How to distinguish a good massage therapist from a bad one - some useful tips. How to find a good massage therapist
“A good massage therapist must be a good teacher”
You need to feel very well the line that separates a competent master and a huckster. And it's not a matter of availability medical education and heaps of certificates. “Crusts” are now being faked everywhere, and most of them don’t say anything. The main thing is experience and an impeccable understanding of physiology.
When looking for your massage therapist, you can trust the reviews of your friends, or better yet, ask a neurologist. Call all the candidates, tell them briefly about your problem and ask how the specialist will solve it, how many sessions will be required, and what the cost will be. Feel free to ask questions!
I would not recommend going to a master whose business is on stream. The work of a massage therapist is very hard, and he simply cannot be conscientious if he receives 20 clients a day. Also keep in mind that many masters deliberately extend the course to make money.
A good massage therapist should give you homework, teach basic self-massage techniques and help adjust your lifestyle. I had a client who suffered from cholecystitis and hepatosis. I gave her a massage course, but I understood perfectly well that this was not enough - she would leave me and get sick again. It turned out that the lady eats mainly meat and fast food. I told her about yoga, vegetarianism and helped her build healthy image life. And this is the task of every master.
I’m also always baffled by questions like: “How much does a collar zone massage cost you?” Alas, in Soviet medicine it is customary to divide people into parts, as in a butcher shop: if you please, the lower back costs so much, and the paravertebral zone costs so much. The master will determine what he really needs to work with himself. Run away from a massage therapist who, after listening to your complaints about a sore neck, will only massage that very neck.
Sergey Belyaev, massage therapist, author of the Mickey White blog:
“Refuse a master who does not make you more beautiful”
Beginners usually have many stereotypes about massage therapists and, accordingly, false expectations. Many people believe that a master should look like a bodybuilder, and only then can he be trusted. I have met fragile girls who were excellent craftsmen, and I myself am far from a jock.
There is a stereotype that after the first session there can be no result. This is not so: you should leave the master with a feeling of pleasant warmth and lightness throughout your body. If after just one visit you feel heaviness, dizziness, nausea, and there are abrasions or bruises on your body, do not return. Massage should make a person happy, healthy and beautiful, so I always give it to fitness. For example, I advise and create an individual set of exercises. After all, the master must help your body in healthy development, and it cannot be one-sided.
Natalya, 62 years old, associate professor at Moscow State University. Has been going to the same massage therapist for 10 years:
“Massage is a dish into which a good master must add the right spices”
Find good massage therapist V big city — difficult task: the market is crowded, and it’s easy to get to a master hung with certificates, but with no talent. I was looking for my one for many years, although my tasks were simple: to relieve back pain and keep fit. I have been to expensive spas, where beautiful models spent half an hour indifferently stroking me for fabulous money, and to Soviet sanatoriums, where I came across good, old-school masters who were very dissatisfied with their lives. They vigorously shared this dissatisfaction during each session: I refused a really good massage therapist, tired of listening to eternal stories about his daughter’s unsuccessful marriage. It is very important that you feel psychologically comfortable with the master, otherwise each session will be torture, regardless of the result.
The masseuse Olga was recommended to me by my hairdresser: if you have a trusted person in the field of beauty services, you can completely trust his opinion. After the first session, I realized that this was love forever: Olga felt my body flawlessly, there was no need to give her any instructions. During the sessions she told me about her trips to retreats, and proper nutrition. And imperceptibly she became a kind of wellness coach for me. I like that Olga is constantly learning and honing new knowledge on me, be it spa therapy. I trust her completely, and the results are always excellent.
Daria, 22 years old, student. Has been going to the same massage therapist for 8 years:
“He was the first master who didn’t give up on me”
I have a severe curvature of the spine and have always had excruciating pain in my back. By the age of 14, a real hump had grown on my neck, from which no one could or wanted to rid me. I went to clinics, went to sanatoriums, made appointments - everyone, when they saw me, dramatically rolled their eyes and said: “At 14 years old! With such overweight! Be patient, you can’t help.”
I found Oleg through distant relatives, having already completely despaired. He was absolutely calm and calm: “Well, yes, seriously, but we will cure everything,” and immediately inspired me with confidence. I think this is the most important thing when choosing a massage therapist. He worked not only on the sore neck, but on the entire back, explaining to me that it was impossible to achieve the effect otherwise. After a six-month course - yes, painful and difficult - I straightened up and stopped suffering. And it was one of the most great luck in my life.
Anna, 39 years old, owner of a soap shop. Has been going to the same massage therapist for 12 years:
“For me, health and beauty are impossible without massage”
I travel a lot and have always tried to try massage in all parts of the world. Most often I was disappointed until I found my massage therapist, fortunately, in my own city. It was so long ago that I no longer remember how we met, but I remember very well my impression from the first session: this is what I need! And I was not at all interested in whether he had certificates (although he has them).
Massage is work, and for me personally it is very important that my master is never late and gives his best. I do the usual general massage, because I think that , and so on are nothing more than labels. A good master will help solve all your problems without issuing separate price tags. Yes, the services of my massage therapist are not cheap, but you can and should pay for quality in this matter.
Massage is very popular medical procedure, which is recommended for both therapeutic and health purposes. Massage services are offered everywhere, but in a sea of advertisements, how can you find a specialist who is not afraid to trust with your health? There are several about this simple recommendations.
- First of all, a massage therapist is a doctor, which means he has a secondary or special medical education. Like any physician, he is obliged to regularly (every five years) confirm his qualifications. The massage therapist must have a certificate from the regional Ministry of Health with the assignment of the appropriate category - second, first or highest. And if he practices privately, he must also have a license to provide medical services. The office should have a special massage table or couch.
- If you come for a massage yourself, and not on the direction of the attending physician, then the massage therapist is obliged to conduct a consultation. He will ask you about what kind of life you lead, what chronic diseases you have, whether you have had injuries or surgeries. If necessary, he will send you to additional examinations– for example, ultrasound internal organs or an x-ray of the parts of the spine that interest him. Otherwise, you risk getting injured right on the massage table or having to go to the ambulance with an acute injury after the session. renal colic. Therefore, it is useful to bring the results of the latest results with you to the initial consultation. medical examinations, if they are.
- The massage therapist has the right to refuse you a service based on medical indications. Diseases of cardio-vascular system, kidney stones, neoplasms, injuries, exacerbations of chronic diseases - all these are contraindications to various types massage.
- Immediately before the session, the specialist washes his hands. He may ask you to remove rings, rings and chains that interfere with normal blood circulation, because during the massage the volume of blood and lymph flow throughout the body increases significantly.
- The pain of the procedure depends on the condition of your body and the type of massage. Discomfort during a session is normal, but qualified specialist knows how to minimize painful sensations. And, of course, he reacts to your condition, especially if there is sharp pain: in this case, you definitely shouldn’t remain silent and endure. Usually the peak of discomfort occurs in the second or third session.
- After the session, a good massage therapist will help the patient slowly (to avoid a sharp outflow of blood from the head) get off the couch and watch you for about ten minutes, especially if this is the first visit: severe dizziness and even fainting after a deep massage is not uncommon. Unfortunately, the practice of many domestic sanatoriums involves a kind of massage conveyor belt, when a “freshly washed” patient is immediately pushed out the door to accept the next one.
- During the massage course, alcohol and alcohol should be excluded from the diet. heavy food, limit physical exercise, do not lift weights, refuse to visit the steam room and sauna. These are not formal restrictions, but mandatory conditions, failure to comply with which can negate the entire effect of the procedure.
Of course, there are good massage therapists even without medical education, as they say, from God. But isn’t there a higher chance of running into a farrier who can cause serious harm to your health? Don’t take risks - choose a specialist who has the necessary qualifications and is responsible for the results of his work.
traumatologist-orthopedist, doctor- chiropractor, podiatrist
The modern lifestyle is becoming increasingly less mobile. Stress does not let us go either at work or at home, which cannot but affect our health and often leads to pain, tension pain. Unfortunately, despite all attempts to be more attentive to your well-being, engage in fitness, diet and maintain a sleep schedule (and all this with the help of all kinds of gadgets and applications), the number of people suffering from chronic pain and discomfort in the back and muscles does not decrease. Vice versa. How to be? The most effective way The prevention of such conditions is therapeutic massage. But how to choose among all the variety of offers? the right specialist? Let's try to figure it out.
Where exactly can you find a good specialist?
As a rule, when looking for a massage therapist, we contact:
- to private and public medical institutions;
- to SPA centers, fitness clubs, massage rooms and beauty salons;
- to specialized Internet services;
- to massage therapists who travel to your home or receive you at home.
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake with your choice, because you are in search, and it’s not a fact that the first option will suit you. Many centers offer discounts on the first session or even a free trial massage - be sure to check if this is available. Don’t be surprised if you need to go through two or three specialists on the way to the massage therapist of your dreams.
Price
Enough significant criterion when choosing a specialist is the cost of the service. We have all been told and are being told that we cannot save on health, but not always high price equals quality, so you should look for the optimal ratio. Of course, the price largely depends not only on the skill of the massage therapist, but also on the place where the massage is performed: if it is a SPA center or a beauty salon, then include in the price a markup for staff services, rental of premises, marketing... Private massage therapists are deprived of these markups, which does not always affect the quality for the worse: they work for their reputation, but often when visiting a massage therapist at home, instead of a smile from the administrator, you can expect a cat sharpening its claws on your favorite sheepskin coat, or flannel slippers that are not the first freshness.
Try to avoid massage therapists with excessively low prices: it is quite possible that these Henry Fords are reinventing the conveyor belt, passing crowds of people through them, which, naturally, will negatively affect the quality of the service.
The average price tag for a massage in Moscow varies greatly. You can focus on 2000–3500 rubles, depending on the volume and area of work (although I came across advertisements that offered a general massage for 600 rubles).
Reputation of a specialist
- massage therapist education;
- experience;
- average number of clients per week/month;
- types of massage he practices.
Feel free to ask, ask and ask again! You should be interested in everything: from the certificates received to the place of work and the cosmetics used. Special attention pay attention to the surroundings, even if they can be misleading to a certain extent. Of course, pleasant lighting in the form of candles, melodic tunes, aromas of lavender and sage are significant aspects work of any massage parlor, but you are going to improve your health, not to eat oriental culture. So try to highlight the things that fall into the must-have category:
- a separate office with a massage table, a washbasin, and ideally a shower and a toilet;
- clean and fresh towels (of course, these are provided to each patient individually);
- disposable fleece sheets;
- hygiene compliance by the specialist himself. Before the session, the massage therapist must wash his hands or treat them with an antibacterial agent.
All this is a priority for therapeutic massage. Of course, if you come for a full-fledged SPA procedure, then all the aroma, audio and light additions are no less, and often even more important factors, because massage in this case is just one of the components of a large relaxation complex.
Portrait of a massage therapist
Main features:
- Must (preferably) have a higher or secondary medical education. Just understanding how the hands move during certain manipulations is not enough for quality work. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology is required, which cannot be obtained in a month-long course. homeschooling according to tutorials.
- He will definitely ask about the reason that prompted you to contact him (the reason, and not the person who sent you to him). Find out indications and contraindications. If the latter are present, he will politely refuse you admission, explaining the reason and answering all questions.
- May ask for medical documents or statements confirming your health problems (they may be a source additional information for a massage therapist), will ask you about chronic diseases, will inquire about the health of the parents (to clarify information about heredity). Treat going to a massage room like consulting a doctor.
- Many chiropractors also practice massage (or rather, these two areas are inextricably linked). If a specialist offers you something to “move,” “crunch,” or put “in place” without first clarifying your health problems (or, even better, asking you to provide X-ray or MRI images), be careful and better refuse the dubious manipulation.
- Doesn't follow your lead. The massage therapist does his job: there are times when you will have to endure pain or discomfort, not the entire massage process is pleasant (you are not in a SPA).
- Must be quite experienced (not about age). In any business, practice is important factor, and it’s quite reasonable that you don’t want to be a guinea pig, especially when it comes to health.
- At the next meeting, the massage therapist is interested in your condition after the previous session.
- The massage should not be symmetrical and limited to just one area. Working two or three muscles will not make the problem go away, but will only smooth it out for a few days. For example, if your neck is bothering you, most likely a massage therapist will work on collar area, and shoulder blades with thoracic region spine, may well go down to lumbar area spine and even work the gluteal (!) muscles (and again, don’t forget to ask, a good specialist should easily explain to you the logic and reasons for his actions)
Additional characteristics:
- The ideal massage therapist is a “blind” massage therapist. The specialist has well-developed tactile sensitivity. The main tool for him is his fingers, with which he objectively determines areas of pain and hypertonicity, and not the patient’s screams. But this does not mean that you should not ask questions and show your reaction to the massage! What problems do I have with my spine? Where are the muscles tight? Why does it hurt here, but not there? You should receive a clear, reasoned answer to all these questions.
- Oddly enough, a professional never guarantees 100% result. Human body– the system is very complex and requires strictly individual approach: where one patient needs 2-3 sessions of 20-30 minutes each, another requires 10-12 hour-long sessions.
- During the session, he talks to you, shares his observations, the presence of problem areas, and will definitely give recommendations for Everyday life(this may include advice on exercise, diet, and daily routine).
- Even if a massage therapist has a whole wall of his office covered with certificates, he does not practice 33 types of massage. IN best case scenario you simply will not feel the difference between “Spanish” and “Swedish” massage and this gradation exists only to expand the price list.
- An appointment after the preliminary queue may indicate the professionalism of the master (but still try to separate the masseur’s demand from his pursuit of volumes of work!).
I hope that thanks to these tips you will be able to find a good massage therapist and solve your health problems with his help!
Today there is great amount a wide variety of courses for people who dream of working as massage therapists. They will all practice later, but this does not mean that each such specialist can be trusted. There are several ways to distinguish good master from bad. Let us outline the most basic of them.
So, the first thing you need to pay attention to is how the massage therapist works during the first session. An experienced master will not use unnecessarily additional funds, making his work easier. Creams, oils, talc should be used only in exceptional cases. Aroma oils, for example, are good for spa treatments; talc can be used only when the massage therapist needs to quickly dry sweaty hands. Creams during therapeutic massage are used to enhance therapeutic effect, but not so that the hands slide better over the body.
Currently, professional massage at home is in great demand. So, a bad massage therapist will agree to conduct a session if the client wants to lie down on a sofa or soft bed. Ideally, the specialist should bring a folding couch with him; if there is none, the specialist will definitely ask the client to lie down on the floor. Only on a hard surface can you work out the necessary areas of the body well.
A bad massage therapist works the body strictly symmetrically, as he was taught: three strokes on the right, then three strokes on the left, four rubbing on the right, four on the left. To a healthy person Such a massage will not harm, but it will not help the patient get rid of the disease. A professional feels the tissues and sore muscles and works with them, taking into account pathological changes(the sore side is pressed harder and more intensely than the healthy side).
If after a session the client has bruises on his body, this is a sure sign of insufficient qualifications of the massage therapist. Most likely, he cannot properly grip the muscles and control the intensity of the impact. A true professional will not allow pain to arise. He works closely with the client, constantly asks him how he feels; if necessary, a qualified massage therapist can easily change tactics and achieve maximum pain reduction.
The bad master doesn't move at all. During the session, only his arms work, he does not move his legs, does not transfer his weight from one point to another. A professional tries to avoid static poses, this way he makes his work easier and enhances the effect of his own manipulations.
A true master does not talk much, he completely focuses on the work and tries not to follow the client’s lead. If necessary, it will work longer than a fixed time if the situation requires it. A real master never performs a massage strictly by zone; he will definitely work the neighboring muscles, this is the only way to achieve the expected result. What else? If you want to take a course of therapeutic massage, you do not need to call the spa salon. It is important to contact specialists, given their qualifications. Anyone who dreams of finding out where to get a Thai massage, order the services of a massage therapist specializing in medical direction or cosmetology, can discover a portal - a convenient platform on which to present their services today best representatives their professions.