1. Pain or Discomfort
Short Answer: Some people may fear that the massage will be painful, especially if they have sensitive or sore muscles, or if they have had a previous bad experience with a massage that was too intense.
More details: I have heard more times than I can count people saying, "Oh, I had a massage once, and it was so painful, I'm never doing that again!" And also there are people (and therapists) who push the thought of "No pain, no gain". This is not and should never be the case in massage. If muscles are particularly sore, there may be some discomfort while the tightness is being worked out, but it should never be painful for the sake of being painful. There should be open communication between the client and therapist to make sure that if something is painful, the therapist can change tactics, change pressure, or give the client advice on how to minimize post-massage pain.
2. Lack of Control
Short answer: The thought of being undressed and physically vulnerable in front of a stranger can cause anxiety. The fear of not being in control of their own body during the massage can make the experience daunting for some.
More details: Vulnerability is difficult for many people. Depending on your background, history, and even personality, putting yourself into a position of undress, and having a stranger touch you can be terrifying. Most therapists will ask for a client to "disrobe to their comfort level". This means only remove as much clothing as you are confortable. If you are more comfortable leaving on your bra and underwear - no problem. The therapist should keep you covered at all times, only undraping the body part currently being worked on, and they should never expose sensitive areas like breasts or gleuts, but still - our job is to work within our clients' comfort levels. It may be more difficult for us to do certain techniques if working through a t-shirt, however if that is what it takes for you to feel comfortable, we will make it work. There should also be a sense of trust and open communication between therapist and client, where if the client is uncomfortable or dislikes something, they should speak up so the therapist can alter things. A client's comfort and safety are the most important thing during a session.
3. Injury or harm
Short answer: There may be concerns about the possibility of injury if the massage therapist applies too much pressure or if the individual has an underlying medical condition that could be aggravated by the massage.
More details: Once again, massage is not a "no pain, no gain" situation. It is never a therapist's intent to cause harm or pain - we are trying to take pain away! That being said, we also are not mind readers. While we all hate paperwork, this is why many therapists make their clients fill out a medical history that includes health conditions, medications, and more so that we can adapt our massage techniques to make sure that no additional harm is caused by the massage. Also, once again, open communication is important in that if the client feels the pressure is too deep, or a stretch 'doesn't bend well that way', they should speak up because often the therapist can't tell what exactly the client is feeling, so communication should be accepted on both ends to ensure that nothing inadvertently causes more problems.
4. Embarrassment
Short answer: People might fear something embarrassing due to body image issues, concerns about personal hygiene, or anxiety about inadvertently making noises or bodily functions during the session.
More details: Massage Therapists are trained to heal bodies, not judge them. We do not care if you have unshaven legs, tatoos, scars, or fat rolls. Our job is to make you feel better, not judge. As for body noises, your therapist is human too. Our stomachs growl, we occasionally sneeze, and bodies just make noise. You can't control your body and biology, and neither can we, so we just roll with it. Human bodies are all different, and your therapist knows that. As long as a client controls what they can control, such as showering or wiping off their dirty feet before coming in, and nothing purposefully inappropriate occurs, there is very little that the body can do that will be a problem for your therapist.
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