You are ready to schedule a massage and add a piece to your wellness routine. So you jump on Google and suddenly you are hit with a long list of Massage Therapists in your area. Some are solo therapists, some are small companies, some are huge fancy spas. So where should you go and how do you pick? Here are some things that may help you narrow down what you are looking for.
Availability:
Solo therapists or small companies may not have the most immediate openings or flexibility with scheduling. Many solo therapists only have themselves and one room, so they may have booking restrictions such as no walk-ins, scheduling at least 24 hours+ in advance only, and they can only take so many clients a day. Multi-ops or larger spas may have more rooms, more therapists, and better ability to take a last-minute walk-in. So look at your schedule and decide if you are a person who is able to plan in advance or if you need immediate flexible availability.
Specialization and specific needs:
If you are looking for a therapist who has a specialization in a certain area or modality, or you need massage therapy for something specific, you may have better luck with a solo therapist than a larger company. Solo therapists who specialize or work with a certain niche often dedicate themselves totally to that area and therefore work on their own to give their clients the customization they need. Larger spas may have many therapists trained in many things, but their timelines are often quite regulated, and depending on the spa, sometimes they have to stick to a certain routine which may not focus exactly what you are looking for. A solo therapist is better at being able to discuss specific needs and can more easily tweak a session to include focus on what exactly is needed. However sometimes larger companies or spas do have specific therapists that focus on certain things and they can be requested specially.
Cost:
Most vs least expensive doesn't have anything to do with the quality of therapist. Every therapist and massage appointment takes into account multiple factors including their rent, supplies, and general overhead for operating expenses. On the whole and completely depending on the area, spas generally have larger space, more employees, more supplies, more laundry turnover, and they offer more services. This means that often spa prices may be higher than a solo therapist. A solo therapist has fewer overhead expenses (no employees and employee taxes, smaller space, less laundry, fewer supplies) so they may be able to price their services at a lower rate, but also may not include a lot of the "comforts" of a spa that is included in their prices. Chains may have lower prices than spas, but their goal is often to "underprice" area competitors, and they often don't pay their therapists very well, which does keep costs down, so they can pass on the savings to the consumer. Now solo therapists who have extensive specializations may actually charge more than multi-ops because of the additional training and education they have. So you can't really base the quality of the therapist or of the massage you will be getting solely on the price.
Consistency:
If you want to make massage a routine part of your health or if you are getting focused work on a specific issue or injury, consistency may be easier with a solo therapist. Larger spas have many therapists so even though you usually can request to remain with one that you like, you still may not always get the therapist you prefer (especially if you like same day or short-scheduled appointments) so the consistency in treatment may not be there since you will basically be starting over with each new therapist. A solo therapist will likely better know what was worked on last time, your preferences, and what to do next to help meet your therapy goals.
The experience:
Take into account your goals for your massage. Are you looking for just simple therapy with no frills, or are you looking for an indulgent treat to relax and be pampered? Solo therapists are usually a little more low-key with minimal perks. Many do have some comforts or pampering-type additions, however since solo therapists generally have tighter schedules and smaller spaces, they are much more in-and-out without a lot of fancy extras with their clients. Spas have much more space and services for lingering, relaxing on your own time, additional pampering options, and more to give you a more indulgent and full-sensory experience.
You may not know what you want until you try:
If you've never had a massage before, you may not know what your goals, expectations, or preferences are. The only way you will learn is to schedule a massage somewhere. You can start to narrow down some ideas by speaking to friends or people you know who may be familiar with massage and start with therapists that they recommend. You can also look at websites and social media for companies to determine if they look professional, and they give off a "vibe" that makes you comfortable and aligns with what you may be looking for. You can also look at location and what is convenient for you - is there a therapist in an office that you already frequent, or is there someplace close to your home/work to make it convenient to get to? If you like the location, you will be more likely to schedule and stick with the appointments. If you schedule an appointment, and for some reason you find that there was something that you didn't quite like, you can always find another therapist. Multi-ops like spas have multiple therapists so if one doesn't quite have the touch you like, you can try another appointment with another person. With solo therapists, if you don't like them, you have to find someone else, even if the location isn't as perfect. Every therapist is different, and not every therapist is a good fit for every person. You won't know until you start scheduling!
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