Am I Too ______ For a Massage?
“Am I too fat to get a massage?”
One phase that I have heard repeatedly throughout my career is something along the lines of “my sister wants to get a massage but she thinks she’s too fat!” You can swap out the word fat with any other word that a person might use when they are self-consciously thinking about themselves or their body. Too hairy, too old, too much acne, not attractive, not an athlete, too self conscious, too awkward.
I am no stranger to negative self-talk, so believe me, I get it. But as a professional, it absolutely drives me crazy to hear a phrase like that! Human touch is powerful. Receiving touch is literally a necessity for a healthy life. Massage is an amazing tool for physical, emotional, and mental health. So the thought of someone not getting a massage because they think there is something wrong with them and that they shouldn’t get one is a huge bummer.
If you have never received a massage for a reason like this, I’d like to assure you massage therapists DO NOT CARE about any of those critical things you might think about yourself WHATSOEVER. You cannot be “too ___” to receive a massage. Whatever your concerns are, we can make accommodations to account for them.
Professional massage therapists who care about their work and are passionate about their jobs have one concern: to give you the best experience that you can hope for. You are spending a lot of money to receive the treatment, and we don’t take that for granted. From the minute you walk in the door, we are hoping to create an environment where you will receive the most benefits from the massage as possible. We definitely DO look at your body and assess your body type, but it is to make a judgement about how to approach the session. Will this person have areas that are more sensitive? Will the hair require more oil? What areas of their body are most likely going to be tighter than others? Does this person require extra pillows or a different position to keep them comfortable? That’s the extent of what we may be thinking when we “judge” you.
The only thing we care about is that you are clean and cordial. One hundred percent, across the board, ask any massage therapist and everyone will say the same. Be polite to us and don’t put our own health in danger.
The anxiety of being in new situations is a real concern for a lot of people. A lot of new clients come in very nervous because they don’t know what to expect, or they are worried about one hundred things that could “go wrong.” (BTW, nothing can go wrong.) So if this is a reason why you haven’t gotten a massage, I would encourage you to also not let that stop you. The best thing you can do is let the therapist know that it is your first massage, and let them walk you through everything before the massage starts. If you have questions or concerns about receiving a massage, it is totally appropriate to text or email the therapist about them so that you are not coming into the experience blind.
f you are nervous about getting a massage for the first time, I hope you find this to be reassuring. If there is anything I can do to help you, or if I can answer any questions about your personal situation, please feel free to reach out!
