to someone they can trust, so they spend the entire massage chatting. We sometimes become a general therapist as well as a massage therapist. It’s your time, that is totally fine if that’s how you’d like to spend it!
What you need to understand, is that as your massage therapist, our job is to facilitate your healing, in whatever way you need us to, within our skill set of course. For some that means silence, for others it means talking, and others are anywhere in between.
IF YOU LOVE TO CHAT…
Go for it, but please be aware, that sometimes you may not get the full benefits of your massage if you’re talking the entire time. What we mean by this, is that calm breathing and a calm state of mind greatly emphasizes the benefits of the massage. So even if you prefer to talk, we may, at times, ask you to take some deep breaths to calm your body so it can better receive the work I’m doing (especially if you are receiving a Fascial Stretch Therapy session as breath work plays a huge role into things)
IF YOU’RE THE SILENT TYPE….
Please understand that we may occasionally check in about the pressure, certain areas of concern, and things like that. We do our best to keep quiet and not disturb your experience in any way, but we also want to ensure you get the most of your massage; and that means checking that everything we are doing is what your body needs and you’re comfortable with it.
Even though you may like to stay quiet, don’t hesitate to speak up and let us know if anything is uncomfortable (or if you find that we are a little too chatty for you on a particular day, ABSOLUTELY LET US KNOW). While your tissues and your body language may give clues as to a pain response, we are still in the dark as to what exactly you’re feeling, so please let us know if we need to lighten the pressure, increase it, move to a different area, or anything else you feel is necessary. This is your massage and we want it to be perfect for you. The only way that can happen is if there is at least a little bit of communication throughout the session; more so if you prefer clinical or therapeutic techniques.
No matter how much or how little you prefer to talk during your massage, it is completely up to you. Please don’t ever feel obligated to talk unless being asked a question, and don’t be afraid to speak up either. The worst feedback you can give is no feedback!
In good hands,
Rebecca Tamm, LMT
